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Very few students like to do homework and everyone seems to put it off. After all, why start your work now when you can watch another episode of your favorite TV show? Usually, the problem isn't an unwillingness to do the homework at all; after all, you did search for this article. The problem, most of the time, is finding the motivation and starting your task. Now it's time to get over your procrastination and be motivated to study. In the long run homework is good and teachers set it to help you learn more.



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    Plan ahead to have free-time after school. If you have a study period, do as much of your homework as you can. The more you do while you are at school, the less you will need to do at home. Try to do all of it in class (if time is provided), at lunch, or any other spare time you may have. This way you may also get help while at school, if you don't understand the work. Ask your teachers while they are available: they're there to assist you. Let them help you.
    • Put the hardest homework at the top of your list. Why? Well, this allows you to kick it up a notch! You can start, move on, and then continue re-thinking it (starting gives it a place in the "depths" of your mind -- an inventive part of your mind) and then going back to it, to do more, so you won't get too bogged down, but it will have priority for the subconscious mind to work on it! See, you don't have to get stuck in that problem -- that might take all of your time:

      Do a quick effort; make it a worthwhile try, then go onward to less demanding homework. Later, going back -- and seeing how you can improve the first one with fresh bits and pieces.

      Open "secret back-channels" (ooh...) -- just starting, even if you have to come back to finish, gets your creativity to kick in (this gets dark recesses of your mind to really work for you!). Creative juices can be inspiring, refreshing, helpful!
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    Break it down. Make piecework; quickly overview the topic: scan!

    ~ Read headings, intro, maps, charts, pictures, captions, bold or italic lettering, footnotes, and chapter summaries to get ideas and perspectives/angles for ideas to start yourself thinking.

    ~ Begin your answer to each problem and essay question, by doing parts! How? Make a first sentence or step, do any logical, little bits and bites (go step-by-step).

    ~ Add a second thought/step and another -- each flowing from the previous one. Going one phrase or sentence at a time makes it possible to write or do something.

    ~ Skip some lines, to leave room to fill in later -- if you need to move on to another area.

    To re-kick-start an answer: Read what you have already written/or have done to check it, and see what flows from there', to lead your thinking to your next thought/step, and so on.
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    Set goals and rewards. Once you've completed your goal and finished your homework, reward yourself with some little thing that you would find enjoyable and doable after you finish. (Don't use food or treats as a reward, though - eating could lead to health and weight problems later -- unless it's a "free snack": small salad, or 2 crackers, 3 or 4 almonds/other nuts, one bite of meat, or a cup of tea.) Save a special book to read when homework is done, or make plans to talk with a friend on the phone as soon as both of you have completed your assignments. Go on your favorite website, or even dedicate yourself to a great project you've always been wanting to do.
    • Take advantage of any holidays or vacations that may be coming near as a motivator. On a Thursday, remind yourself that it is almost the weekend, and the moment this homework assignment is done you'll be one moment closer. Remember that Thanksgiving, winter break, or summer break is nearing, and the moment your homework is done you can enjoy it to its fullest.
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    Avoid procrastination. The surest way to get over procrastination is to take care of a task as soon as you think of it - don't delay and tell yourself you'll do it later.
    • Think of it this way: if you procrastinate, you're spending time worrying about the task in addition to the time you actually do it. If you just take action and complete it as soon as you think of it, then you'll have more time to relax.
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    Work smarter, not harder. A fried brain absorbs little information. Break up your homework time into chunks. Take regular breaks. Set a timer; take a 5- to 10 minute break for each hour you study. Get up, stretch, and move around. Drink water and eat a little fruit: water will refresh your system, and 1/2 an apple provides a better effect than a sugary energy drink.
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    Think of the consequences. What will happen, if you don't do your homework? Will you get a bad grade? Will your teacher be disappointed in you? If none of these things seem to apply to you, remember that homework is to help you learn, which everyone ultimately wants. In the real world, knowledge helps you master the rules of the game.
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    Think of the benefits. What will happen, if you do your homework? You'll probably get a good grade. Your teacher will appreciate your efforts. You have learned a great deal, and you'd be paving your way for a better life simply by putting your pencil to paper! Putting yourself in a positive state will reap in the benefits and ultimately surge you with the energy and hope to focus back on your work, and even enjoy what you're doing!
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    Find a place with less distraction. Set up your special study place. No friends, television, or other potential distractions should be present. Your homework place should also have a hard surface, like a table, to write on. If you need to do some of your homework on a computer, as many high school students do, make sure to avoid chat programs, unrelated websites, etc. If you have difficulty keeping focused, or awake, consider doing your homework at the library, at a table with some amount of foot traffic passing by it. The quiet atmosphere will help you focus, the surrounding mild activity will help keep you from falling asleep, and if you get stuck, there are those helpful librarians and references.
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    Straighten your desk/room. It's easier to concentrate on your homework when you don't have clutter in your workspace. Take 5 minutes to tidy up your immediate area before you get started.
    • Don't go on a cleaning binge as a way to procrastinate. Focus only on where you'll be working, and leave it at that.
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    Find a homework partner. Make sure this person isn't one of your crazy friends who'll distract you. Find someone to sit with who is quiet and focused. This will help you feel comfortable working, because someone else is working along with you. Just be sure not to end up talking more than working.
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    Create your own learning method. Everybody learns at their own pace and uses different methods to help memorize the material. Some find walking helpful, while others like to listen to music while they study. Whatever it is, experiment until you find something that seems to work well for you.
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    Listen to some quiet music (optional). Listening to music and studying does not work for everyone. If you are going to listen to music, try to listen to classical music or instrumental songs. Or if classical isn't for you, just pick quiet songs that you don't know, and start working, so you don't get caught up in the words.
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    Exercise briefly during each study break. It will help relieve tension, clear your mind, help you focus and make you feel awake. For example, walk around, stretch, do jumping jacks, or jog in place.
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    Make a routine. A routine will get you into doing homework as a habit. Schedule times and days so you are totally organized as to what you're doing this week, the next, and even the week afterwards. Surprises will occur, but at the very least, you know what you're doing!
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    Disconnect. Turn off your computer, phone, etc. that could distract you easily. Don't get wrapped up on the computer or phone on a break because you will not remember what you were learning about and it will delay your finish time. Stay away from them at all costs unless you must do the homework on the computer.
    • Put your phone, computer, and anything else that might distract you far from your reach. Then stay in a quiet room where you know you won't get distracted. Keep a timer for every 30 minutes to an hour, so you know how long you've been working and can still keep track of time.
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    Prioritize. Divide your homework according to your ability in the subject. If you're not so good, do it first. If it's an easy assignment, take a break and do it in 15 minutes or so, then get working again! If it's a long-term project, do it last. Not that it's not as important, but you need to save your time for the things with near-due-dates.
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    Get some success: you might prefer to get 1 or 2 easy tasks over-with at the start of a homework session, saving the hard stuff for last. Diving right into the hard stuff can be discouraging, and studies show that many people learn well when they start with easier material and work up to the harder stuff. Getting a few easy tasks done quickly can remind you of how good it feels to be productive. Some people, however are more motivated to dig into the hardest stuff first. It will make the rest seem like a breeze. Find out what works best for you.
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    Use simpler problems to find the steps to do harder solutions. Most problems can be broken down into simpler problems. That's a key to try on most math and science work and exams.


  • If you really don't want to do your homework, then just get everything ready to do your homework: paper, pencil, textbook, and maybe a cup of tea. Then sit down and open the book to the page you need to read. Then read the first paragraph. Usually by then you will feel that you can write the first sentence, of an answer, report or of notes.
  • Do your homework on a table or desk, but never try to work on the couch or in your bed. You will get bored, and the bed is so soft, you might fall asleep. Even if you are not like the people who could actually fall asleep, you will get comfortable and distracted.
  • If you have a really hard homework, do easier homework first so that you are not stuck and standing still.
  • If you can help it, don't go to bed before you finish your homework. What will happen is that you'll say, "Oh I'll get up early the next morning to finish it." Then, you either don't get up early enough, or you do, and you're totally worn out for the rest of the day.
  • Studies show that during sleep, the brain tends to hold the memories you have right before you go to sleep. Therefore, if you have to memorize something, try to learn it just before bed. That does not mean you can cram 100 vocabulary words right before you go to sleep; memorize some during the day so that right before sleep you can review most or all of them.
  • If the homework is going to take a long time (2+ hours), take a 15-minute break every hour. On the break, do not start your reward or anything else that you might be tempted to use as an excuse to not go back to your homework.
  • If you need to use the computer for homework, do not get caught up in interesting ads that could lead to browsing the web and interrupting your work. If you can, try using a blocker to block these things and try not to get tempted.
  • Don't get frustrated. If you are having trouble getting through a certain assignment and it takes a long time, temporarily switch to another assignment.
  • Don't get really stressed about not being able to do homework. There's plenty of help around - the Internet, parents, friends, etc. If all else fails, you can go into school early and ask your teacher to explain the work to you.
  • Start with your notes or texts in front of you, don't do it alone, not guessing how to get solutions, use the notes you have from class.
  • Avoid procrastinating that may affect your plans for the rest of the day. Say you start thinking, "Oh, I'll do it tonight" then look at your plans, and you would have something there, "Nope, my favorite show is on."
  • Use your spare time at school, and while riding the bus to begin your homework. Do the rest of your homework right after arriving at home. You are still in the school learning mode, and it will be easier to remember all you have learned. Then, you will have the rest of the day and evening free, without having to even think of school, until the next day.
  • Race against the clock: Figure out how long it takes you to do homework, without the procrastinating breaks in-between. Write down your assignment and write the time you started it. When you finish, write down the time again. Make sure not to procrastinate in-between! Do this for all your assignments and you will probably see that it doesn't take as long to do homework as you thought. Record your breaks too! Every time you take a break, write down the start and end time. Knowing you are being timed may motivate you to do your homework faster.
  • Lock yourself in a mental block where only school comes through.
  • Don't get really worried! It's only homework. Next week you'll be wondering 'why ever did I get so worked up about it?' Think about a few years into the future after all of your exams when you won't ever have to do homework again. Change your perspective so you can, essentially, reach back into the past to change what's going on in life now.
  • Write down motivational suggestions that work for you, to start homework or assessments. If you're going through a list of motivational techniques, such as these, write down all of the techniques that make you go "hmmm, that actually might work". By doing this, next time you can look at your own list that is you-specific. You will find that you get your work started faster, and will feel more in control.
  • Music may often help you concentrate; though try to avoid music with lyrics or very complex melodic progressions, as they may cause you to think more about the music than your homework. Certain classical music and some jazz are good for listening to while doing homework. Trance is the best style of music for studying; many people find studying to trance music very easily because most trance music is pure instrumental.
  • Make time for breakfast and lunch. It does play a role in your ability to think.
  • Be confident! Don't get hung up on one little thing and prevent your happiness!
  • Tell yourself, "I'll only work 5 more problems/20 minutes." If you want to stop after 20 minutes, but need to go longer -- take a little break; then go right back to the work.

    Tell yourself, "Just 5 more...", and begin to study again. You'll probably go longer without realizing... Repeat!
  • Get inspired to do it! Make colorful charts, and diagrams to help speed up this process.
  • If you are an extreme procrastinator, you might try some "structured procrastination". As the suggestion above says, do the easy homework before doing the hard homework, however not just to give yourself a sense of accomplishment, but also to avoid doing the big stuff. When it comes to the big stuff, find another larger task to avoid, like annoying house chores, to put off in order to do this homework, instead. While, in the long run, this method is not productive, because eventually you will have some really big things that you keep putting off for smaller ones, still it can be more satisfying/effective for a hardened procrastinator, to get motivated.
  • Some people use 'study drugs' in order to stay awake, hoping to stay focused. While this may be an effective way to avoid sleep, be aware that using drugs in this manner may cause unwanted side effects, such as mild depression, anxiety, insomnia, etc., and is illegal. Since psychotropic drugs work differently for different people, this is not an effective way to study.
  • Make sure you get a good nights sleep the night before. You will be able to work better, if you are not tired.
  • If there is something you don't understand, write down a specific question, or mark the page in your book. Then you can ask your teacher for detailed help. If you just go to your teacher and say,
    • "I didn't understand the homework; so I couldn't finish it," it will be difficult for her/him to help you -- if you can't be specific about what was actually hindering you. The teacher will start explaining too basically or too advanced, and not help you (this frustrates both you and the teacher). So instead, say exactly what you need to get cleared up.
  • If you do homework with a friend, it's easy to get off subject and not do work in time. Of course, it's perfectly fine to be part of a study group, if you know you can all focus.
  • It's easier to recall something, if you remembered it under a similar environment, known as state-dependent learning. That's why it is important to study at a table and with proper lighting instead of reading on your bed, for example.


  • Staying up late to finish your homework is not a good idea: you will be really sleepy and won't pay attention in your classes.
  • Make sure to eat healthy, small snacks for better brain function (not to be drowsy).

Article Info

Categories: Homework Skills

In other languages:

Français: trouver de la motivation pour faire ses devoirs, Italiano: Essere Motivati a Fare i Compiti, Português: Encontrar Motivação para Fazer Tarefa de Casa, Español: encontrar la motivación para hacer la tarea, Deutsch: Motivation für die Hausaufgaben finden, Русский: найти в себе силы сделать домашнюю работу

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