Get Your Homework Done Fast

Doing homework can be both time-consuming and frustrating, and life is more than just homework. Here are some steps you might like to try using to get your homework done well, efficiently and without distractions. It is also important that you pay attention in class and ask plenty of questions so you know exactly what your homework assignment actually consists of! Get started at step one below

Steps

Preparing

  1. Gather supplies and bring them to a silent and serene work space. Try working at a table or desk, but don't go to your bedroom, because it can make you lazy or distracted. If you do go to your bedroom, make sure it is clean and your bed is made properly. The work space should be tidy and organized, as it will reflect on your work and lower the risk of losing things. Make sure there is good lighting available, and that you will have everything from pencils to calculators to complete your homework.
  2. Ask your parents and siblings to give you privacy. That way it will make you comfortable. Also, it won't break focus on what you are doing.
  3. Remove any sources of distraction. This means shutting off your cell phone, logging off your computer (unless you will need it for your homework), turning off the television and closing the door. Let your family know that you do not want to be disturbed while working so they can respect your privacy.
  4. Re-organize as needed. Make sure your supplies and homework are not one big mess; this will make it more difficult to get things done. An easy way to do this is to have a weekly or monthly clean out of the place you keep your homework.
  5. Wear comfortable clothing. It can help you feel relaxed and at ease during your studying. You might even want to wear your pajamas.

Planning

  1. Plan out how long it should take to get the assignment done. Don't let yourself waste time, because it never comes back. Set a schedule for yourself and make every effort to follow it. Remember, time can never return! Don't leave yourself with regrets later. If it's a project make sure you don't procrastinate.
  2. Organize your homework list. Estimate how long it will take you to complete each homework subject, and tackle the hard work first. It will get progressively easier as you go along. If your motivation is very low, pick one of the easier tasks, or a portion of a task to get you started and energize you. It is also a good idea to do computer work first, then do work in the order of your classes. In study hall/tutorial do the homework with the heaviest supplies first.
  3. Try to do your homework during the day rather than the night. The reason for this is that it might help to avoid panicking that you won't get it done; there is still plenty of time left. Also, you may be more alert during the day.

Studying

  1. Make sure you understand the homework so that you don't waste time becoming frustrated. Ask your teacher if you need help before you hand it in.
    • Don't be afraid to ask your family for help if you need it. If they have any knowledge in that field, just ask them the question(s).
  2. Time yourself on each assignment. This will help you work faster and keep you motivated instead of bored and forced to do the assignment.
  3. If you are someone who gets distracted, follow these steps:
    • Decide exactly what part of task you are focusing on, one at a time.
    • Get a timer, set it for a short time, e.g. 5 or 10 minutes, and when it goes off, just check yourself to see that you are still focused on the goal.
    • Don't waste your time and energy getting too annoyed with yourself if you get distracted - just re-focus your attention, once you get engaged with what you are doing you will be fine.
    • If you realize your attention is wandering over and over, work out why you are getting stuck with your work - you could write it down as a question.
  4. Postpone assignments that are not due the next day, just not until the last minute. If you have more time allowed for a particular homework assignment, get it done at a later time or over a weekend so you can hand in the daily homework on time. Just make sure you don't wait until the last second to get that assignment done - take a good look at any work you are postponing so you know what you'll be doing.
    • If you know you'll forget, don't postpone any assignments. Do everything you get on the same day that you got it, that way you will never find yourself behind schedule and will be happier.
  5. Progress through your studies. Take short breaks between assignments, and remember to stay focused and concentrate.

Motivating

  1. Eat while you work. Having a healthy snack while you complete your homework, such as fruits or vegetables, can actually sharpen your focus and improve your memory.
  2. Reward yourself for each task accomplished. Again, take short breaks and return to finish up the last of your work. Don't make the breaks too long, though. If you are reading long pages in textbooks use your favourite type of candy as an incentive. Put a piece of the candy at the end of the first paragraph so that you have motivation to get to the end of the page.
  3. Think of the free time you will have to enjoy once your homework is complete. This should help motivate yourself to get your homework done.

Tips

  • Change into something comfortable so you don't shift in your seat or itch your back and twist; it'll pressure you into losing focus.
  • Do homework before anything else. If you don't, you might not have time to do it later. When you are done, then take some free time.
  • If you are trying to find a way to do homework fast because you are doing homework right now, then read quickly and get right back to work!
  • Do not get off task, or "space out"! It will probably end up wasting 10 or more minutes of your time. Focus is a skill to be learned.
  • Practice, practice, practice! If you get bored, take a quick 5 minute break, but remember don't take too many breaks because you need to get your homework done.
  • If you are finding it hard to stay motivated, why not say that at the end of each piece of homework you complete you get a chocolate, sweet or reward. This will help to keep you motivated and help you to complete your task quickly.
  • Make sure to hand in all assignments on time.
  • Don't do more than is needed. If you are in a hurry, do what the task tells you to and no more.
  • Prioritize your tasks by due date. First, complete any late assignments. Then, work on homework that is due tomorrow. If you still have time when you complete the daily homework, chip away at longer term assignments!
  • If you have packets that are not due the next day, don't hold them off until the last moment.
  • Try getting a planner to help you remember things you need to accomplish.
  • If you cannot find the necessary items to complete your homework, you may want to organize your space and keep them somewhere special.
  • While you're working on an assignment, it can be easy to think about all the other homework you have to be doing. Instead, the best thing to do is focus on the task at hand. Don't do it too slowly like you have nothing else to do, but know that what you have to be doing right is that assignment, and in that given time frame there is nothing else to do.
  • Don't fall asleep. To keep yourself up, set an alarm that rings every 5-10 minutes, alerting you to do your homework, if you're falling asleep.
  • Don't do your homework in bed, or you may fall asleep!
  • If you think you are a procrastinator, get a calendar and plan all the steps out for any big project.
  • Chew gum. Let the flavor take away all of your distractions. Choose a flavor that's not too sweet, but mint-flavored gum is recommended because it is known to boost your brain up and help you work faster.
  • Get some nice music or do something that you like to do that will soothe you. Listen to music that you don't know the lyrics to, or instrumental music. If you don't have music to listen to, search on YouTube or 8tracks: "good music for studying".
  • It's useful to have a big beautiful pile of equipment but avoid equipment problems as an excuse not to get on with your homework! Just do it with the resources available.
  • Remember what's important. Maybe your favorite TV show is on the night before the deadline of a big project. In the grand scheme of things, what's more important to you?
  • Avoid Twitter and other social media.
  • Keep a positive attitude! It's really important to try to enjoy the things you learn about. So take the extra step and research a little more than you have to (if you have time)!
  • Don't save your homework until the morning. This can and will cause rushing and it will not be your best work. If you ride the bus in the afternoon or the morning then do your homework in the bus or in class only if your teacher allows it.
  • Make sure you're not stressed all the time. Do not get stressed or annoyed when doing homework. Take your time and relax a little. If you get stressed during homework time, it can sometimes cause you to lose focus. The best way to cure it is to have your cat or dog sit with you and pet the cat or dog with love and care until your stress is gone. Not too long though!
  • Take 1 minute breaks to stretch and get energized. Studies show that getting your heart rate up helps with concentration.
  • If you don't do your homework right then, you might forget and get in trouble by your teacher and your parents. Get it done!
  • Remember to take breaks. You can easily get stressed by sitting through an hour or two of homework without stopping.
  • Work on the bus on the way home. You will be surprised how much time it can take out of homework, but remember to write neatly.
  • Don't do homework at the last second.
  • Understand what your teacher is teaching you, so you can get your homework done fast.
  • If you need help, it's okay to ask a parent for help. If you still don't understand, ask a teacher or study more during recess.
  • Finish your regular homework, then complete late assignments. It won't help if you finish a late assignment that's still going to be late, and get your normal homework assignments late because you focused on assignments already past their due dates!
  • If you are consistently having trouble with your homework, take notes during class to use when doing homework.
  • When you start one piece of work don't do anything but that at that time. Don't get up to do anything else unless you have to.
  • Think of the consequences. Procrastinating is dangerous to your grades.
  • Make a checklist and tick each piece of work off as you go along. That way you're motivated to get everything completed!
  • Have your supplies you'll need, so that you do not frequently break your concentration to get supplies.
  • Don't stress out! Calm yourself, and breath. That can help you focus, and make sure you clear your mind of distracting thoughts before you start working.
  • Start with the hardest assignments then work your way to the easiest so it becomes easier as you go on.
  • When you get home from school don't do your homework right away, why not take a 30 minute break. This won't only give you time to rest but also boost up your energy for when you start to do homework!
  • Don't save assignments for the last day. This will make you become very stressed.
  • Work on your assignments when possible while at school (e.g. during breaks, lunch, study hall, free time during class) so you'll have less to do when you get home.
  • Finish your homework right away! Don't delay finishing it until the last minute.
  • Make sure you have some water and a healthy snack on hand before you start working. If you get hungry or thirsty in the middle of your work and you have to get up to get something, chances are, you'll end up getting sidetracked.
  • Let your family know that you are going to do homework. If you have any siblings, tell your parent or guardian that you will need privacy so you can get your homework done.
  • If you have some work that is due tomorrow, and some due in two days, do the one that's due tomorrow! The due date really matters to organization.
  • Make sure that you do your homework as soon as you get home or else you might get distracted and not want to do it.
  • Do homework with positive reinforcements, for example: if I finish this by 7:00 I can watch this show just don't get side tracked!!
  • If you feel like you distracted with students sitting next to you, you can maybe ask your teacher to put you somewhere where you don't talk to anyone especially friends.
  • If you have long activities after school and/or are taking many advanced classes, use sleep as an incentive to get done quickly. Start your homework right when you get home and stay focused!

Warnings

  • Make sure to check your work after you are done
  • Remember to take breaks. You can easily get stressed by sitting through an hour or two of homework without stopping.
  • If it takes you really too long and if your homework seems to be taking you a lot longer than everyone else, first of all make a diary of the time you spend for a couple of weeks, and then you need to talk to a tutor or teacher about it to discuss what is going wrong.
  • Prioritize your work. Don't do homework that's due next week before you do homework that's due tomorrow!
  • Don't procrastinate. Doing so is a bad habit that will eventually lead to your homework never getting done. Avoid this by starting your homework shortly after getting home, and plugging through it until it is complete.
  • Make sure to take your time. You don't want an F or a "1" on your report card because you rushed through the material.
  • Not only do you have to do homework quickly, but get it correct.
  • Do reports later, and studying later, you'll do that after homework.

Things You'll Need

  • A clear and organized workspace
  • A quiet and bright area
  • A study timetable
  • Homework list
  • Textbooks and note books
  • Homework notes or helpful notes
  • Scratch paper/ blank paper to work out the problems visually
  • Planner
  • Highlighters
  • Pens
  • Pencils (grab a few extras, so you don't need to waste time sharpening pencils)
  • Erasers
  • Sharpener
  • Ruler
  • Glue sticks
  • Stapler
  • Sticky notes
  • Calculator
  • A stopwatch or timer (optional)
  • Healthy snacks
  • A drink (preferably water)

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