Everyone suffers from homework at times, but if it has become a recurring problem for you, you may require additional assistance. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you finish your homework faster. You’ll know how to do homework (and have a tonne of fresh techniques to inspire yourself to complete homework) once you’ve finished reading it!
This article has been divided into several sections. You’ll discover:
• A diagnostic test to figure out why you’re having trouble with homework.
• A discussion of the four most common homework issues students experience, as well as expert advice on how to solve them
• A bonus section with suggestions for doing schoolwork quickly
You’ll be ready to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you by the end of this essay.
So let’s get this party started!
Tips to do homework faster: How to Finish Homework Faster: Recognize Your Problems
There are moments when it feels like there is nothing in your way of finishing your schoolwork. However, the reality is that most students are hampered by only one or two major obstacles that prevent them from completing their homework in a timely manner.
In order to get inspired to accomplish homework, the first step is to identify the obstacles that are keeping you from completing your tasks. So we’ve created a quick questionnaire to assist you identify the areas in which you’re having difficulty.
A scrap piece of paper or a phone can be used to take this quiz and record your answers. Remember that there are no incorrect answers!
There is an essay due in your English class at the conclusion of this week. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about a problem?
Keep it in mind, even if you don’t plan to start until the last minute.
A. Go to your planner and open it up. Since you have band practise, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dancing recital this week, you’ll need to figure out when to compose your report.
B. Loudly groan in protest. More writing? The final one was so hard for you to write!
Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favourite artist might have just posted on Instagram…so you should check your account right now.
2. Before she arrives home from work, your mother instructed you to tidy up your room. You’ve just returned from the bus stop after a long day at school. You’ve made up your mind to deal with the household chores:
An hour and a half before your mother’s arrival Who cares how long it takes you to do the task?
B. As soon as you arrive home from your shift at the neighbourhood supermarket.
C. After you’ve given yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.
D. You won’t accomplish it. In the midst of responding to text messages, attempting to watch Netflix, and playing with your dog, you’ve completely lost track of time.
3. In order to raise money for your senior trip, you’ve agreed to work at the Humane Society to wash dogs. You:
A. Arrive ten minutes late. B. It was too late when you finally decided to leave your house for the shelter, and you got caught in unexpected traffic.
B. I’ll have to call and reschedule. You’d volunteered to babysit your cousin and prepare cupcakes for the bake sale tomorrow, but you’d forgotten about it.
C. When you arrive fifteen minutes early, bring a few extra brushes and bandanas that you bought at the supermarket. You love animals and are eager to lend a hand.
D. Arrive on time, but only manage to wash three of the four dogs. You couldn’t help but be swayed by their adorableness!
4. You decide to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show because you have an hour of free time. You:
This means you will not be able to finish the entire episode if you spend twenty minutes on social media before you start the episode. Ugh! You were dying to find out who had been booted from the show.
After fifteen minutes of watching, remember to pick up your sister from band practise before going to your part-time work. Alternatively, B. Forget about the GBBO!
C. Even though you have SAT prep to complete, you decide to watch another episode after finishing the last one. People making scones are just more entertaining to watch than making them themselves.
The show begins, but you’re distracted by Twitter, clearing out your backpack, and munching on a snack, so you only get the beginning and the end.
5. In light of the fact that you have failed to turn in two assignments in a row, your teacher asks you to stay after class. Whenever she inquires, you respond, “What’s wrong?”
A. Despite your best efforts, you were unable to complete your homework in time for lunch. Your decision was based on the fact that submitting unfinished work would be preferable to turning in nothing.
B. Despite your best efforts, you were unable to complete your homework due to competing priorities such as extracurricular activities, family obligations, and a part-time job.
C. It’s difficult for you to get motivated to work on your homework. When you come home, you can’t seem to get the energy to work on them.
D. You tried, but you couldn’t concentrate. It was almost time to turn them in when you realised you hadn’t accomplished anything. Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible).
Here’s how your answers break down:
• If your answers were mostly As then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination.
• If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management.
• If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation.
• If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted.
Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it.
And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating.
When You’re a Procrastinator, Here’s How to Do Your Homework
To “procrastinate” is to “put off intentionally and habitually,” according to the Merriam Webster dictionary. To put it another way, procrastination is the tendency to put things off until the last possible moment. If you’ve ever had to stay up all night to finish an assignment or rush to turn in a paper minutes before the deadline because of procrastination, you know what I’m talking about.
Because of your habit of delaying tasks, you’re not alone. As a matter of fact, a study found that 70 per cent to 95 per cent of undergraduate students put off doing their homework. Procrastination, on the other hand, can harm your academic performance. Students who procrastinate on assignments can see their grades drop by as much as a full point, which can make the difference between getting a B- and a C+.
The stress caused by procrastination can lead to a variety of health issues, including insomnia, a weaker immune system, and even heart conditions. Stopping procrastination is not only good for your grades, but it’ll also make you happier!
Procrastination isn’t a sign of laziness, and that’s an important distinction to make. Laziness is defined as a lack of interest in or aversion to physical activity or effort. If you want to be considered lazy, all you have to do is sit around and do nothing. As this article from Psychology Today explains, procrastinators do not delay tasks because they dislike doing them. As a result, procrastinators tend to put off tasks they dislike in favour of more important or pleasurable ones. People who procrastinate want to get things done…as long as they’re not working on their homework!
How to Beat Procrastination in 3 Steps
Procrastination is a common issue, and there are many effective strategies for dealing with it. To help you get your homework habits back on track, here are three expert tips.
1: Create a System of Reward
Procrastination occurs when you put off doing your homework because of other commitments. A lot of the time, it’s because homework is just not fun. However, you can re-energise the process by rewarding yourself for accomplishing your tasks.
Suppose you decide to give yourself a point every time you finish your homework before the due date, and that’s exactly what we mean. You’ll be rewarded with a chocolate cupcake every time you earn five points. With this new (delicious!) incentive, procrastination will be left in the dust.
Don’t worry if you don’t like cupcakes. Whatever it is that motivates you can be your reward. You might just need an extra ten minutes to play a video game or hang out with your best friend. As long as you select a topic that is interesting to you, you will do well in your homework assignments.
2: Enlist the help of a homework buddy.
It would be a good idea to enlist some help if you’re having problems getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time. Find a trustworthy buddy or classmate and tell them you’re attempting to modify your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you once a week to make sure you’re doing your homework and whether you’re fulfilling your anti-procrastination goals.
Sharing your objectives can help you feel more committed to them, and having an accountability partner can help you stay accountable for your choices. Let’s imagine you’re inclined to put off writing your science lab report until the day before it’s due. But you’re afraid your accountability partner will contact you about it tomorrow…and you don’t want to admit you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability buddy can provide you with the extra motivation and support you need to stay on track with your homework habits.
3: Set Your Own Deadlines
If you’ve been procrastinating for a long time, you may find that breaking the habit is more difficult than you anticipated. In that case, consider using procrastination to your benefit! Set your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the task is actually due if you can’t seem to stop working at the last minute.
Here’s what we’re talking about. Let’s imagine you were given a math worksheet on Tuesday and it’s due on Friday. Alternatively, you can write Thursday as the due date in your planner. You can still put off your homework assignment till the last minute…but the “last minute” in this case is a day before the assignment’s actual due date. This small trick will make your procrastination-obsessed brain plan ahead!.
When You’re Too Busy to Do Your Homework
If you want to attend a top-tier university, you’ll have a lot on your plate. Because college admissions are becoming more competitive, it’s critical that you maintain your grades, study diligently for standardised tests, and participate in extracurricular activities to ensure that your application stands out. When you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix, and already hectic schedule can become even more so.
You’re not alone if you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once. Stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression—are a major problem for high school students, according to new research. In fact, according to an American Psychological Association study, students’ stress levels are higher during the school year than those of the adults around them.
Homework is a significant contributor to students’ overall stress levels. Many high school students have several hours of homework each night, and fitting it into an already jam-packed schedule can seem impossible.
3 Strategies for Getting Homework Done in a Busy Schedule
While it may appear that you have no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to ensure that you complete your homework and meet your other obligations. Even the busiest students can benefit from our expert homework advice.
#1: Make a to-do list that is prioritized.
To stay on track, you probably already have a to-do list. The next step is to prioritize the tasks on your to-do list so that you can identify which ones require immediate attention.
Here’s how it works: sit down at the start of each day and compose a list of everything you need to get done before going to bed. This should contain your homework, as well as any practices, chores, activities, or employment shifts that you may have. After you’ve made a list of everything, use the labels A, B, and C to rank them. These are the definitions of the labels:
• A Tasks: An A is given to tasks that must be completed, such as showing up for work or completing an assignment.
• B Things: these are tasks that you’d like to finish by the end of the day but aren’t as urgent. Studying for a test you have next week, for example, could be a B-level assignment. It’s still necessary, but it doesn’t have to be completed immediately.
• C Jobs: These are tasks that aren’t very vital and/or have no actual ramifications if they aren’t completed right away. For example, if you want to clean out your closet but it’s not a duty assigned by your parents, you may put a C next to it.
Prioritizing your to-do list allows you to see which activities require immediate attention and which you can postpone. A prioritized to-do list guarantees that you’re using your time wisely and effectively, allowing you to fit homework into your schedule. Even if you really want to start constructing Homecoming decorations (a B activity), you’ll realise that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more vital.
#2: Use a Time-Labeled Planner
Your planner is most likely already jam-packed with notes, events, and assignments. (And if you don’t have a planner, now is the time to get one!) Planners, on the other hand, can do more than merely remind you when an assignment is due. It can help you picture how you need to spend your day if you use a planner with time labels.
Your day is broken planned into chunks in a planner with time labels, and you assign tasks to each block of time. Make a note of your class schedule with assignments, set aside time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice, for example. Once you’ve determined which chores are most important, you can fill in any gaps in your schedule.
Not only will planning how you spend your time help you use it properly, but it will also help you feel less stressed. We love planners that feature a task list (like this one) or space for notes (like this one).
#3: Use Your Phone to Set Reminders
It’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone if you need a little additional kick to make sure you do your assignment on time. You don’t even need a fancy app. To remind you to do your homework, set your alarm app to go off at particular intervals throughout the day. This is especially effective if you have a defined homework time. So, if you’ve decided to complete homework at 6:00 p.m., you may set an alarm to remind you to bring your books out and start working.
You may be able to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events if you use your phone as your planner. Many calendar applications, like the one that came with your phone, offer built-in reminders that you can tailor to your specific needs. So, if you schedule homework time from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., you may set a reminder on your phone to alert you when it’s time to get started.
When You’re Not Motivated to Do Your Homework
Procrastination and being unmotivated may appear to be the same thing at first look. After all, both of these difficulties are likely to cause you to postpone your homework until the last possible moment.
However, there is one significant difference: many procrastinators do work; they simply prioritise their tasks differently. They know they’ll get started on their homework, but they’ll finish it later.
People who are unmotivated to do homework, on the other hand, just lack the willpower to complete their assignments. Folks that procrastinate know they’ll at least try their schoolwork at the last minute, whereas unmotivated people have a hard time convincing themselves to do it at all. The inevitable time crunch causes stress for procrastinators. The tension comes from attempting to persuade unmotivated people to do something they don’t want to do in the first place.
Here are some of the most prevalent reasons why students are reluctant to complete their homework:
• Assignments that are either too simple, too difficult, or appear to be pointless
• Students are uninterested in (or enthusiastic about) the subject.
• Students are scared by their assignments and/or believe they don’t comprehend them.
Why Homework isn’t enjoyable, and kids would rather to spend their time doing things they enjoy.
To summarise, students who lack the desire to complete their assignment are more likely to skip it altogether or to spend more time worrying about it than actually doing it.
3 Ways to Stay Motivated While Doing Homework
When you’re unmotivated, the key to getting homework done is to figure out what motivates you and then apply that motivation to your homework. It may appear difficult at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s quite simple! Here are three professional strategies for staying motivated to complete your assignments.
#1: Use Gradual Incentive Systems
When you’re not feeling motivated, tiny rewards can help you keep focused on completing the task at hand. The key is to keep the incentives small and frequent rewards. For example, perhaps you spend your free time reading an excellent novel. You get to read five pages of your book for every 10 minutes you spend on your homework. As we previously stated, make sure you select a gift that is appropriate for you!
So, what makes this strategy so effective? Modest prizes are used more frequently, allowing you to enjoy small victories for getting your work done. You get to celebrate your achievement every time you reach one of your tiny reward points, which gives your brain a dopamine boost. Dopamine keeps you motivated and gives you a sense of accomplishment when you finish your schoolwork!
#2: Create a Homework Club
It’s fine to seek help from others if you’re having problems motivating yourself. This can be aided by forming a homework club. Get a group of friends or classmates together and set aside one day a week to meet and work on schoolwork together. The idea is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) their tasks. You don’t have to be in the same class or even take the same subjects.
Another advantage of forming a homework group is that you can assist one another if you’re having trouble understanding the material in your classes. This is especially useful if your lack of motivation stems from your assignments intimidating you. Asking your friends for assistance may be less intimidating than approaching your teacher…and once you’ve mastered the material, your homework may become less intimidating as well.
#3: Vary your surroundings
If you’re having trouble staying motivated, try finding a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been having trouble finishing your homework at home, try spending an extra hour after school in the library. A change of scenery can help you focus on your work by reducing distractions and providing the energy you need.
You can still use this tip if you’re stuck doing homework at home. Perhaps you’ve always done your homework while sitting on your bed. For a few weeks, try relocating to a different location, such as your kitchen table. Setting up a new “homework spot” in your house might give you a boost in motivation and help you finish your work.
When You’re Easily Distracted, How Do You Do Your Homework?
We live in an always-on world with a plethora of demands for our attention. There always seems to be something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do, from friends and family to pop culture and social media.
Our ability to focus on activities for lengthy periods of time has been harmed by the 24/7 society we live in. According to studies, the average person’s attention span has decreased from 12 seconds to eight seconds during the last decade. When we lose focus, it takes a long time for us to get back on track. According to one research, getting back to work after being distracted can take up to 23 minutes. It’s no surprise that finishing your schoolwork might take hours!
3 Ways to Sharpen Your Focus
If you’re having trouble concentrating on your homework, it’s a good idea to attempt to eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert techniques for muting the background noise so you can concentrate on your assignments.
#1: Create an environment that is free of distractions.
Choose a location where you can finish your schoolwork every day and keep it as distraction-free as possible. While doing your homework, try to find a quiet spot away from distractions and limit your access to screens. Make a focus-oriented playlist (or select one from your favourite streaming service) and listen to it while you work.
Other people, such as friends and family, may become your greatest source of distraction. If this is the case, consider establishing some homework boundaries. Tell them when you’ll be working on homework each day and ask if they can help you keep the house quiet. They’ll be delighted to assist!
#2: Keep your technology usage to a minimum.
We know, this isn’t a fun tip, but it does work. It’s preferable to put all your equipment away for assignments that don’t require a computer, such as handouts or worksheets. Turn off the TV, stuff your phone and laptop into your backpack, and turn off notifications on any wearable devices you’re using. If you want to listen to music while you work, that’s fine…just make sure you have a playlist set up so you don’t lose track of what you’re doing.
When your homework necessitates the use of a laptop or tablet, it can be more difficult to avoid distractions. But it’s not out of the question! There are programmes you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working, so you won’t be tempted to check your Facebook feed or cruise through Twitter. Turn off your computer’s notifications and SMS messages, and only check your email account when absolutely necessary. Also, if you don’t require internet access to finish your homework, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the internet talk is an excellent approach to ensure that you finish your schoolwork.
#3: Begin by setting a timer (the Pomodoro Technique)
Do you know what the Pomodoro Technique is? It’s a timer-based productivity tip that helps you focus!
The procedure is as follows: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This will be your working time. All you have to do during these 25 minutes is work on whatever homework task you have in front of you. There was no email, texting, or phone calls—just homework. You have a 5-minute pause once the timer turns off. It’s called a “Pomodoro” every time you go through one of these cycles. You can take a lengthier pause of 15 to 30 minutes after every four pomodoros.
The Pomodoro approach is based on a combination of setting boundaries and rewarding yourself. To begin with, it provides you with a set amount of time to concentrate, so you know you only have to work hard for 25 minutes. After you’ve completed that, you’ll be given a little pause during which you can do whatever you like. Furthermore, keeping track of how many pomodoros you finish might help you determine how much time you spend on your assignment. (You might find that it doesn’t take as long as you expected if you start applying our focus suggestions!)
Two Bonus Points for Getting Homework Done Quickly
Even if you’re following all of the rules, there will be moments when you simply need to finish your homework as quickly as possible. (Why is it that instructors’ projects are always due the same week? The rest of the world may never know.)
The issue with rushing through homework is that mistakes are simple to make. While delivering an assignment is always preferable to not submitting anything at all, you should avoid sacrificing quality for speed. Simply, the idea is to finish your homework quickly while still receiving a respectable score on the project!
Here are two more strategies to help you obtain a good mark on your homework assignments, even if you’re short on time.
#1: Start with the little tasks.
This is especially true if you’re working on a multi-question handout. Read over all of the questions and problems before you begin working on the project. Make a note next to the questions you believe are “simple” to answer.
You can begin answering these questions when you’ve completed the entire assignment. Getting the easy questions out of the way as fast as possible allows you to devote more time to the more difficult parts of your homework, resulting in a higher mark on your assignment.
#2: Concentrate in class.
When you’re actively learning the content, homework becomes a lot easier. Teachers provide homework not because they’re rude or want to spoil your weekend, but because they want you to grasp the course material completely. Homework is intended to reinforce what you’ve learned in class so that you’ll be prepared to handle more difficult ideas later.
You’ll absorb the information you need to succeed on your homework assignments if you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes. (You’re going to be in class anyhow, so why not make the most of it?) Paying attention in class can not only make your homework less confusing, but it will also make it go a lot faster.
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