For the last few weeks, I've managed to wake up at 530AM every morning. I didn't ever think I'd be able to do it, but with the lure of my morning "gourmet" coffee and going to sleep by 1030 - it's definitely doable.

I'm exponentially more productive in the hours between 5:30AM and 7:30AM than I am between 10:00PM and midnight. At 10:00PM, I've spent all my "effort points" for the day and am not in the mood to do much of anything aside from being brain dead, watching mindless TV shows, etc.

So, to maximize the effectiveness of that 2 hours, I'm trying to make a little study plan.
Something along these lines:
(I'm almost done with RTK, but let's assume it's finished)
* 1 hr. core2k6k - 30 new words + as many reviews as I can get done.
I'm trying to figure out a way to help remember vocab/kanji so I don't have to fail so many cards. How about this: (1) read 2-3 example sentences on jisho.org [with the help of rikaichan] (2) make up 2 sentences using the word, type them into an excel file for future reference (3) go over excel file sentences with tutor at a later time, or plug them into Lang8 entries for correction [to ensure I'm using the word properly]

* 30 min. dissecting sentences from "Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication", going through flash cards

* 30 min. death note SUBS2SRS - figuring out sentence meanings, entering in notes on backsides of cards / Alternate with studying TK's grammar

I also listen to approx. 1 hour of JPod101/day, making my own deck with jisho.org sentences for vocab. (I thought about just unsuspending the jp101 vocab in Core 2k 6k, but I don't want to throw off the ordering too much) - so, the jp101 deck will be focusing on just teaching me the grammar, then when I come across it in Core2k 6k I'll learn the kanji for it.

I'm using JP101 as a stepping stone to listening to actual Japanese podcasts. I figure once I finish all of the JP101 casts and have internalized the grammar/vocab from the lessons, I'll be ready for native material.

Decks: TK Grammar, Core2k6k, Jpn Sentence Patterns, JPOD101, Death Note S2SRS

For vocab that I just can't remember or any new vocab from Core6k I add them to a cram deck which has 3 cards: One with just the Kanji where I guess the reading, one with just the definition where I guess the sound/production and one with just the sound where I guess the meaning and try and picture the Kanji.

Leaving these in the cram deck and doing it 2-3 times for 1-2 days seems to push them into the lower level of my long term memory meaning I forget them way less when doing core6k.