Probably, your parents often complain about their long working days, but today even students are much more stressed than before. However, homework doesn't have to be a source of tension. Learning to plan an effective program to complete them, work on them efficiently, and know when to ask for help with difficult projects are all strategies that can help you study with greater peace of mind. Don't put off anything anymore. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Work on Homework
Step 1. Before you begin, make sure you have everything you need
Hunting for a ruler or protractor when you find yourself in the middle of your geometry homework is distracting and annoying. Also, it can be difficult to get back to work after wasting half an hour to find a pencil. If you have been planning effectively, you should know exactly what you need to complete an assignment in order to carefully organize the study space.
Once you are in your space and start working, try not to leave until you have done your homework. If you want something to drink, grab a soda before you start. Go to the bathroom and make sure you can study for the expected amount of time before the next break, without interruption
Step 2. Eliminate distractions as much as possible
Put your phone away, get away from your computer and keep the environment as quiet as possible. Focusing fully on tasks actually makes them easier, because the mind won't find itself looking for a balance between several tasks being done at the same time.
- Many students try to do several things at the same time: study, watch television, listen to the radio and continue chatting on Facebook. However, it will be much more fun to spend some free time when you're done with your homework. They will take you half the time if you focus solely on books.
- Check out your cell phone or social media when taking a break from studying, not before. Use these distractions as if they were the carrot you give to a horse, not the pacifier you give to a baby.
Step 3. Focus on one task at a time
Completely finish each assignment and tick it off the list before moving on to the next. Usually, it's best to get a task done completely so that you can get it out of your mind and then take care of something else. Dedicating yourself to individual tasks helps you not to lose focus. Avoid thinking about all the other things you need to do and just focus on the moment. Maybe you can even ask a good friend or family member for a helping hand.
If an assignment proves difficult or takes a lot of time, it's not a problem to dedicate yourself to something else in between stages to complete it. Just make sure you allow enough time to go back and give it another try
Step 4. Take a break per hour
Calculate a specific amount of time to devote to something else once an hour, and stick to that organization. Define how many minutes will pass from when you start studying to the break, and determine how long it will last. But don't let this pause be too long! Maybe you get absorbed by something else and you no longer want to get back to work.
- Try to figure out which method is right for you. Some students like to start their homework right after they get back from school to finish as soon as possible. Nonetheless, it would be better to take an hour of relaxation before starting to unwind them and unplug from the long school day.
- While the idea of getting to work right away and finishing seems preferable, it can happen that the quality of the work begins to suffer because you do not allow the mind to rest. It is difficult to focus more than 45 minutes at a time on a certain topic. Give yourself a break and resume studying with a fresh mind.
Step 5. Immerse yourself in the study after the breaks
Don't let the breaks multiply, getting longer and longer, and don't hold back. It can be hard to feel like getting back to work after taking a break, but try to keep the final goal in mind and work hard until you get there.
The first 15 minutes after a break are the most effective, as your mind will be fresh and ready to work. Give a pep talk to yourself and immerse yourself in work, fresh and rested
Step 6. Create incentives to finish
Put a "carrot" at the end of your homework, like a new episode of your favorite show, or play a video game. It must be an activity that you have not dedicated yourself to during your breaks from studying, so it will be more stimulating to continue working and to finish completely.
If you're having trouble staying focused, ask a parent, sibling, or friend to help you do it. Before you go to work, give the phone to someone to avoid temptation, or ask your mom to hide the joystick so you don't open the game to chase the aliens when you should be studying. Later, when you finish, show this person your work and regain your free time. It must be impossible to cheat
Step 7. Homework should take all the time it takes, no more, no less
It can surely tempt you to do your math exercises in a hurry because you can't wait to play Halo. However, slow down and consciously complete them. It is useless to open books if you do it only to complete a task and have a clear conscience. Study carefully, without expecting to finish quickly. The end result must give you a real benefit.
To convince yourself to do your homework with care, you can ask the person you gave your cell phone or joystick to take a look at it to evaluate its quality once it's done. If you know that you still won't be able to pursue your favorite pastime until you have done them right, there will be no reason to hurry. Slow down and do them properly
Step 8. Review your assignments after you are done
Once you've finished the last problem or written the last sentence, don't close the book right away and don't put everything in your backpack. Take a short break and go back to your fresh-minded work to re-read everything and make up for things you missed. Correct spelling, grammar, and other errors - it's a great way to get a high grade, and you'll deserve it. If you take the trouble to do your homework profitably, spending a few more minutes to make sure it goes well doesn't change a thing.
Part 2 of 4: Schedule Tasks
Step 1. Make a list of all the tasks you need to do
You should have a space dedicated specifically to the marked assignments, so they will be easier to find and you can organize yourself better. In general, many students find it helpful to use a diary or calendar to keep track of their commitments, while others prefer to use a common notebook or diary. Choose the one that best suits your style, and list the tasks every day in the same place.
- Several students have the habit of quickly writing the numbers of the math exercises to do in the notebook, or they absentmindedly mark the pages of the English book to read, forgetting where they have written them. Instead, try to write this information down in a specific journal, so you'll be sure to remember it.
- Write down as much detail as possible about each assignment. You will find it helpful to write the due date, the corresponding pages in the textbook and the extra instructions given by the teacher. This will help you plan your study afternoon more effectively. Obviously, write everything down in the diary.
Step 2. Make sure you understand each task that is marked for you
Before diving into the study, it is important to analyze the assignments to make sure you understand what is required of you, what are the skills you need. When you have a number of math problems marked, flip through the pages of the book to read all the tracks, looking for the potentially difficult ones. If they gave you a story to read, take a general look to get an idea of various factors: how long it will take you to complete it, difficulty reading, and questions to answer at the end of the text.
Homework doesn't have to wait until you get home. Take a look at what you need to do as soon as you are marked so you have time to ask the teacher any questions before the bell rings
Step 3. Create a comfortable corner to do your homework
The best way to study is to take refuge in a quiet, distraction-free space where you will have the opportunity to spend as much time as necessary to comfortably do your homework. Whether at home or anywhere else, a quiet place is necessary for successful study. Keep a snack and a drink handy, you never know.
- At home, the desk in your room might be the best place. You can close the door and eliminate any distractions. For some students, however, this doesn't work. In your room, you may be tempted by video games, computers, guitars, and so on. In that case, it would be best to take a seat in front of the kitchen table or in the living room, so your mom will put you in line when she sees you slack off. You will finish faster, without temptation or anything like that.
- In public. The library is ideal for studying and homework. In all of these places, it is mandatory to be quiet, and there will be none of the distractions you have at home. Choose one that stays open even in the afternoon, so you'll have the chance to go there to finish your homework before you go home. Perhaps your school has a space designed specifically for this purpose.
- Practice and alternate. Studying too often in the same place can complicate everything. Studies have shown that changing environments can make the mind more active because it is stimulated by the processing of new information. You will be able to vary the routine and remember what you have acquired more effectively.
Step 4. Choose the most important tasks to work on
At the end of the school day, when you are ready to start studying, try to figure out what the main tasks are, and order them appropriately in order to have enough time to complete everything you need to do. This is especially important if you have multiple commitments, or maybe some projects don't go through overnight and you have more time to deal with them. You have to properly distribute what you need to do, and prioritizing is an important step.
- Try starting with the hardest tasks. Do you wholeheartedly hate the idea of doing your algebra homework? Does reading that English book take a lot of time? Start with the commitments that cause you the most difficulty: you will allow yourself all the time necessary to complete them; then, move on to the easier ones, which you can finish faster.
- Try starting with the most pressing tasks. If you have 20 problems to solve for the next day (Wednesday) and 20 pages of a novel to read by Friday, it's best to start with your math homework and make sure you have enough time to finish them. Completing projects to be delivered the next day is a priority.
- Try starting with the most important tasks. The math problems may be difficult, but, if you know the professor won't even look at them, they might be less important than that big social science project to be delivered two days later. Spend most of your time on the tasks that are most valuable to your school career.
Step 5. Make a schedule
In a day, the hours available are not that many. Calculate a specific amount of time to devote to each task that has been marked for you. Based on the amount of time you think it will take and the amount of hours you have on any given day. Give yourself enough time to finish each assignment and take care of other afternoon tasks.
- To get serious about your schedule, set an alarm or use the stopwatch. The less time you waste postponing and checking messages, the faster you'll finish. If you think you can get it all done within half an hour, set your alarm clock and work hard to get back into this time frame. You have not finished yet? Give yourself a few more minutes. Imagine it is some kind of training to become more consistent.
- Take note of the amount of time you usually spend on various tasks. If your math homework takes 45 minutes to finish, set aside that amount of time each afternoon. After an hour of hard work, take a break and focus on something else to avoid feeling exhausted.
- Take a 10 minute break for every 50 minutes of work. It is important to take a break while you study and allow your mind to rest, otherwise you will work less efficiently. You are not a robot!
Part 3 of 4: Finding Extra Time
Step 1. Start working right away
It's much easier to use excuses to do something else, and to avoid doing homework. However, if finishing them is a struggle and you don't have enough time to complete them on time, this kind of procrastination isn't good at all. The best way to get extra time for homework? Just do them. Now.
- Once home, do you really need to watch television or sit in front of the computer for an hour in order to unplug? It may be easier to just immerse yourself in homework, and finish them while your mind is still fresh and you can put your skills to good use. Waiting for a couple of hours means you will have to re-read your school notes and try to return to the same starting point. Study while the concepts are still fresh in your mind.
- If you have three days to read an essay, don't wait until the afternoon before to do so. Break the reading into parts and give yourself more time to finish. Just because the deadline is far off, you shouldn't think you can put it off. Play in advance. Try getting up a little earlier or going to sleep a little later, but don't get too tired!
Step 2. Take advantage of the time you spend on the bus
We will surprise you with what we are about to tell you. Over the course of the day, numerous time intervals are added up here and there, and you may not even realize it. These are inactive moments, like when you have to wait. Well, you could use them more effectively. A long journey on a means of transport is a good opportunity to do some of the less demanding tasks, or at least start looking through them to plan how you will do them when you get home.
- If you have to read many pages of a book, do it on the bus. Put on headphones to hear white noise - they will keep you away from the screams of other passengers and allow you to focus on the text.
- The bus can be distracting or offer you a great learning opportunity. If you're traveling with other students, try to get someone to study with you so you can finish your homework faster. Work with a classmate to solve math problems and try to come to a conclusion together. If everyone takes care of their work, without copying, this is not cheating. Plus, you might as well make new friends in the meantime!
Step 3. Work on your homework between lessons
Sometimes, the professors arrive 10 minutes late. If you open your books right away as soon as a lesson finishes, you will have accumulated an hour of extra homework over the course of the total school day. Of course, avoid getting distracted by talking to your friends. Imagine how nice it would be to finish a math problem in school, and then you will be free in the afternoon.
This time interval should not be used to finish the assignments that you have to turn in that same day. Rushing to finish the last few problems five minutes before the teacher arrives doesn't allow you to make a favorable impression on the teacher. Also, you don't have time to review homework after you finish them. Haste leads you to make mistakes. And then you always have to look back at the exercises that have caused you difficulties
Step 4. Do your homework during long waits
If you have an hour to kill before a workout, there are two options; lose it by doing nonsense, or devote it productively to homework. Don't make excuses: Don't say you don't have enough hours in a day if you just linger between one engagement and another. Use your time wisely, and you'll finish all your homework in no time!
Work on your homework while you're at the bus stop, kill time at your brother's soccer game, or wait for a friend to come home. Take advantage of all the extra time you have in a day
Part 4 of 4: Asking for Help with Homework
Step 1. When faced with difficult tasks, talk to the teacher
The main, and most important, resource for helping you with your homework should be the teacher who marked them. If you struggle with an exercise the night before delivery, and it eventually takes a lot of time, don't keep banging your head against the wall. Don't be afraid to stop when you can't find a solution despite having sweated seven shirts: ask the professor for help.
- Asking for help with your homework does not mean that you don't understand a subject at all or that you are "stupid". All professors in the world respect students who take their education seriously enough to ask for help. In particular, ask the teacher if you were absent during an explanation.
- Asking for help doesn't mean complaining about difficulties or making excuses. For example, let's assume you spend only 10 minutes on half of your math problems and leave most of them blank because they're difficult. Until the day of delivery, you do nothing else. In this case, going to the professor empty-handed to tell him you need help won't get you a damn thing. If you can't do something, go to the teacher early and take the time to get help.
Step 2. Visit the tutoring center or student desk
Some institutions offer mentoring services or support desks for those who need help with their homework. It can be helpful to ask someone to review your work, help you out as you complete the exercises, and encourage you to study diligently.
- If your school does not offer such support groups, there are several tutors who work privately, both free and paid. There are real organizations where it is possible to make an appointment to be followed by an expert in order to study and finish homework. You can also reach out to volunteer groups, or browse the internet or bulletin boards to find older students or graduate people giving tuition.
- Asking for help doesn't mean you can't do your homework. There are different types of students who turn to a tutor to help them out, just make sure they have enough time and motivation to get it all done. It is difficult to study! Don't be ashamed to talk to someone. Why on earth should you be afraid to ask for something? If so, you wouldn't even be able to order in restaurants or ask a clerk to show you a dress!
Step 3. Work with other students
In class, talk to classmates you admire and try to study with them. Help each other as you do your homework together: this way, you can encourage each other to give your all and exchange information.
Of course, when you study in a group, there is no need to cross a certain line and cheat. Sharing a task with a friend (he completes one half and you the other, and then both of you copy what you are missing) is considered cheating. Instead, discussing a problem and coming to a solution together does not. Assuming that everyone is doing their own duties separately, you shouldn't have any problems
Step 4. Talk to your family
Your parents, older siblings, or other relatives can help you when you struggle with homework. They've all been through it before you, and they know what you're going through, even if they haven't been to school for years. You just need the support of a person who listens to your complaints about math to let off steam: this is also useful, even though he cannot show you the right approach to solve a problem.
- Some parents don't necessarily know how to help their children study, and may end up doing their homework for them. Always try to be honest. Asking for a hand doesn't mean your dad has to do your job.
- Similarly, some older relatives have outdated methods of doing specific tasks, and may emphatically argue that what you learned in class is wrong. Your professor's approach is always the correct one, and if necessary, discuss alternative ways to finish an assignment with him.
Advice
- If you don't go to school one day, then you should call a friend to give you your notes and / or homework.
- Make sure the study space is well lit, quiet, and comfortable. This way, it will be much easier to do your homework accurately.
- Do not get too stressed out about homework, but don't be too relaxed either. Tension makes everything seem more difficult, so remember to breathe deeply and be quiet.
- Go to sleep early, rest well, and eat healthy. This will help you concentrate much longer, and you won't feel so tired. Most teens need 9-10 hours of sleep, so don't try to stay awake until 3 am, thinking that you only need 4 hours of sleep a night.
- Take effective notes in class, and be active. You will learn more, and what you write down can actually help you study better.
- Highlighting keywords is another good strategy so you can understand the question better.
- Get up early on weekends. In the morning, concentration is total. If you start work around 6 or 7, you will finish before noon, and you can dedicate the rest of the day to yourself.
- If you have to answer a series of questions and some are repetitive, you can try to skip a few without any problems. This way, you have the opportunity to spend more time on the more complicated ones. If you think you need to practice, answer more repetitive questions instead. Easy concepts should not be overlooked: sometimes, they are the ones that put the most in difficulty during an exam or a class test.
- Always start with the hardest subject, and finish with the easier one. Make sure you don't surround yourself with distractions.
- Lock the door, or at least keep your siblings from bothering you. By doing this, you will also hear less noise.
Warnings
- Don't say "I forgot my homework" if you haven't even started it. Then, if you have trouble doing them, you won't be able to ask for help.
- Don't use the excuse of forgetting your notebook at school, because it never works! The professor will simply tell you that you should have remembered this, and will ask you to complete these assignments anyway. Such forgetfulness only proves irresponsibility, and is not a good excuse for not working. By the way, the only result you will get is having a lot more things to do! Be smart and study.
