Get Boring Homework Done

No one likes getting home after a full day of school only to find themselves facing hours and hours of boring homework. But even the boring homework has to get done. By setting up the perfect homework environment, boosting motivation and relying on the people around you, you’ll find your way through and be able to get your boring homework done without a problem.

Steps

Setting Up Your Environment

  1. Organize your supplies. Before you can tackle any homework, you need to make sure that you have everything you need to finish the job. You can avoid needing to get up every few minutes by gathering all your supplies first.[1]
    • Take out all of your homework from your school bag, including your agenda, if you use one. Go through each homework task and determine what supplies you will need.
    • Gather all of your supplies and keep them in reach.
    • Make sure you have lots of paper, extra writing utensils, a calculator or other tools, and any textbooks you may need. If you need to use a laptop or computer, make sure that is available to you.
  2. Limit distractions. It’s easy to get distracted when you’re doing homework, especially if you find the homework to be boring. Help yourself to stay focused by removing all distractions from your environment.[1]
    • Put your phone away. Put it on silent and hide it in a drawer so you’re not tempted to check it.
    • If you need to use a computer but find you’re easily distracted by other websites, use an internet nanny to block sites, like social media, that you don’t need to visit.
  3. Find a quiet space. Pick a spot to do your homework that is quiet so you can concentrate without getting distracted by loud noises or other people talking.
    • If you can’t find a quiet place in your home, try visiting your local library.
  4. Adjust the temperature. It’s easiest to concentrate when you are at a comfortable temperature, not too hot or too cold.
    • If you find yourself falling asleep when you do your homework, try turning the heat down. You’re more likely to feel sleepy in a room that’s too warm.
  5. Adjust the lighting. Make sure you have a good source of light so you aren’t straining your eyes to see your homework.
    • Dim lighting can also make you feel sleepy. Make sure your homework space is bright by opening window shades, turning on lights and using a desk lamp, if necessary.

Keeping Yourself Motivated

  1. Warm up your brain. You may need to take some time to get your brain back into study mode, especially if you’re doing your homework after dinner. It’ll be easier to focus on boring homework if your brain is ready to work.
    • Reading is a great way to warm up your brain. Read a newspaper article that catches your eye, a chapter from your favorite book or a section of a magazine.
  2. Stick to a routine. When possible, homework should be done on a set schedule as part of a daily routine. Boring homework won’t seem as boring if you know that it’s homework time instead of struggling to find time to get to your homework.[2]
    • Find a routine that works best for you. You might prefer to tackle your homework as soon as you come home to get it out of the way or you might want to take 20 minutes to relax first and then start on your homework. Whatever routine works for you, it’s important that you stick to it.
    • Try to do your homework in the same place and at the same time each day so your routine becomes second nature.
  3. Create a plan for finishing your homework. Take a few moments to plan out how you are going to do your homework. By creating a plan, the workload will seem more manageable because you’ll know exactly what is coming next.[3]
    • Write your plan as a to do list. Once you finish a task, you can cross it off your list.
    • Schedule your homework into sections. It’s less overwhelming if your homework is comprised of small tasks instead of one huge project.
    • Write your plan in the order you want to finish it. Make sure homework that is urgent is on top of the list.
  4. Take breaks. It’s important to give your mind and your body some rest time while doing your homework. You don’t want to burn out or get frustrated. Schedule your breaks so that you keep yourself fresh and alert.[4]
    • Try the Pomodoro Technique: Set a timer for 25 minutes and work without stopping until the timer goes off. Once it goes off, take a five minute break. Reset the timer for another 25 minutes and repeat. After three breaks short breaks, take a longer (15 - 30 minutes) break.[5]
    • Use your break time wisely. Get yourself a snack, refill a glass of water, stretch or walk around. Try to get up from your desk so that it feels like you’re really taking a break from the work.
  5. Reward yourself. Homework can be hard work, especially if it’s boring and tough to get through. Treat yourself to little rewards as an incentive to push through and get it all done.[6]
    • Set up a reward system so that you get a treat for reaching mini milestones. For example, you can leave a candy at the bottom of every second page to eat once you get there.
    • Remember, rewards don’t always have to be candy. Get creative and think of other small treats you would enjoy as a reward for a job well done.

Recruiting the People Around You

  1. Ask for help when you need it. Don’t be afraid to reach out to the people around you and ask for help if you are struggling. Sometimes boring homework is actually homework that you find difficult. Take the time to ask for help.[4]
    • Help is available all around you. You can ask your teachers for help at school, your parents or siblings for help when you get home, or a classmate who might be able to explain the homework to you.
  2. Get someone to check your work. It always helps to have a second pair of eyes go over your work and help check for any mistakes. Ask your parents or an older sibling to look over your homework before you put it away for the night.
    • Your checker can also help keep you on track to getting your homework done. For example, if you ask your mom to check your homework at 8:00 PM, you are committing to having your homework finished by that time.
  3. Find a homework buddy. Sometimes the best way to get through boring homework is to do it with a friend. Find a classmate you can do your homework with to help keep each other motivated and on task.[6]
    • For extra motivation, you could start a challenge with your homework buddy. For example, you could compete to see who can get the highest grade on the next test.
    • Be cautious when picking a homework buddy. You want to find someone who helps you focus and not someone who distracts you.
  4. Announce that you’re doing homework. When you finish making your homework plan, share it with your family at home. By sharing your plan with the people around you, you’re making a commitment to finish the work and you’re asking those people to hold you accountable.
    • Be specific with your plan. Tell your family exactly when, where and what homework you’ll be doing. For example, instead of saying, “I’m doing homework!” you can say, “I’m studying for my math test in my room for the next hour. Can someone check on me when the hour is up?”

Tips

  • Keep a glass of water nearby so you can stay hydrated, which helps you focus.
  • Make sure you’ve had a snack or something to eat before you start your homework. It’s hard to focus on an empty stomach.
  • Wear comfortable clothing to do your homework, but not too comfortable! If you put on your pajamas, you may fall asleep at your desk.
  • Try listening to music while you do your homework. Some people enjoy having some background music while others find it distracting. Test out a few different styles of music to see if any work for you.
  • If possible, try to find a creative way to tackle boring homework. For example, if you have to write an essay on WWII, see if there is a documentary you can watch on the subject instead of just sticking to books.
  • Remember why you’re doing homework. If you are really struggling to get through boring homework, keep your eye on the bigger picture. Think about what your teacher wants you to learn and what the purpose of the assignment is.[7]

Warnings

  • Don’t procrastinate. It’s tempting to leave things until the last minute, especially if the task is boring, but don’t wait. Work done at the last minute is never your best work and will cause extra stress.
  • Don’t rush. It’s also very tempting to rush through boring work. But when you rush, you end up missing things and turning in sloppy work.
  • Double check your work. Before you pass your work onto a parent or sibling to check, read it over yourself and see if you can catch any of your own mistakes.

Things You’ll Need

  • Homework
  • Agenda
  • Textbooks
  • Writing utensils
  • Paper
  • Timer
  • Homework tools: calculator, ruler, etc.
  • Laptop or computer (if needed)
  • Other research items as assigned or needed

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.howtolearn.com/2011/09/best-homework-tips-to-cut-study-time-in-half/
  2. ↑ https://www.empoweringparents.com/article/the-homework-battle-how-to-get-children-to-do-homework/#
  3. ↑ http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html#
  5. ↑ http://cirillocompany.de/pages/pomodoro-technique
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://www.northbendlibrary.com/tips-to-concentrate-on-boring-homework-assignments.php
  7. ↑ http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/raising_happiness/post/how_to_get_kids_to_do_boring_but_necessary_tasks
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