Q&A for How to Avoid Homework Stress

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  • Question
    I have homework due tomorrow but not enough time to do it. My teachers get really mad. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    Do as much as you can tonight and wake up earlier and do the rest. It's best to plan ahead so you don't find yourself in this predicament, but at this point, you'll just have to do the best you can.
  • Question
    How do I manage getting enough sleep if I have a lot of homework and am a night owl?
    Community Answer
    Look at how much time you have in the morning before school. Get as much done at night as you can, but just enough that you have a good amount of sleep. See if you can finish it in the morning.
  • Question
    I have problems worrying about if I have more homework to do, even though it's technically finished. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    Go over your homework to ensure that it's complete. Once you're comfortable that it is, distract yourself with music, TV or a movie, reading, or playing a game.
  • Question
    How do I make up all my homework all at once?
    Community Answer
    Find all the time you can. Even if it is only a few minutes, you can still do some in that time, and work on it until you're done.
  • Question
    My teacher gives us a whole packet to do (10 pages) in just one day. How can I do this?
    Community Answer
    Break it up into chunks. Finish two pages and then take a five minute break (check social media, have a healthy snack, jog around the block, etc.). Set a timer for the break so you know when to get back to work. Then do two more pages, and repeat until your packet is done.
  • Question
    How do I participate in extracurricular activities and keep up with my homework, too?
    Community Answer
    Well, first decide how long your extracurricular will take. If you have a solid block of time before or after you have to get ready/go to your activity, then use that time to work. Also, you can do homework while driving to your extracurricular. If this still does not help, see if you can cut some of your hours dedicated to that specific activity.
  • Question
    How can I complete a lot of work in one day?
    Community Answer
    Don't think about how much work you have to do, just do it. It also helps to takes breaks and give yourself rewards when you've finished a piece or a project. If you are the planning type, make a brief outline of your tasks to keep you motivated, and give yourself a check off list.
  • Question
    Can I do homework in the morning?
    Community Answer
    Sure, whatever works for you. But most people find it best to get it out of the way after school. Plus, you may get more benefits from the practice your homework gives you if you do it before rather than after sleeping, since sleep helps consolidate memory and helps you retain more information.
  • Question
    How can I relax and spend time on my hobbies when I have homework to complete?
    Community Answer
    Reward and pace yourself. After completing, say, 30 minutes to an hour of homework, take 15-20 minutes to relax, listen to music, etc. Breaking your homework down into sections and taking a break in between can also help you keep your concentration and focus. After finishing your homework, reward yourself by spending some time doing your favorite hobby.
  • Question
    What if I don't have enough time to take breaks or reserve time with family and friends?
    Community Answer
    You might be taking on too big of a course load or you might have a bigger issue with time management. Take a close look at the amount and due dates of your homework and see if you can put together a consistent schedule that allows for breaks and time with friends and family. It is important to build downtime into your life, because too much work can stress you out to unhealthy levels.
  • Question
    I am in middle school and have about 4-6 hours of homework each night. After school I have volleyball and usually have 3 hours to do homework, if there are no interruptions. Is there anything I can do to make this year easier?
    Community Answer
    I am in the same situation, my tips are to do homework whenever you can (on the bus, in the car, waiting rooms, etc.) and, if possible, get a P.E. exempt for your fitness hours. Also try to stay positive, forgive yourself, get plenty of sleep, and don't let homework always hang over your head when you're relaxing or doing something fun. Try to Make a Study Timetable to use your time more efficiently.
  • Question
    What if I can't do the homework or it takes way too long?
    Community Answer
    If you "can't" do it because you don't understand it, ask for help from a parent or call a friend. Don't leave your homework to the last minute. Divide the work into sections and make a timetable and stick to it.
  • Question
    How can I stay focused at home when there are a lot of distractions?
    Community Answer
    Pick a quiet room, will little or no distractions. If there is not a room with distractions, remove the distractions if possible. A good room to work in would be a kitchen if empty, or an office if you have one. Set yourself rules, such as no cellphones while working. Don't overload yourself or set impossible tasks ahead of you. Make a list of priorities, and start with the harder stuff before working toward the easier things. Motivate yourself. Allow yourself to hang out with friends, or watch TV after you finish all of your work. Keep your mind on task until it is finished.
  • Question
    I have problems procrastinating and falling asleep during homework time, and no matter what I do it won't stop. What do I do?
    Community Answer
    Put all distractions away. If you get distracted by your phone, for example, put it in a box and give it to a family member or roommate so you won't have access to it. If your room has any distractions in it, study in the library. To stay awake, drink water or have a healthy snack. Every hour or so, get up and stretch or do jumping jacks for a couple of minutes.
  • Question
    What should I do about my homework if I am busy after school and it is due the next day?
    Community Answer
    Work on your homework in any spare time you have, like between activities or while in the car on the way to somewhere. If you have very little time, you should prioritize your studies over anything else, like sports or friends.
  • Question
    I am doing homework now at midnight. How can I avoid that?
    Community Answer
    Try to plan your homework time so that you start at, for example, 8 and end at 10. If you get to 10, go to bed and try to work on it again in the morning. Getting adequate sleep is important.
  • Question
    What do I do when I don't understand a math question?
    Community Answer
    Don't be afraid to ask someone for help. If you are at home and your parents or older siblings can't help, move on to the next question and then ask your teacher for help the next day.
  • Question
    What if I'm working so slow, and I don't have enough time and I haven't slept?
    Community Answer
    If you're often a slow worker, talk to your teachers about this. They might be able to give you extra time. When you're working, try setting goals for yourself, like "I will get this much done today." If you need it, ask a friend or parent for help.
  • Question
    How can I motivate myself to do homework?
    Community Answer
    Don't put off doing it. If you are having a hard time getting your homework done because there is too much of it or you don't understand it, talk to your teacher(s) for extra help. Do you have a scheduled study hall or free period? If so, do as much as you can during that time. Try getting the hardest subject done first; that way the rest will be easy by comparison.
  • Question
    When I usually need to do research on my laptop, I find myself playing Sims instead. This happens all the time and then I never have time to research and it's annoying. Any help?
    Community Answer
    Try using another device or having a family member watch you the first few times you research. Think about what you need to do that is more important than Sims.
  • Question
    It's really difficult for me to read through my AP textbooks. I have a lot of Cornell notes to take in the book. How can I make reading the textbook easier?
    Community Answer
    Read little bits at a time and reward yourself for your readings every chapter or few pages with a break, or read in 15 minute segments with 5 minutes of activity between until you're caught up.
  • Question
    How can the internet help me study?
    Community Answer
    Use trusted sources like Encyclopedia Britannica, Dictionary.com, Thesaurus.com, and Wikipedia to help you learn. There are also resources like Quizlet to help test your knowledge.
  • Question
    How do I avoid procrastinating on doing my homework?
    Community Answer
    Think about how much it would suck to get a bad grade or have to stay up late to do it.
  • Question
    Will my teacher get mad at me if I don't do my homework?
    Community Answer
    It depends. If this is a repeated occurrence, then your teacher may become frustrated; if it is not very common and you have a legitimate explanation as to why it happened, most teachers are generally understanding.
  • Question
    What happens if I get home late and my mom tells me to practice piano, stretch for ice skating, do my piano theory, and do all my homework before my dinner when I am so busy? What do I do?
    Oliviarose9
    Community Answer
    Explain to her all the stuff you need to do. Show her all of the homework you have and tell her it will take a while. Show her that if you, say, spend two hours on homework you only have time for stretching, if you rush. Taking responsibility is something that most parents are surprised by and I think she will understand. Explain the amount of stress you feel each day. Make sure to exaggerate it a bit if she won't listen.
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