As a baalt'shuva of 35 years I gained some Jewish knowledge, practice and thinking, but I know very little Talmud. I started late and it seemed too late for that. But of course it's never too late.

 

I thought to start learning Daf Yomi at the new start of the 7 year cycle, G^d willing. A serious danger is to start so ambitious that in no time one would starting hating it, Heaven forbid. So, how to do it well without overdoing it?

 

This is my plan so far.

 

1. Not to go to a Daf Yomi Shiur in a language that I don't speak and not to go through these 7 years too passively.

 

2. To begin every day by learning a bit of an overview over the Page of the Day at a website that I like, that speaks to me: dafyomi. This mean getting up a little earlier. Shabbat and Yomtov that is not possible, so in the days before I need to do a little more. This seems not too much.

 

3. During my rides to and from work, to study the Daf with guidance by Artscroll and Rav Steinsaltz. Whatever I get done, I get done, whatever I don't, I don't. Days that I don't travel to work I must have enough time to do the same at home.

 

4. To try to find time every day to share with my best friend a bit of what I learned, to stay active, so that I may remember. To try to find other people around me to discuss the Daf.

 

5. To write a tiny bit about every Daf, to stay active, so that I may remember. In 7 years that should add up to a nice stack of notes, especially when I index it.

 

What do you say? Any advice? Any experience? Any plans yourself?

 

With warm greetings for a great month!