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How to Find Motivation to Do Homework
Last Updated: September 11, 2024 Fact Checked
This article was co-authored by Jake Adams and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,707,892 times.
Even if you love school, it can be hard to stay excited about doing homework. Just like with any other kind of work, it’s important to set personal goals and find your own inspiration to keep going. You can also help yourself focus by minimizing distractions and caring for yourself while you work. Finally, organize your time wisely and break your homework up into manageable pieces so it doesn’t feel too overwhelming.
Finding Your Drive and Inspiration
- Give yourself bigger rewards for bigger accomplishments. For example, you might go out for pizza with a friend after handing in an important paper.
- Just make sure you limit yourself to a specific amount of time (like 10 minutes, for example) so that you don’t end up getting totally distracted and wasting a few hours.
Did you know? Researchers in Japan recently discovered that looking at pictures or videos of baby animals before you start working can make you much more productive. [3] X Trustworthy Source PLOS ONE Online peer-reviewed, open access scientific research journal Go to source So, go ahead and watch a couple of cute kitten videos on YouTube the next time you need to work on a boring assignment. It might help!
- Doing homework with a friend doesn’t necessarily mean collaborating on the same assignments. You can just spend time together while you each do your own work. Only get your parent to help you if you need help.
- Check with your teacher first before working together with a friend on an assignment. They may want you to do the work by yourself.
- For example, if you’re a morning person, try doing your homework right after you eat breakfast.
- If you tend to get distracted while working at your desk at home, experiment with doing your homework in the library or a coffee shop instead.
- Some people also find it helpful to change their routine from time to time. If you find yourself getting bored, try working at a different time from usual or finding a new study space.
- Setting vague goals can lead to frustration. Instead of saying, “I’m going to get all my homework done this week,” try something more specific—e.g., “I’m going to work on my English essay for 1 hour every day this week.”
- For example, maybe you want to get good grades so you can get into your dream college, or possibly you’re working towards an exciting career.
- Doing a good job in your classes can also be its own reward—knowing that you worked hard and did your best is a great self-esteem booster!
Keeping Yourself Focused and Alert
- If you feel physically tense, do some yoga or light stretches before you begin to work.
- Doing breathing exercises can also help you feel more comfortable and alert.
- If you’re not already in comfy clothes, get changed before you start working. This may mean joggers, sweatpants, pjs, shorts, underwear, or even being completely naked. It's your choice.
- You’ll want a place where you can sit comfortably, but don’t get too comfortable. If you do homework in bed or on a cozy couch, you may be tempted to fall asleep!
- If you have to work at home, ask anyone who lives with you to give you a little quiet time while you do your homework.
- If you can’t resist messing around on your phone or visiting time-wasting websites on your computer, consider installing an app or a browser extension that blocks tempting apps and sites.
- Don’t try to work with a TV or radio on. If you listen to music while you do your homework, choose something that’s quiet and not too exciting, like some gentle classical music.
- Whole grains
- Healthy proteins, like fish, beans, or nuts
- Blueberries
- Leafy greens
- During your breaks, you can go for a walk, have a snack, do a little meditation , or even put your head down for a quick power nap .
- You can also use your breaks to reward yourself with a fun video or a quick game on your phone.
Did you know? Walking can improve your thinking skills. If you’re feeling stuck on a problem, going for a quick walk or even hopping on a treadmill can help! [13] X Research source
- For example, if you’ve been working on an essay for an hour or two, take a break and then switch to doing some math problems.
- Don’t try to do more than one task at once, though. Trying to multitask will disrupt your focus and cause you to make more mistakes.
Organizing Your Time Effectively
- Setting a schedule also makes it easier to avoid procrastinating .
- Make sure to schedule in time for breaks and relaxation, too!
Tip: You can avoid unpleasant surprises by writing important dates and deadlines into your schedule. For example, make note of when you have tests or quizzes coming up or when different assignments are due.
- Make an ordered list of all your tasks. Try to prioritize ones that are due soon, count towards a major part of your grade, or seem like they will be the most complicated to complete.
- Put assignments that aren’t due for a while or that you know you can finish quickly and easily at the bottom.
- For example, if you’re writing a big paper, you might break it up into pieces like doing the research, composing a bibliography, writing an outline, drafting the introduction, and so on.
- Productivity apps are helpful for some people, but they’re not for everyone. Make sure you don’t spend so much time worrying about the app that it starts to cut into your homework time! [19] X Research source
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Tips from our Readers
- Start your homework as soon as you get home from school (you may need a small snack first) instead of watching tv or using the computer. If you start another activity, it will be harder to stop it to switch to homework. Go straight to homework and think of TV and the computer as your reward for finishing.
- Sometimes I have a lot of work to do and it seems overwhelming, even if the work isn't hard. If I close my eyes and imagine myself doing my homework, it doesn't feel as intimidating and gives me the feeling that I can do it.
- Make a homework playlist in your music app and play every time you sit down to study. If music with lyrics distracts you, try looking up "study playlists" and "homework playlists," as they're usually just instrumentals.
- If you can, have your parents drop you off at the library after school for an hour (or however long your homework would take) so you can stay focused. There isn't much to do at the library and it's quiet.
- Take short breaks to rest your mind for a little while so that it is ready to get back to work. This works for a lot of people who just need to decompress after a long period of working and hard thinking!
- Think about having free time after the homework to do what you want. Also, think about having the homework done, being stress-free, and not getting in trouble because you didn't do your homework.
- Dedicate a space in your house to homework and decorate it. Make your homework space a place you like to be.
- Work with a buddy who doesn't get as distracted as you. This way, your buddy can help you stay focused.
- Chewing on gum can help you stay alert and focused if you're feeling tired or distracted.
You Might Also Like
- ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
- ↑ https://www.oxford-royale.co.uk/articles/tips-studying-motivation.html
- ↑ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0046362
- ↑ https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/how-should-students-study-tips-advice-and-pitfalls
- ↑ https://www.umassd.edu/fycm/goal-setting/resources/smartgoals/
- ↑ https://allianzassistancehealth.com.au/en/living-in-australia/studying-motivation-tips-university/
- ↑ https://www.wgu.edu/blog/improve-online-study-environment1712.html
- ↑ https://share.upmc.com/2019/08/healthy-snacks-to-power-studying/
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html
- ↑ https://news.stanford.edu/2014/04/24/walking-vs-sitting-042414/
- ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/studying-101-study-smarter-not-harder/
- ↑ https://www.aiuniv.edu/blog/2016/april/4-steps-to-prioritize-tasks
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/18/time-management-apps-work-life-balance-productivity
About This Article
To find the motivation to do your homework, give yourself small rewards after you accomplish a goal, like a 5 minute video after finishing a reading assignment. For larger accomplishments, like completing an important paper, give yourself a bigger reward, like going out for pizza with friends. You can also try giving yourself a treat, like a scoop of ice cream or 10 minutes to text your best friend, before you begin working to lift your mood and make you more productive. If you have a friend who won’t distract you, see if they want to do homework together so you can keep each other on track. To learn how to pick the best time and place to do your homework, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No
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