How to Keep Learning Portuguese When It’s Too Hot to Focus

I don’t know about you, but when the temperature starts creeping above 35°C, my brain wants to go on holiday.

Summer in Portugal can be glorious… but it can also make concentration tricky.
So how do you keep your Portuguese learning on track when all you want to do is hide in the shade with a cold drink?

Here’s what’s worked for me and might work for you too.

🕒 Shift Your Study Time

In the hottest months, I swap my usual afternoon study slot for early mornings.
Not only is it cooler, but my brain is fresher and I find I can actually remember what I’m learning.

📱 Go Mobile

When it’s too hot to sit at a desk, I switch to lighter learning activities:

• Listening to podcasts while relaxing indoors
• Watching a short YouTube video or a news clip in Portuguese
• Using an app for quick vocab review

The key is keeping the connection to the language, even if the study session is short.

🏖️ Combine Leisure and Learning

Some of my best summer “study sessions” happen in cafés or on the beach:

• Reading a light book in Portuguese
• Ordering my coffee or ice cream in Portuguese
• Chatting with locals about the weather (a very Portuguese thing!)

💡 Lower the Pressure

Summer is a time for slower rhythms and that’s okay.
I remind myself that maintaining any contact with Portuguese is better than none.

Instead of aiming for huge progress, I focus on maintenance:

• Keeping my ear tuned to the sound of Portuguese
• Using what I already know in small, real-life situations

🧭 Final Thought

You don’t have to give up learning when it’s hot but you might have to adapt your approach.
Think of summer as a chance to blend learning with living, and you’ll keep moving forward without burning out.

Even if it’s just five minutes in the morning shade, it counts.