Summary #1
This is a summary of the points mentioned until now.
I am summarizing these pointers in a loshon that is easiest for me to understand and review.
Also, some tips came from PMs and are not mentioned on this thread.
#1 I heard from a chashuva rav that the amount of time that a person spends learning torah is not
dependant on how much time he has, but rather on how much he develops a love for learning.
#2 Mah shelibo chafetz - Learn something that interests you. Anything that interests you can be found in
the torah... so go find it!
#3 Be koveah itim. Make a steady seder... a set time each day that you will spend learning. Having a
set schedule creates comfort.
#4 Try to take out a practical lesson from what you are learning.
#5 before going into a new zman or before starting a new masechta, learn all the mishnayos on that
masechta. it will help you to know the background of the masechta. also many times the gemorah will quote a
mishna from later in the masechta.
#6 take something, like shas mishnayos and after each teffilah (shachris mincha and maariv) learn one
mishna depending on the mishna for 5-10 min. since its only one mishna at a time its easier to appreciate it
and you are not overloading your mind.
#7 many people love learning midrashim.
#8 Write down on an index card all your original Torah thoughts. Not just those major chidushim that will
impress everyone, the stuff that is definitely material for some future sefer. Every little addition to
something that you saw during the course of your learning. A cross-reference to another place where you saw
a similar idea.
As these cards accumulate, they will give you cheshek for more and more. Someone encouraged me to so a few
years ago and that is where I found out about my abilities in this area. I would never have dreamed about
starting a thread entitled Yosef Hatzadik's Ha'oros otherwise. It is only after I saw the cards piling up,
that it dawned on me that Hashem has shown me how to find alternative peshatim in the pesukim.
#9 Learn something that has relevance to you and your life (or the season).
#10 Small amounts of mishnayos can be very easy and allow for effective maintenance of a seder. (see
number six)
#11 I have also found that certain subjects were difficult and not enjoyable at first, but as I slogged
through and became more familiar with the inyan, they became more enjoyable (the familiarity and mastery
made them much more enjoyable)
#12 learn something u can actually grasp.
#13 Do it every day.
#15 Get a chavrusah.
#16 share your torah with your wife, kids, co-workers, GYE, etc..
YASHER KOACH FOR THE TIPS!
PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING.