to do homework fast go slow you must

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., 8 easy ways to finish your homework faster.

How many times have you found yourself still staring at your textbook around midnight (or later!) even when you started your homework hours earlier? Those lost hours could be explained by Parkinson’s Law, which states, “Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, if you give yourself all night to memorize those geometry formulas for your quiz tomorrow, you’ll inevitably find that a 30 minute task has somehow filled your entire evening.

We know that you have more homework than ever. But even with lots and lots to do, a few tweaks to your study routine could help you spend less time getting more accomplished. Here are 8 steps to make Parkinson’s Law work to your advantage:

1. Make a list

This should be a list of everything that has to be done that evening. And we mean, everything—from re-reading notes from this morning’s history class to quizzing yourself on Spanish vocabulary.

2. Estimate the time needed for each item on your list

You can be a little ruthless here. However long you think a task will take, try shaving off 5 or 10 minutes. But, be realistic. You won’t magically become a speed reader.

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3. Gather all your gear

Collect EVERYTHING you will need for the homework you are working on (like your laptop for writing assignments and pencils for problem sets). Getting up for supplies takes you off course and makes it that much harder to get back to your homework.

The constant blings and beeps from your devices can make it impossible to focus on what you are working on. Switch off or silence your phones and tablets, or leave them in another room until it’s time to take a tech break.

Read More: How to Calculate Your GPA

5. Time yourself

Noting how much time something actually takes will help you estimate better and plan your next study session.

6. Stay on task

If you’re fact checking online, it can be so easy to surf on over to a completely unrelated site. A better strategy is to note what information you need to find online, and do it all at once at the end of the study session.

7. Take plenty of breaks

Most of us need a break between subjects or to break up long stretches of studying. Active breaks are a great way to keep your energy up. Tech breaks can be an awesome way to combat the fear of missing out that might strike while you are buried in your work, but they also tend to stretch much longer than originally intended. Stick to a break schedule of 10 minutes or so.

8. Reward yourself! 

Finish early? If you had allocated 30 minutes for reading a biology chapter and it only took 20, you can apply those extra 10 minutes to a short break—or just move on to your next task. If you stay on track, you might breeze through your work quickly enough to catch up on some Netflix.

Our best piece of advice? Keep at it. The more you use this system, the easier it will become. You’ll be surprised by how much time you can shave off homework just by focusing and committing to a distraction-free study plan.

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10 Tips to Get Your Homework Done Fast

Introduction

It's a tale as old as time: the clock ticking away ominously as you sit there, a heap of untouched homework glaring at you. The common hurdle many face is not the complexity of homework but the time management and discipline it requires. As the night descends, the looming deadline causes stress levels to skyrocket. However, fret not! Through this article, we unfold ten practical homework tips and hacks aimed at transforming this daunting task into a manageable one. Let's break it down together and achieve ultimate motivation.

Make a To-Do List

The first step towards conquering your homework begins on a note of organization. Drafting a to-do list is a classic yet effective homework tip. This list will serve as your roadmap, outlining the tasks at hand. It not only organizes your thoughts but also provides a clear picture of the workload, helping to prioritize tasks accordingly.

Gather Your Resources

Before diving into the homework ocean, ensure you have all the necessary gear. Books, notes, stationery, and any other materials should be at arm's length. This prep step is a significant time-saver. It's also a moment to seek homework help if you realize you're missing crucial information. Having everything ready will smoothen the journey, ensuring you don't have to scurry around searching for a pen or a textbook amidst a study session.

Seek Help When Needed

There's no glory in struggling alone. When a concept seems confusing, seeking homework help from teachers, peers or online platforms can provide clarity. Platforms like Tutorpeers come in handy, offering assistance in over 50 subjects with affordable tutors available 24/7. The best part? All studying happens on the platform, eliminating the need for extra apps. This smart strategy not only saves time but also builds a better understanding, making your homework journey a lot smoother.

Create a Timetable

A timetable is your game plan. Allocate time slots to each task based on its complexity and urgency. This structure provides a clear vision, helps in tracking your progress, and ensures that you are on schedule. It's a step closer to mastering the art of time management, a core element in achieving homework success.

Stay tuned as we delve deeper into more insightful homework hacks in the following sections aimed to ease your homework routine, offering a lifeline when you're in dire need of homework help.

Designate a Distraction-free Zone

Crafting the right environment is crucial for homework success. Dedicate a spot that's not only free from distractions like noise or visual clutter, but also inviting and comfortable. Ensure you have a comfy chair, a table at the right height, and enough room to spread your resources. Personalize your space with elements that make it enjoyable to be at—be it a plant, some soft music, or pictures that inspire you. This homework hack goes beyond just limiting distractions—it's about creating a space where your mind can focus and flourish.

Limit Technology Usage

It's easy to lose track of time browsing social media or responding to messages. Create a tech-free bubble during your homework time. Keep your phone, tablet, or other distractions in another room. If you need a device for your work, consider using apps that block distractions.

Team Up With a Study Buddy

Companionship can make the daunting homework journey enjoyable. A study buddy brings a different perspective, and together you can divide tasks, discuss concepts, and keep each other on track. It's a blend of social interaction and productivity. Platforms like Tutorpeers offer a fantastic avenue to connect with peers for one-on-one tutoring sessions. Whether it's homework assignments or exam prep, having a study buddy from Tutorpeers can significantly enrich your learning experience. Ready to elevate your homework game? Sign up as a learner on Tutorpeers and discover a community ready to support your academic journey!

Take Scheduled Breaks

Continuous study sessions can lead to burnout, hampering productivity. Techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break, can be effective. However, everyone's rhythm is different. Some might find longer work intervals of 2 hours with a 15 to 20-minute break more suitable. The key is to find a rhythm that keeps you refreshed and focused. Tailoring your break schedule to what suits you best can significantly enhance your concentration and efficiency, making the homework routine more sustainable and less stressful.

Reward Your Progress

Positive reinforcement is a powerful motivator. Set up a reward system to celebrate small and big wins alike. Finished a challenging assignment? Treat yourself to a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte. Maintained a consistent homework routine for a month? Maybe it's time to discuss that iPhone 15 reward with your parents. By associating rewards with accomplishments, you create a motivating cycle that makes tackling homework a more enticing endeavor. This cycle of work and reward fosters a positive attitude towards homework, steering you towards a path of homework success.

Prioritize and Chunk Your Tasks

Start by listing all your assignments and categorize them based on their due dates and importance. Tackle the most urgent and challenging tasks first. This approach not only helps you meet deadlines but also allows you to focus on complex tasks while your energy levels are high.

Once you've prioritized your assignments, break them down into smaller, more manageable pieces. For example, if you have a 10-page essay to write, aim to complete two pages a day instead of cramming it all into one night. This method makes the work less daunting and gives you a sense of accomplishment as you tick off each mini-goal.

By combining prioritization with task chunking, you'll find that your homework becomes much more manageable. You'll reduce stress, improve your focus, and, most importantly, you'll get your homework done more efficiently.

Conclusion:

The voyage through piles of homework need not be solitary or dreary. Armed with these 10 insightful tips, navigating through the homework landscape can be a more organized, less stressful endeavor. Implementing these strategies can usher in a transformative approach towards homework, morphing it from a dreaded task to a manageable, even enjoyable endeavor. Embrace these hacks, seek homework help when needed, and stride confidently on the path of academic success. Your journey towards achieving homework success just got a lot smoother!

Q: How can I enjoy doing homework?

A: To enjoy doing homework, try to make it more engaging. Use colorful notes, listen to calming music, or turn it into a game. The key is to find what makes the task enjoyable for you.

Q: What's the best time of day to do homework for maximum efficiency?

A: The best time to do homework varies from person to person. Some people are more productive in the morning, while others find their focus in the evening. Experiment to find your peak productivity hours.

Q: How long does it take to receive scores?

A: The time it takes to receive scores can vary depending on the type of assignment and the grading process. For most regular homework assignments, you can expect feedback within a week.

Q: Is multitasking an effective way to get homework done faster?

A: Multitasking might seem like a good idea, but it often leads to decreased focus and quality. It's generally more effective to concentrate on one task at a time.

Q: How can I minimize distractions while doing homework?

A: To minimize distractions, create a dedicated, clutter-free workspace. Use apps or techniques like the Pomodoro Technique to manage your time and take short, scheduled breaks to recharge.

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How to Do Homework: 15 Expert Tips and Tricks

Coursework/GPA

Everyone struggles with homework sometimes, but if getting your homework done has become a chronic issue for you, then you may need a little extra help. That’s why we’ve written this article all about how to do homework. Once you’re finished reading it, you’ll know how to do homework (and have tons of new ways to motivate yourself to do homework)!

We’ve broken this article down into a few major sections. You’ll find:

• A diagnostic test to help you figure out why you’re struggling with homework
• A discussion of the four major homework problems students face, along with expert tips for addressing them
• A bonus section with tips for how to do homework fast

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you .

So let’s get started!

How to Do Homework: Figure Out Your Struggles 

Sometimes it feels like everything is standing between you and getting your homework done. But the truth is, most people only have one or two major roadblocks that are keeping them from getting their homework done well and on time. 

The best way to figure out how to get motivated to do homework starts with pinpointing the issues that are affecting your ability to get your assignments done. That’s why we’ve developed a short quiz to help you identify the areas where you’re struggling. 

Take the quiz below and record your answers on your phone or on a scrap piece of paper. Keep in mind there are no wrong answers! 

1. You’ve just been assigned an essay in your English class that’s due at the end of the week. What’s the first thing you do?

A. Keep it in mind, even though you won’t start it until the day before it’s due  B. Open up your planner. You’ve got to figure out when you’ll write your paper since you have band practice, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dance recital this week, too.  C. Groan out loud. Another essay? You could barely get yourself to write the last one!  D. Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favorite artist might have just posted to Instagram...so you better check your feed right now. 

2. Your mom asked you to pick up your room before she gets home from work. You’ve just gotten home from school. You decide you’ll tackle your chores: 

A. Five minutes before your mom walks through the front door. As long as it gets done, who cares when you start?  B. As soon as you get home from your shift at the local grocery store.  C. After you give yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.  D. You won’t get it done. Between texts from your friends, trying to watch your favorite Netflix show, and playing with your dog, you just lost track of time! 

3. You’ve signed up to wash dogs at the Humane Society to help earn money for your senior class trip. You: 

A. Show up ten minutes late. You put off leaving your house until the last minute, then got stuck in unexpected traffic on the way to the shelter.  B. Have to call and cancel at the last minute. You forgot you’d already agreed to babysit your cousin and bake cupcakes for tomorrow’s bake sale.  C. Actually arrive fifteen minutes early with extra brushes and bandanas you picked up at the store. You’re passionate about animals, so you’re excited to help out! D. Show up on time, but only get three dogs washed. You couldn’t help it: you just kept getting distracted by how cute they were!

4. You have an hour of downtime, so you decide you’re going to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. You: 

A. Scroll through your social media feeds for twenty minutes before hitting play, which means you’re not able to finish the whole episode. Ugh! You really wanted to see who was sent home!  B. Watch fifteen minutes until you remember you’re supposed to pick up your sister from band practice before heading to your part-time job. No GBBO for you!  C. You finish one episode, then decide to watch another even though you’ve got SAT studying to do. It’s just more fun to watch people make scones.  D. Start the episode, but only catch bits and pieces of it because you’re reading Twitter, cleaning out your backpack, and eating a snack at the same time.

5. Your teacher asks you to stay after class because you’ve missed turning in two homework assignments in a row. When she asks you what’s wrong, you say: 

A. You planned to do your assignments during lunch, but you ran out of time. You decided it would be better to turn in nothing at all than submit unfinished work.  B. You really wanted to get the assignments done, but between your extracurriculars, family commitments, and your part-time job, your homework fell through the cracks.  C. You have a hard time psyching yourself to tackle the assignments. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to work on them once you get home.  D. You tried to do them, but you had a hard time focusing. By the time you realized you hadn’t gotten anything done, it was already time to turn them in. 

Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible). Here’s how your answers break down: 

• If your answers were mostly As, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination. 
• If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management. 
• If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation. 
• If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted. 

Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it. 

And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating. 

How to Do Homework When You’re a Procrastinator  

Merriam Webster defines “procrastinate” as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” In other words, procrastination is when you choose to do something at the last minute on a regular basis. If you’ve ever found yourself pulling an all-nighter, trying to finish an assignment between periods, or sprinting to turn in a paper minutes before a deadline, you’ve experienced the effects of procrastination. 

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re in good company. In fact, one study found that 70% to 95% of undergraduate students procrastinate when it comes to doing their homework. Unfortunately, procrastination can negatively impact your grades. Researchers have found that procrastination can lower your grade on an assignment by as much as five points ...which might not sound serious until you realize that can mean the difference between a B- and a C+. 

Procrastination can also negatively affect your health by increasing your stress levels , which can lead to other health conditions like insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even heart conditions. Getting a handle on procrastination can not only improve your grades, it can make you feel better, too! 

The big thing to understand about procrastination is that it’s not the result of laziness. Laziness is defined as being “disinclined to activity or exertion.” In other words, being lazy is all about doing nothing. But a s this Psychology Today article explains , procrastinators don’t put things off because they don’t want to work. Instead, procrastinators tend to postpone tasks they don’t want to do in favor of tasks that they perceive as either more important or more fun. Put another way, procrastinators want to do things...as long as it’s not their homework! 

3 Tips f or Conquering Procrastination 

Because putting off doing homework is a common problem, there are lots of good tactics for addressing procrastination. Keep reading for our three expert tips that will get your homework habits back on track in no time. 

#1: Create a Reward System

Like we mentioned earlier, procrastination happens when you prioritize other activities over getting your homework done. Many times, this happens because homework...well, just isn’t enjoyable. But you can add some fun back into the process by rewarding yourself for getting your work done. 

Here’s what we mean: let’s say you decide that every time you get your homework done before the day it’s due, you’ll give yourself a point. For every five points you earn, you’ll treat yourself to your favorite dessert: a chocolate cupcake! Now you have an extra (delicious!) incentive to motivate you to leave procrastination in the dust. 

If you’re not into cupcakes, don’t worry. Your reward can be anything that motivates you . Maybe it’s hanging out with your best friend or an extra ten minutes of video game time. As long as you’re choosing something that makes homework worth doing, you’ll be successful. 

#2: Have a Homework Accountability Partner 

If you’re having trouble getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time, it may be a good idea to call in reinforcements . Find a friend or classmate you can trust and explain to them that you’re trying to change your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you to make sure you’re doing your homework and check in with you once a week to see if you’re meeting your anti-procrastination goals. 

Sharing your goals can make them feel more real, and an accountability partner can help hold you responsible for your decisions. For example, let’s say you’re tempted to put off your science lab write-up until the morning before it’s due. But you know that your accountability partner is going to text you about it tomorrow...and you don’t want to fess up that you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability partner can give you the extra support and incentive you need to keep your homework habits on track. 

#3: Create Your Own Due Dates 

If you’re a life-long procrastinator, you might find that changing the habit is harder than you expected. In that case, you might try using procrastination to your advantage! If you just can’t seem to stop doing your work at the last minute, try setting your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the assignment is actually due. 

Here’s what we mean. Let’s say you have a math worksheet that’s been assigned on Tuesday and is due on Friday. In your planner, you can write down the due date as Thursday instead. You may still put off your homework assignment until the last minute...but in this case, the “last minute” is a day before the assignment’s real due date . This little hack can trick your procrastination-addicted brain into planning ahead! 

If you feel like Kevin Hart in this meme, then our tips for doing homework when you're busy are for you. 

How to Do Homework When You’re too Busy

If you’re aiming to go to a top-tier college , you’re going to have a full plate. Because college admissions is getting more competitive, it’s important that you’re maintaining your grades , studying hard for your standardized tests , and participating in extracurriculars so your application stands out. A packed schedule can get even more hectic once you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix. 

If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once, you’re not alone. Recent research has found that stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression— are a major problem for high school students . In fact, one study from the American Psychological Association found that during the school year, students’ stress levels are higher than those of the adults around them. 

For students, homework is a major contributor to their overall stress levels . Many high schoolers have multiple hours of homework every night , and figuring out how to fit it into an already-packed schedule can seem impossible. 

3 Tips for Fitting Homework Into Your Busy Schedule

While it might feel like you have literally no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to make sure you’re able to get your homework done and meet your other commitments. Here are our expert homework tips for even the busiest of students. 

#1: Make a Prioritized To-Do List 

You probably already have a to-do list to keep yourself on track. The next step is to prioritize the items on your to-do list so you can see what items need your attention right away. 

Here’s how it works: at the beginning of each day, sit down and make a list of all the items you need to get done before you go to bed. This includes your homework, but it should also take into account any practices, chores, events, or job shifts you may have. Once you get everything listed out, it’s time to prioritize them using the labels A, B, and C. Here’s what those labels mean:

• A Tasks : tasks that have to get done—like showing up at work or turning in an assignment—get an A. 
• B Tasks : these are tasks that you would like to get done by the end of the day but aren’t as time sensitive. For example, studying for a test you have next week could be a B-level task. It’s still important, but it doesn’t have to be done right away.
• C Tasks: these are tasks that aren’t very important and/or have no real consequences if you don’t get them done immediately. For instance, if you’re hoping to clean out your closet but it’s not an assigned chore from your parents, you could label that to-do item with a C.

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you visualize which items need your immediate attention, and which items you can leave for later. A prioritized to-do list ensures that you’re spending your time efficiently and effectively, which helps you make room in your schedule for homework. So even though you might really want to start making decorations for Homecoming (a B task), you’ll know that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more important. 

#2: Use a Planner With Time Labels

Your planner is probably packed with notes, events, and assignments already. (And if you’re not using a planner, it’s time to start!) But planners can do more for you than just remind you when an assignment is due. If you’re using a planner with time labels, it can help you visualize how you need to spend your day.

A planner with time labels breaks your day down into chunks, and you assign tasks to each chunk of time. For example, you can make a note of your class schedule with assignments, block out time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice. Once you know which tasks take priority, you can add them to any empty spaces in your day. 

Planning out how you spend your time not only helps you use it wisely, it can help you feel less overwhelmed, too . We’re big fans of planners that include a task list ( like this one ) or have room for notes ( like this one ). 

#3: Set Reminders on Your Phone 

If you need a little extra nudge to make sure you’re getting your homework done on time, it’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone. You don’t need a fancy app, either. You can use your alarm app to have it go off at specific times throughout the day to remind you to do your homework. This works especially well if you have a set homework time scheduled. So if you’ve decided you’re doing homework at 6:00 pm, you can set an alarm to remind you to bust out your books and get to work. 

If you use your phone as your planner, you may have the option to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events . Many calendar apps, including the one that comes with your phone, have built-in reminders that you can customize to meet your needs. So if you block off time to do your homework from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, you can set a reminder that will pop up on your phone when it’s time to get started. 

This dog isn't judging your lack of motivation...but your teacher might. Keep reading for tips to help you motivate yourself to do your homework.

How to Do Homework When You’re Unmotivated 

At first glance, it may seem like procrastination and being unmotivated are the same thing. After all, both of these issues usually result in you putting off your homework until the very last minute. 

But there’s one key difference: many procrastinators are working, they’re just prioritizing work differently. They know they’re going to start their homework...they’re just going to do it later. 

Conversely, people who are unmotivated to do homework just can’t find the willpower to tackle their assignments. Procrastinators know they’ll at least attempt the homework at the last minute, whereas people who are unmotivated struggle with convincing themselves to do it at a ll. For procrastinators, the stress comes from the inevitable time crunch. For unmotivated people, the stress comes from trying to convince themselves to do something they don’t want to do in the first place. 

Here are some common reasons students are unmotivated in doing homework : 

• Assignments are too easy, too hard, or seemingly pointless 
• Students aren’t interested in (or passionate about) the subject matter
• Students are intimidated by the work and/or feels like they don’t understand the assignment 
• Homework isn’t fun, and students would rather spend their time on things that they enjoy 

To sum it up: people who lack motivation to do their homework are more likely to not do it at all, or to spend more time worrying about doing their homework than...well, actually doing it.

3 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Do Homework

The key to getting homework done when you’re unmotivated is to figure out what does motivate you, then apply those things to homework. It sounds tricky...but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Here are our three expert tips for motivating yourself to do your homework. 

#1: Use Incremental Incentives

When you’re not motivated, it’s important to give yourself small rewards to stay focused on finishing the task at hand. The trick is to keep the incentives small and to reward yourself often. For example, maybe you’re reading a good book in your free time. For every ten minutes you spend on your homework, you get to read five pages of your book. Like we mentioned earlier, make sure you’re choosing a reward that works for you! 

So why does this technique work? Using small rewards more often allows you to experience small wins for getting your work done. Every time you make it to one of your tiny reward points, you get to celebrate your success, which gives your brain a boost of dopamine . Dopamine helps you stay motivated and also creates a feeling of satisfaction when you complete your homework !  

#2: Form a Homework Group 

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, it’s okay to turn to others for support. Creating a homework group can help with this. Bring together a group of your friends or classmates, and pick one time a week where you meet and work on homework together. You don’t have to be in the same class, or even taking the same subjects— the goal is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) your assignments. 

Another added benefit of a homework group is that you can help one another if you’re struggling to understand the material covered in your classes. This is especially helpful if your lack of motivation comes from being intimidated by your assignments. Asking your friends for help may feel less scary than talking to your teacher...and once you get a handle on the material, your homework may become less frightening, too. 

#3: Change Up Your Environment 

If you find that you’re totally unmotivated, it may help if you find a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been struggling to get your homework done at home, try spending an extra hour in the library after school instead. The change of scenery can limit your distractions and give you the energy you need to get your work done. 

If you’re stuck doing homework at home, you can still use this tip. For instance, maybe you’ve always done your homework sitting on your bed. Try relocating somewhere else, like your kitchen table, for a few weeks. You may find that setting up a new “homework spot” in your house gives you a motivational lift and helps you get your work done. 

Social media can be a huge problem when it comes to doing homework. We have advice for helping you unplug and regain focus.

How to Do Homework When You’re Easily Distracted

We live in an always-on world, and there are tons of things clamoring for our attention. From friends and family to pop culture and social media, it seems like there’s always something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do.

The 24/7 world we live in has affected our ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time. Research has shown that over the past decade, an average person’s attention span has gone from 12 seconds to eight seconds . And when we do lose focus, i t takes people a long time to get back on task . One study found that it can take as long as 23 minutes to get back to work once we’ve been distracte d. No wonder it can take hours to get your homework done! 

3 Tips to Improve Your Focus

If you have a hard time focusing when you’re doing your homework, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert tips for blocking out the noise so you can focus on getting your homework done. 

#1: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Pick a place where you’ll do your homework every day, and make it as distraction-free as possible. Try to find a location where there won’t be tons of noise, and limit your access to screens while you’re doing your homework. Put together a focus-oriented playlist (or choose one on your favorite streaming service), and put your headphones on while you work. 

You may find that other people, like your friends and family, are your biggest distraction. If that’s the case, try setting up some homework boundaries. Let them know when you’ll be working on homework every day, and ask them if they’ll help you keep a quiet environment. They’ll be happy to lend a hand! 

#2: Limit Your Access to Technology 

We know, we know...this tip isn’t fun, but it does work. For homework that doesn’t require a computer, like handouts or worksheets, it’s best to put all your technology away . Turn off your television, put your phone and laptop in your backpack, and silence notifications on any wearable tech you may be sporting. If you listen to music while you work, that’s fine...but make sure you have a playlist set up so you’re not shuffling through songs once you get started on your homework. 

If your homework requires your laptop or tablet, it can be harder to limit your access to distractions. But it’s not impossible! T here are apps you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working so that you’re not tempted to scroll through Twitter or check your Facebook feed. Silence notifications and text messages on your computer, and don’t open your email account unless you absolutely have to. And if you don’t need access to the internet to complete your assignments, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the online chatter is a great way to make sure you’re getting your homework done. 

#3: Set a Timer (the Pomodoro Technique)

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique ? It’s a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you focus!

Here’s how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, you get to take a 5 minute break. Every time you go through one of these cycles, it’s called a “pomodoro.” For every four pomodoros you complete, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

The pomodoro technique works through a combination of boundary setting and rewards. First, it gives you a finite amount of time to focus, so you know that you only have to work really hard for 25 minutes. Once you’ve done that, you’re rewarded with a short break where you can do whatever you want. Additionally, tracking how many pomodoros you complete can help you see how long you’re really working on your homework. (Once you start using our focus tips, you may find it doesn’t take as long as you thought!)

Two Bonus Tips for How to Do Homework Fast

Even if you’re doing everything right, there will be times when you just need to get your homework done as fast as possible. (Why do teachers always have projects due in the same week? The world may never know.)

The problem with speeding through homework is that it’s easy to make mistakes. While turning in an assignment is always better than not submitting anything at all, you want to make sure that you’re not compromising quality for speed. Simply put, the goal is to get your homework done quickly and still make a good grade on the assignment! 

Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments , even when you’re in a time crunch. 

#1: Do the Easy Parts First 

This is especially true if you’re working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems. As you do, make a mark beside the questions you think are “easy” to answer . 

Once you’ve finished going through the whole assignment, you can answer these questions first. Getting the easy questions out of the way as quickly as possible lets you spend more time on the trickier portions of your homework, which will maximize your assignment grade. 

(Quick note: this is also a good strategy to use on timed assignments and tests, like the SAT and the ACT !) 

#2: Pay Attention in Class 

Homework gets a lot easier when you’re actively learning the material. Teachers aren’t giving you homework because they’re mean or trying to ruin your weekend... it’s because they want you to really understand the course material. Homework is designed to reinforce what you’re already learning in class so you’ll be ready to tackle harder concepts later.

When you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes, you’re absorbing the information you’ll need to succeed on your homework assignments. (You’re stuck in class anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!) Not only will paying attention in class make your homework less confusing, it will also help it go much faster, too.

What’s Next?

If you’re looking to improve your productivity beyond homework, a good place to begin is with time management. After all, we only have so much time in a day...so it’s important to get the most out of it! To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best time management techniques that you can start using today.

You may have read this article because homework struggles have been affecting your GPA. Now that you’re on the path to homework success, it’s time to start being proactive about raising your grades. This article teaches you everything you need to know about raising your GPA so you can

Now you know how to get motivated to do homework...but what about your study habits? Studying is just as critical to getting good grades, and ultimately getting into a good college . We can teach you how to study bette r in high school. (We’ve also got tons of resources to help you study for your ACT and SAT exams , too!)

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

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Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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Homework Hacks: 8 Tips to Get It Done Faster

Homework is no fun, especially if you’ve got a full schedule. You only have a little bit of time and a little bit of energy. And it takes so long to get through it.

Not anymore. We’ve got some helpful homework hacks for you that will make doing your homework faster and less painful.

1. Plan Your Homework and Make a List

When you start your homework, you’ll probably jump right into the first thing on your mind or the first thing you pull out of your backpack, then work your way through the rest of your assignments. There’s a better way.

Figure out how much time you have to do homework, then list out all the different tasks that you have to do. Estimate how long it will take to complete each assignment to see if you need to allow yourself more time. Be realistic. Once your list is complete you can work straight through instead of stopping frequently to figure out what to do next. It will also be extremely gratifying to cross things off after each assignment you finish!

2. Get Out All the Books and Supplies You Need

While you’re working, you discover you need a calculator, you need a certain book, you need a new pencil, you ran out of paper… the list can go on.

Since you’ve now identified all your assignments, figure out everything you need to get each item done and bring it to your workspace so it’s there when you need it.

3. Find a Quiet Place to Work Without Distractions

Speaking of workspace, you probably prefer doing your homework in front of the TV, but that can actually be the biggest distraction of all. Sitting in front of the TV is probably slowing you down, making homework time seem much longer that it actually is.

Find a place that’s quiet, with as few distractions and clutter possible. Remember, the faster you get it done, the faster you can get back to fully enjoying Netflix.

4. Turn Off Your Phone

We know this is probably the last thing you want to hear. How can you live without your phone? But for a couple hours, its totally worth it. Every time you get a notification and check your phone, it breaks your focus. It then takes more brain power to get back on track to what you were working on.

5. Listen to Classical Music While Working

We know what you’re thinking… Classical music? Seriously?

However, classical music is great for background audio. There aren’t any lyrics or beats to distract your focus. And research has shown that students who listen to classical music score higher on tests than students who listen to other genres of music. So find some good classical playlist on Spotify, then celebrate with Queen Bey when you’re done.

6. Eat Snacks and Drink Water

At the end of a long day, you may be mentally and physically tired. If you go straight into homework it may take you a long time to finish and it won’t be your best work.

Having some light healthy snacks and drinking plenty of water helps revitalize your brain and body. Avoid soda, energy drinks, or sugary snacks that will only make you crash before you’re done.

7. Take Short Breaks in Between Homework Tasks

If you have a lot to do, you may feel the pressure to just work straight through hours and hours of homework. But this will likely end up slowing you down, prolonging the entire session.

Do your work in short sprints. Go hard at a task, then take a quick break to stretch and walk around. It’ll re-energize your mind and body to keep going. For starters, try working for 25 minutes, then taking a 5-minute break.

8. Reward Yourself After You’re Finished

Homework isn’t always fun. But negativity can slow you down.

Our brains work off of reward systems. If you give yourself a reward when finishing your homework, it makes it a lot easier to start your homework the next time and you’ll get through it faster. Rewards could be being able to watch a show, eat ice cream, play a game, or going out and doing something fun.

Now that you’ve got all these tips, go get your homework done faster than ever before. It may be hard at first, but keep using these tips and it’ll get easier as you go.

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Smart Student Secrets

Minimalist Studying

How To Do Homework Fast (And Even Enjoy It)

I’m red-beard the pirate and i’ve helped thousands of students get killer grades with my book (and i’m even talking about the procrastinators too.), only $4.99  and you only pay it if you see the results you’re looking for – otherwise i walk the plank matey, want to know more.

Homework can be easy and even fun if you do it right.

By fun, I’m not saying you’ll throw out your computer and beg your teacher for just a few more assignments.

I mean fun enough that you’ll feel good to get it out instead of procrastinating. (When something is fun, it kills procrastination.)

Teachers usually recommend students use the bang-your-head against it approach to homework advice. They’ll tell you all the wrong ways to do your homework. They’ll say:

• Take your time
• Try to really “get it”

Sure… they might have good intentions but most of these strategies are counter-productive. For all the good you get out of them, you sacrifice something much more important.

The most important thing isn’t that you always get an impossibly high score.

For a perfect score, there is no amount of time you shouldn’t be studying. You might as well study all day for perfect because, odds are, you’re still going to mess up once in a while. It’s the perfectionism nightmare they’re encouraging.

The key is finding the right balance for your life.

You can do your homework is less time than you think. There are only a few things that you should know…

Go Irresponsibly Fast

Never slow down during your homework.

From the second you tell yourself, “I need to do my homework,” you shouldn’t stop. Get up immediately. Walk to your stuff. Grab what you need. Throw all the crap on your desk on the floor. Sit down. Answer the questions.

Don’t sit and think about the questions a second longer than you have to.

If you think you know the answer then write it down. Write it down fast enough that it’s a little sloppy. Write it fast enough that you can’t think about anything except that writing.

Then immediately start the next question.

As soon as you pause, you’re allowing yourself to get distracted. The faster you move, the less opportunity you have to be distracted.

Distraction is responsible for the complete destruction of any semblance of productivity in almost every case.

If you don’t allow yourself to stay 100% focused then you’re setting yourself up for more of a challenge.

Pausing is an invitation for distractions.

What if you have to pause to answer a question?

That’s okay once in a while. This is going to be common at first.

If you genuinely don’t know the answer then skip it and come back to it later.

After you answer everything you can go back and try again.

Before you go back to answer the questions, take a look at the time.

Track Time Or Lose It

Start tracking how long each assignment takes you. There are two times I recommend watching carefully.

• The time to answer all the questions you know
• The time to finish the assignment completely

(Doing those “hard” questions can often take longer than every other question on the test. When you’re tight on time, it’s worth considering skipping the tough ones completely.)

If you think you know the answer but can’t immediately think of it then either:

• Throw your best guess
• Close your eyes and take a breather

BUT I GOT DISTRACTED!?

That’s okay too. It happens to everyone. Just pause. Re-asses your goal of moving as quickly as possible. Then get moving!

Does this seem completely impossible?

I’ll explain how it’s possible a little later.

Steal Your Teachers Shoes

After you finish answering all the questions, you want to remember the old joke:

Before you judge someone, you want to walk a mile in their shoes. (That way you’re a mile away and have their shoes.)

The real meaning: how would you feel if you were them?

When you rush through your assignments, there are consequences.

You will be messier than usual. You might make more silly mistakes.

That could cost you points if you don’t steal your teachers shoes and walk a mile in them before class. (That’s a metaphor… Don’t blame me for your shoe sniping.)

Before you hand in your assignment, always check every single question.

Reread the questions and your answers and make sure they still make sense to you.

Read them like you’re a teacher trying to deduct points from your own paper. Be a judgmental teacher that you would hate to actually have. As you’re going through it, correct every silly mistake you made and neaten up anything that’s particularly disruptive.

You’ll notice this process is a whole lot easier than going through the test slowly because the hard part is done.

You’ve separated the two separate forms of thinking about the assignment.

You know that voice you normally hear in the back of your head telling you that you’re doing it wrong?

It’s that judgmental perfectionist voice that makes it so hard to answer the questions.

After practicing this style of homework a few times, you’ll notice that perfectionist voice goes away while you’re rushing through the assignment because you don’t even have time to think about it.

Then, when you get to the judgement phase, that voice is used productively instead of ruining your ability to finish the assignment.

There is one more important part to this strategy that’s absolutely essential to your success.

Give Yourself A Massive Head Start

The honest to goodness truth is a bit of a bummer.

If you’re behind in class then homework is going to be way slower.

If you’re kicking-ass in class then you could probably bust your homework out in five minutes after class.

If doing your homework doesn’t feel like you’re just filling out forms then you’re not as prepared as you could be for class. (Math can be a typical exception.)

Most homework should be as easy as filling out a personal survey. You shouldn’t need to look stuff up often. You shouldn’t need to sit down and think hard about much. It should be automatic because you know the answers that well.

Sound impossible?

That’s just a sign you’ve been indoctrinated with the wrong strategies for learning.

This is a complicated subject but learning for class is easy when you’re using the right strategies. That’s what this blog is all about. That’s what we write books about.

Doing good in class is more about forgetting the bad stuff you’ve been taught than learning anything knew.

After you forget those poor strategies, you can almost just trust your natural instincts to get ahead but it’s absolutely essential you remove the indoctrination before you try to trust your instincts.

Good studying feels natural.

It’s easier than not learning..

That’s what we can show you how to do…

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A B&C Students Guide To Mercilessly Crushing A Students At Their Own Game (While Laughing Your Way Towards The Ivy-League)

Are you smart but getting meh grades?

The smartest students are often the ones the school system leaves behind. It’s easy to motivate a half-wit (or even almost-wit – like a horse with a carrot dangled in it’s face to get it running. Giddy-up horsey!

You would never fall for that, right? Then this is for you.

It’s easy to procrastinate when you’re getting a raw deal. That’s the smart thing to do.

Academics is a game – and its prizes are good. Really good! There is more to the story than that though. What do you have to do to get that prize? And that matters even more than the prize. Study 18 hours a day for straight-A’s and a high-paying job someday in the distant future? Ughhh… Not me. That’s for sure.

I scored near the top of my college Engineering class while studying less than 15 minutes a morning. And seriously, I don’t sound like a super genius, do I?

Hint: I had barely scraped a 1.0 GPA in high school and I wasn’t skipping and having fun with friends either – I was… dare I say… trying my best.

Big Tip: trying doesn’t matter unless you’re experimenting or already using an effective strategy. Trying without an effective strategies is a waste that can plop your grades in the stinker. First step – STOP TRYING with ineffective strategies.

You got that?

Look… I’m a bit crazy. I get it. I’ve read hundreds of books on grades, learning, and memory. I spent sleepless nights studying obscure academic journals. I swear, I even read the book “How To Read A Book” and didn’t have to drink alcohol to do it!

WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF!?

You wanna’ know why?

Don’t tell anyone but… I care. I was emotionally crippled by the school system. I had heartless, lazy, and downright mean teachers (and a couple good ones that couldn’t help.) It took years for me to untangle their mess…

And I went to college and beat them at their own wretched game. Top scores. Easy studying. Time to make friends and impress the ladies. (You know… the important stuff!)

But I know… I wasn’t alone and I know there are others facing similar and worse challenges than I did. And I may be out of the warzone now but I can’t in good conscience leave you behind without my arsenal.

That’s why a decade ago I founded Smart Student Secrets and got link backs from LifeHack, HuffPo, and good college professors with names I can’t pronounce from all over the world that see these strategies crushing every day. But forget about them… the emails I get from grateful students… that’s the stuff a good life is made of.

My newest book is, in my opinion, the best book ever written for students that want to absolutely crush the academic game.

It gets you to focus your energy on the most important aspects of grades – giving you leverage on the system.

It shows you the big painful studying, you’re not benefiting from – that you thankfully get to stop today and forever.

It takes the latest in academic research on memory and puts into your hands, the exact memorization strategies that a Purdue Professor proved can let someone memorize 2.35 things for every one they’re memorizing now.

And this isn’t about “working harder” – and it’s not about “working smarter” either. (I cringe every time I read that phrase.)

It’s about working only when it matters most and creating the habit of motivated and effective learning.

I guarantee this… You can skyrocket your grades with my book while studying less than you ever had to study before. If I’m wrong, send me an email and I’ll refund you – no questions asked.

Please give me the chance to change your life for the better – it’s on me to prove it. What you’re going to do is: click on the link here or below, click “Buy Now”, fill in the boxes, and you’ll get your copy of the book through an instant download.

Get How To Study Happier Here

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Last chance! Don’t miss it at the lowest price and best guarantee I can do.

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Home > Blog > Tips for Online Students > 7 Hacks For How To Do Homework Fast

Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students

7 Hacks For How To Do Homework Fast

Updated: June 19, 2024

Published: June 8, 2021

Esteemed late and great Coach John Wooden used to say, “Be quick, but don’t hurry.” The phrase that was directed towards his team of basketball players can be applied to virtually every aspect of life, including for students approaching their homework. Learning how to do homework fast is both an art and a skill.

While it’s not a race to the finish, applying the following tips and tricks can help you better manage your time. As a student, time management becomes one of the most important skills you can possess. This then transfers to your work at any job, and even the ability to balance your personal life with professional activities.

But, before we go further down this rabbit hole, let’s focus on the task at hand, which is to adopt techniques to finish your homework quickly.

Student’s workspace for homework with graph paper and supplies / https://unsplash.com/photos/TB3CxSMHqmY

How to do your homework faster.

These homework hacks can be utilized for more than just homework. For anything that you have to get done with immense focus and accuracy, consider applying the following:

1. Create a to-do list

One of the upsides of homework is that it’s black-and-white. You know exactly what you have to get done and by when. This makes it easier to create a prioritized to-do list. While making a to-do list may not seem like a big hack, it ends up being one of the most important and useful things to do along your homework journey.

Instead of opening your notebook and jumping right into the first homework assignment that comes to mind, take a few moments to review what you have to get done. To make this easier, use a homework agenda or planner, so you don’t forget your tasks. Once you have everything written out, consider due dates and the length of time it should take to cross them off the list.

Creating a to-do list that is in order of priority helps you to stay on track and also provides you with a burst of endorphins and a sense of accomplishment each time you put a check in the box of completion.

2. Remove distractions

Distractions come in many different shapes and sizes. From cell phone chimes and notifications to a sibling throwing jelly beans at you, distractions can be of any type. While you cannot control how others affect you while you work, you can take control of your own study space and habits.

Turn off your phone and electronic devices, leave them in a different room, or at least put them on silent. It’s become a habit that as soon as the screen lights up, most people stop what they are doing and take a peek. Whether you act on the notification or not, you’ve lost valuable time with the distraction. Then, you need to refocus your brain on your homework all over again. These small bouts of broken concentration add up to a lot of wasted time.

3. Estimate time

Getting your homework done quickly means that you have to first be aware of the time it takes. You can time yourself on different tasks to start gaining an understanding and general idea of what takes the most time. This way, you can work to sharpen specific skills to move faster. For example, if you’re a slow reader, then you can try to learn more about speed reading so that you can shave off time on this task.

Timing yourself is also a good idea because if all your due dates are the same for tasks, then you can at least order your to-do list based on time. If a certain homework assignment takes less time than another, it may be best to start off with that task. This not only helps you to reserve your energy for time-consuming tasks, but it also means that you get started off on a positive note by completing something quickly. You can use that momentum to continue pushing through your list.

4. Find your study location

Find the type of environment that best suits you to get work done. This could mean a coffee shop with some ambient background noise, or it could be a library so quiet that you can hear a pin drop. Every person has their own preferences when it comes to where they work the best. As long as you minimize your distractions, you can get your work done quickly given you’re in an optimal workspace.

5. Gather supplies

Say you sit down to do some math homework. Then, you realize you need a graphing calculator. So, you go to get one. You sit back down and get into the groove. But now, you have forgotten the graphing paper you need to draw the equation. It may not seem like a big deal to get back up and run to the next room for your supplies, but again, you’re losing time.

In the endeavor of minimizing wasted time, you should gather all your supplies in advance and take them with you to your workspace. In order to do this successfully, review your to-do list once again and make a mental note of everything you’ll need to get each line item done.

6. Take breaks

Breaks are not bad. Breaks are actually beneficial. However, not all breaks are made equally.

By taking breaks, you can recharge your energy and focus. This could actually translate into being able to focus for longer stretches of time. Approach your homework like you would a high-intensity interval training exercise regimen. This means that you’ll go hard for a certain amount of time (say 45-60 minutes), and then you’ll take a quick, but meaningful break (say for 15-20 minutes).

If you focus for longer amounts of time, then take a slightly longer break. This helps to avoid burnout. Your body and mind will thank you for taking healthy breaks (i.e., a short walk, stretching, or any other activity that doesn’t require too much mental capacity).

7. Reward yourself

You’re the master of your own fate (and homework). So, if you thought that it would take you 45 minutes to finish your coding exercise, but you finished it in 30 minutes, you can apply those saved 15 minutes to a reward.

By celebrating small wins, you will continue to motivate yourself to get your work done in a timely manner. Alternatively, if you don’t want to take long breaks between your tasks, you can accrue your time and spend it all doing whatever brings you joy once you finish your homework to-do list.

Woman writing in a daily planner / https://unsplash.com/photos/N9uOrBICcjY

Wrapping up.

The desire to finish homework quickly is a universal feeling. When you look at the big picture, the ability to complete homework without wasting too much time turns out to be a lesson in time management. Having strong time management skills is paramount in education, especially if you choose to do so in a self-paced and online learning environment.

Try some or all of these homework hacks so that you can know how to do homework fast. Have fun while finding out which ones prove to be most beneficial for you.

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At UoPeople, our blog writers are thinkers, researchers, and experts dedicated to curating articles relevant to our mission: making higher education accessible to everyone. Read More

How to Do Homework Fast: 9 Best Tips and Guides

Homework can be tough or maybe easier but your primary goal as a student should be to complete your homework on time. Finishing homework on time is one of the signs of a successful college student .

Now it’s up to you, whether you want to finish your homework fast or procrastinate it. You’ll be surprised to know many kids don’t like to study just because of their homework.

But, I think you’re among those students who want to finish their homework fast and save time for other work. If I’m right and you’re already looking for how to do homework fast then you’re in right place.

Because in this article, I am gonna break down the 9 best tips to finish your homework fast while having fun . But before we get going, let me first tell you the benefits of doing homework fast :

• You get time for other works
• You can enjoy your whole day without worrying about the homework
• Doing your homework fast makes you a fast learner
• It makes a habit to solve questions fast helps you in the exams
• Finishing homework in time makes you a disciplined student

Now, you would have understood why you should finish your homework faster.

However, doing homework fast is not an easy job. You have to go through with a proper strategy and follow all the tips that I’m going to list here…

How to do homework fast?

1. find a good study environment.

A Study place really matters to studying effectively. A good study place can make your mood to study and also you’ll have a better concentration there.

So, if you want to stay focused and beat procrastination while doing homework fast then first find a good study environment.

A dedicated study room, library, coffee shop, or park can work great for you. Just find where you’re comfortable most and can give your best.

But make sure, the place you find for study should be distraction-free . Even if your phone is not a part of your homework, keep it aside wherever you study.

Read also: Why do I get bad grades after studying hard?

2. Set your schedule

During the day, besides homework, you may have to do many household works or other things. That’s why some students often forget to do homework or they stop doing their homework in the middle of other work.

To deal with these situations you have to either make a routine or set your schedule . I agree, that sticking with a routine won’t be easy for you, so why don’t you try to set your schedule?

The better way to set your schedule is to write a note and find the time that you have available for doing homework . Just before sleep or after waking up do it every day, it will keep you on a better schedule and time management.

3. Make a to-do list

A To-do list can be very helpful to finish your homework fast, especially when you have plenty of tasks.

So make a to-do list and write all the homework that you got from your teachers, this way you also won’t forget to complete any subject’s homework.

A to-do list not only would be interesting to make but, you will also enjoy finishing your homework according to it.

And, whenever you finish any particular homework from the to-do list, make sure you make a cross on it, which will motivate you to move further and finish the remaining homework.

If you have any boring or weak subject then do its homework first then move to an easy subject because when you start your study then your energy level and mood are at peak.

So, put your effort first on that subject that you find hard, and after that, you can easily finish your easy and interesting subject homework.

4. Keep all materials near you

Before doing homework, whatever stationery things or study materials you find useful for your homework, keep them close to you.

These small things really matter when you want to perform an effective study session and do your homework fast.

For example, if you have homework related to the Geometry subject then first, keep all the geometry tools on your study table, so that you won’t need to break your study in the middle to find any missing tools.

Similarly, whatever the tools, notes, assignments, or anything that you need while doing your homework, keep them near where you study.

Want to read: 17+ Useful things that college students can use

5. Make sure you understand the material

Although there is no need to ask still, I want to ask, do you understand the subject or topic well in which you have homework?

If your answer is No , then you’re making a big mistake.

Because when you don’t understand a subject or topic and your concepts are not clear enough, you can be stuck many times while doing homework on that subject, and this way, you can’t do your homework fast.

If I’m right and you don’t have enough knowledge in any subject then first understand the subject well. Here are some quick ways to understand the subject well before doing its homework:

• Review and revisit your notes
• Watch video lectures
• Focus on visual learning (like images, graphs, diagrams, etc.)
• Take help from friends

6. Challenge yourself with the time

Challenging yourself with time is a great way to do something fast. Isn’t it?

When you start doing homework, make a target like, I will finish this subject’s homework in 45 minutes. Similarly, set a period for each subject’s homework and then follow it.

To follow this tip effectively you can use a TIMMER for it . Chances are you’ll fail and you won’t be accurate with the target you’d set but with practice you can make yourself perfect.

Remember, don’t do all homework at a time instead you should try Pomodoro Technique and take regular breaks.

Taking breaks regularly while doing your homework fast won’t make feel like your homework like a burden because you have divided them into many sessions and coffee breaks.

Read also: 15 Study Techniques that are worth trying this year!

7. Find a study buddy for homework

Completing your homework with a study buddy, don’t you think it’s a great idea?

Of course, with a study buddy, you’ll not only enjoy your homework, but you both can finish your homework fast. The biggest benefit of group study is , that you exchange your knowledge and your understanding of the subject with each other.

So, if you have any friend who listens to you, supports your idea, and is good at studying, ask him for studying and doing homework together.

But, be active while studying with your study buddy and if possible then don’t use unnecessarily your phone.

8. Stay focused in classes

Staying focused in cla ss and paying enough attention there , can make your homework much easier to do faster.

Even, in my school days, I used to finish my homework during lunch break, so that I can enjoy my whole day at home without worrying about homework.

However, you don’t need to finish your homework during lunch breaks instead you can pay attention in class and clear all your doubts.

Whenever you learn something important during your professor’s lecture, make sure you take it in your notes. It will surely help you to do your homework faster.

Read also: What to do if you’ve failed a test?

9. Appreciate your efforts

Sometimes appreciating yourself can be very important. When there is no one to motivate you and appreciate your work then you should appreciate yourself.

Whenever you complete any of your tasks on time appreciate yourself. But it doesn’t mean, you should celebrate big and splash out money, Instead, you can enjoy an ice cream, a cold drink, or anything that you like.

These small things can bring a smile to your face and motivate you to move forward and keep doing great.

Read also: Best Study Motivational Quotes to Studying Hard

Conclusion:

In this article, I have listed the 9 best tips that must be helpful for you to do your homework fast. And, I hope you have enjoyed this article.

Now I’d like to hear from you:

Which tips from this post, do you like most, and are you going to try these tips from now on?

Let me know in the comment…

How to force yourself to finish homework fast?

It is certainly true that homework can be boring sometimes. Whether you want it or not you can’t avoid it. But what you can do is make it interesting by giving yourself a reward when you finish one task. Now the reward can be anything like listening to your favorite music, playing video games, or munching on your favorite candy bar. Keep giving rewards in breaks while doing your homework. It will keep you motivated and give you a sense of achievement.

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• Create a study schedule
• Set up a homework tool kit
• Have a dedicated study space
• Have your parents help you
• Get a tutor
• Brain food and hydration
• Take breaks
• Study at the same time every day
• Ask for help

Tip #1: Create a study schedule

Homework from certain subjects, such as Maths , may take longer than others. It’s a great idea to plan out a weekly calendar based on your weekly class schedule. You’ll need to keep track of the different deadlines and commitments you have, and anticipate the amount of time you need to get different tasks done. ⏰

Not only will creating a schedule help you stay organised and make sure you get everything done in time, having a well-developed routine will also help you develop your time management skills and take responsibility. Your parents can help you with this if you need a little extra support with organising your time while learning at home .  

Tip #2: Set up a homework toolkit 

It’s a great idea to have everything you need ready to go in your at-home study space, including a homework toolkit. You don’t want to have to get your school supplies in and out of your backpack constantly, and having a separate set of supplies with everything you need at home would make things more fun and easy. ✍️

Why not put together a homework toolbox with stationery and other fun things that you may need for projects and assignments throughout the year? That way, you’ll be ready to get started as soon as it’s time for homework.

Tip #3: Have a dedicated study space 

It’s a great idea to find a distraction-free space to study at home. It doesn’t have to be fancy – you can use a desk or a table and chair to create a zone dedicated to homework . Make sure it’s in a quiet spot with no distractions such as TV nearby while you’re working. 💻

It’s a good idea for you to create a few rules that should be followed in the study area to make sure you stay on track. For example, ‘no digital devices are allowed in the zone’, and ‘the homework zone must be left tidy after the day’s homework is complete’. You can determine these rules for yourself or work it out with the help of your parents. 

Tip #4: Have your parents help you

Your parents are a great resource you can take advantage of if you need help as you’re doing your homework. If you encounter anything that makes you feel confused or need something explained more thoroughly, ask your parent or caretaker to help you. 

However, keep in mind that you’re the one who should be doing your homework – not your parents. Independent learning will allow you to learn from your mistakes and gain an understanding of where you need a little extra help. Your parents should be helping you when you need it, but they shouldn’t be doing your work for you. Homework and revision are crucial elements of learning , so it’s important that you do your own work and understand it. ✔️

Tip #5: Get a tutor

Even with the help of your parents, schoolwork can be difficult. If you find yourself struggling to grasp certain concepts or just think you could benefit from some extra one-on-one support from an experienced tutor, why not try online tutoring ? 

Your parents may realise that much of today’s school curriculum is different to what they were taught during their schooldays. It’s totally okay to admit that there are some subjects you may need some extra help with – which is where tutors come in. 👩🏽‍🏫

Tip #6: Eat brain food and stay hydrated 

Nutrition and hydration is super important when it comes to concentration, focus and energy. After a long day at school, you probably need a snack or a light meal to keep you going until dinnertime – trying to do your homework on an empty stomach isn’t a good idea. 🥗

Check out our best tips for energy foods and brain foods that’ll help you get that homework done, and don’t forget to keep sipping water! Making sure that you’re drinking enough water to stay properly hydrated is important as it’ll help you stay focused on the work at hand. 

Tip #7: Remember to take breaks

While you’re doing your homework, it’s important that you take enough breaks. Breaks are important for your concentration, especially on days when the schedule contains more than three tasks . ☝️

You should try to maintain good posture as you’re studying, and make sure to keep moving. It’s recommended that you get up to use the restroom, get a glass of water or just have a little stretching session once per hour. If you’re committed to your study session, a quick five minute break to regroup will help you maintain focus for longer and retain more of the information you’re taking in!

Tip #8: Study at the same time every day 

Creating good habits is important in order to be successful over time. It’s a good idea for you to build a routine that works for you, and having a designated time to study every day is very beneficial. ⌛

When you decide to study is entirely up to you – some people may prefer to sit down with their homework right after getting home from school so they can have the rest of the day to themselves. Others may want to have a snack or some time to relax before starting. It all depends on what works best for you, so pick the study time you’re happy with. 

Tip #9: Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Homework is here to stay, and at some point every kid is going to need a little help. That’s where we come in! GoStudent tutors are equipped to help with all subjects and all learning styles. Get in touch today to book your free trial session and try it for yourself! 🚀

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How to Finish Homework FAST

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I was a competitive swimmer as a freshman in university.

I would get up at 4:30 am for practice at 5:30 AM. Then I’d bike to the station and take the 1.5-hour train to school, try to stay awake in class, then bus back to the pool in the afternoon for evening practice.

I would clock in about 20 hours of training in total every week.

Somewhere along the way I found the time to study and I ended up finishing my freshman year with a 3.8 GPA.

By my sophomore and junior years, I had retired from swimming so although it would seem like I had more time on my hands, they were disasters by comparison.

In fact, I struggled with getting up for 8 AM classes, getting all of my schoolwork done and just keeping up with readings.

If you struggle with getting all your homework done as much as I did, you’ll appreciate Ted’s story.

Ted was a high performer who was also interested in a lot of different things: naturalism, boxing, body-building and dance. And yet, Ted excelled at Harvard: during his freshman year, he took seven courses and ended up with honour grades in five of them.

Basically, Ted’s the guy you know who goes to every party, rocks the dance floor till the sun comes up, and still gets straight A’s in every class.

Ted could do this mainly because of his work-hard-play-hard work ethic: he resolved to focus solely on his work during study sessions, so that he could let loose when he was done for the day.

This strategy served him pretty well – he brought it with him even as he graduated from Harvard, went on to public service, and rose to become one of the most famous presidents the US ever had – Theodore Roosevelt .

Cal Newport in his book Deep Work tells us more about TR’s work habits:

Roosevelt would begin his scheduling by considering the eight hours from eight thirty a.m. to four thirty p.m. He would then remove the time spent in recitation and classes, his athletic training (which was once a day), and lunch. The fragments that remained were then considered time dedicated exclusively to studying. As noted, these fragments didn’t usually add up to a large number of total hours, but he would get the most out of them by working only on schoolwork during these periods, and doing so with a blistering intensity.

In essence, TR worked harder and smarter on his homework – not longer. And by the end of this post, you’ll be able to do that, too.

Let’s get into it.

Hard-Start-then-Jump-to-Easy Technique

This is a test-taking strategy from Barbara Oakley’s A Mind for Numbers – and it carries over perfectly to homework problems.

Here’s how you do it:

• Scan your assignment to identify some of the harder problems, then start in on those.
• If you’re stuck after a minute or two, disengage and jump over to an easier problem. After finishing a few of those, you can come back to the harder problem – and you’ll often find that it’s easier to solve than it was before.

This technique works because of the fact that your brain functions in two distinct ways of thinking: focused mode and diffused mode .

Focused-mode is when you directly concentrate on a problem and try to work through it logically.

By contrast, Oakley says that,

“ Diffused-mode thinking is what happens when you relax your attention and just let your mind wander. This relaxation can allow different areas of the brain to hook up and return valuable insights… Diffuse-mode insights often flow from preliminary thinking that’s been done in the focused mode.”

What that means is that to solve difficult problems, you need both modes of thinking.

First, you need to work through as much as you can to “prime the pump” with focused thinking, before letting your mind relax and let diffused thinking do its thing.

By using your technique, you’re allowing more parts of your brain to fire and help you solve a problem.

Record All Details of Sample Problems in Class

To be able to study well and feel confident, you have to have complete notes. There’s just no getting around that.

But what if your professor is the type who rambles or talks too fast?

Here are a couple of tips to help you take notes:

1. Record the problem and the answer first, before you write down the solution.

The sample problems from class are the best way to make sure that you’re covering the right material when you’re studying for exams.

This helps facilitate your studying after class because even if you don’t know exactly how to do the problem, you can always work backward from the answer. And if you get stuck, you can always get help from Google, YouTube or a friend.

This note-taking technique work especially well if you’re falling behind during the lecture because your teacher talks as fast as Kendrick Lamar raps the bridge for DNA .

2. Annotate like you’re going to teach someone else.

Ask yourself, “If I had to study this lesson from scratch with only my notes to refer to, what information would I need?”

Every little piece of information helps when you’re working through a math problem and x suddenly seems to have morphed into a ninja turtle, somewhere between steps 1 and 2.

Finally, you can also check out this comprehensive video for the best ways to take better notes faster.

Do Homework at School

Here’s something your teachers never told you: homework isn’t actually supposed to be done at home .

In fact, the best time to do your homework is when you’ve just come from class and the material is still fresh in your head.

By doing your homework ASAP, you’re able to work through the problems faster, by  reinforcing the concepts to yourself.

Similar to how Theodore Roosevelt worked intensely between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, either schedule a big gap in your day , or just stay on campus to finish homework before going home.

Looking back on my own story, I realized that when I stopped swimming, I had become far too lax with my time and, in effect, spent more time in low-intensity, ineffective studying. I also realized that having such a rigorous training schedule forced me to focus harder during the little time I had to study between practice and classes.

In Conclusion

So to sum up, in class, use the problem-answer-solution framework to take good notes, even if your teacher talks really fast. This way you capture all the example problems you need to study.

Then, use the Hard-Start-then-Jump-to-Easy technique to call on all the parts of your brain to help you solve homework problems.

And finally, by doing your homework in school, you’re taking less time to study overall because you’re doing it with more intensity and intention.

16 Best Tips on How to Finish your Homework Faster

• Post author By admin
• September 1, 2022

Doing homework can be both time-consuming and frustrating. When you are busy and you do not have enough time to complete your homework. You can follow these 16 powerful tips on how to finish your homework faster. This will help you stay on track with your homework and help you ensure that you submit them on time.

Table of Contents

Make a Plan

Before start writing homework, you should create a plan. Calculate how much time you need to finish your homework on time. According to your homework, you can plan your daily and weekly schedule. You can use the calendar for that purpose. This will help you visualize your schedule, and help you remember your homework.

Managing Your Time

You can fix a specific time to do your homework. Doing your homework at the same time each day will help you develop a regular routine. Try setting aside a time you know you can work well.

• Decide how much time you want to spend on your homework.
• Make a list of all the different tasks you need to finish.
• Estimate how much time you’ll be able to spend on each task.
• Always work according to your list.

Create a Schedule

• You need to know which assignments are most important and which will take the most time will help you manage your time effectively.
• Use highlighters to mark which assignments are most important.
• If you’re using an online or mobile schedule, create alerts or notifications for the homework.
• Don’t forget to include time for revisions, corrections, or other additional parts of an assignment.

Create an Outline for Your Homework

Make an outline of your homework to guide you through the writing process. The outline does not have to belong; it just has to be a summary of what you are going to write. Once you create the outline, show it to your teacher. Your teacher can also give you tips on additional points to raise. This will be easy and helpful for your homework.

Break Down Larger Homework Projects into Manageable Tasks

If your homework projects are larger you need to break down the project into small parts. For example: the assignment is divided into the planning, researching, writing, and revision stages.

Work in a Comfortable Environment

Finding a distraction-free area is one step to finishing your homework faster. Try sitting at a desk in a padded, comfortable chair. Avoid doing homework on the floor or on your bed, because these areas make you sleepy and distracted.

Start your homework when you’re Feeling Fresh

Start your assignment when you’re fresh and focused. Some people are comfortable after dinner and some prefer early mornings. Find the best time and make it regular. This will help you stay fresh and work productively.

Start your Homework Soon After you Get Home from School

Sometimes start homework in the evening isn’t good because it’s much harder to work quickly when you’re tired. Similarly, the next morning to do your homework sometime is incomplete. You can start your homework after some rest you get home from school.

Many teachers give students some free time at the end of class. You can also start your homework in this free time.

Complete the Difficult Assignment First

Firstly you need to complete the most challenging and time-consuming homework. Sometime you will leave them for later. You should do the opposite: complete them first. Once you’re done with that challenging homework. It will be easy to complete the other homework projects.

Take Short Breaks

You need to take a break of 10 minutes after an hour of doing homework. Drink plenty of water and eat light, healthy, tasty snacks. You need to eat healthy food that will enhance your memory, and revitalize your brain and body. Stay away from junk food and energy drinks.

Turn off your Mobile and Avoid Social Distractions

Phones are extremely distracting. If you want to finish your homework on time then turn off your mobile during the study. Use an app that blocks social media. There are plenty of applications that can help block social media and other distracting sites.

Don’t Multitask

When it comes to completing homework on time, multitasking is not the right thing to do. Schedule one homework at a time. You think multitasking saves time. But it often results in taking longer to do more tasks. You should also avoid multitasking like television or social media as well.

Ask for Help when you Need It

• You can ask your parents for your help. They always help you to homework completion and improved academic performance.
• Asking a friend for help in understanding a concept that will help to you finish your homework faster.
• If your friends can’t help, ask your professor to clarify the issues you struggle with.
• You can also post your question on Quora. You will get good answers from people that also help you.

Find Online  Help

If you need the online assignment help services provider. You can search on the internet there is many homework help website you can choose anyone. They complete your assignment within the deadline and give you a 100% unique solution. You can save your time by taking online homework help service.

Find a Tutor

An online tutor like FamilyTutor can be the best resource for improving your understanding of a subject. They have great knowledge of your subject. They give the instruction that can help you understand the homework. It is also easier to ask questions about your tutor rather than in front of the whole class.

Go to the Library

You can collect books and other useful materials for homework. Many libraries offer other resources such as tutoring, reference librarians and academic libraries, subject-specific librarians. If you need to work at a library after school, find your local library and go.

Hopefully, our tips are effective for you to finish your homework faster. If you face any difficulties to complete your homework. You can take our essay writing help at any time.

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Recent Posts

9 Important Tips On How To Finish Your Homework Faster

Doing homework on time can be challenging for many students because when they come back home from school they only want to do other activities like watching tv, playing games, or hanging out with friends. 

But they have to complete their homework because their teachers give them a lot of homework. And they are not able to complete their homework because they feel tired when they come back home from school. 

That’s why they think that how can they finish their homework fast? So they can do other activities. So they search for various help and strategies on the internet to finish their homework on time. 

If you are one of them, then you don’t have to worry about that because we have provided some of the best and proven tips to complete homework fast. With these tips, you can complete your homework on time. 

Let’s start with these tips and tricks one by one to finish homework quickly.

How to Finish Your Homework Faster

Table of Contents

• Tip 1: Arrange everything before beginning your homework
• Tip 2: Make a suitable timetable
• Tip 3: Make desirable deadlines
• Tip 4: Identify disturbing elements in your homework environment
• Tip 5: Restrict the utilization of technology
• Tip 6: Have “breaks” more often
• Tip 7: Do not hesitate to take help

Tip #1: Arrange everything before beginning your homework

It is one of the foremost things students need to identify whether they have sufficient study material (such as books, notes, newspapers, and much more) or not before initiating homework. Your resources will help you to save time while doing homework, as it might be challenging to do during your homework writing. 

If you are unable to find something important, it can waste your precious time. Consequently, it will increase your difficulty level to come back again and write homework with the same flow. If learners have suitable plans, they can complete their homework and set up the things in their study table to utilize them.

Tip #2: Make a suitable timetable

Students do not have enough time to finish their work; that is why they look for how to finish your homework faster. Introduce a critical quantity of time to perform any responsibility in the study. Give enough time to perform specific tasks and prepare other regular responsibilities. 

While you are establishing a timetable, create an exact timetable, which is practically feasible. If one can understand things, they can accomplish everything within a half-hour, set a flexible time, and work sincerely.

Tip #3: Make desirable deadlines

If a professor has already given the homework submitting deadline, try to put some new dates on your own, which is more prime to your submission dates. It supports the learners performing things in a more disciplined manner, learning how to finish your homework faster, and prioritizing the task each day.

Tip #4:Identify disturbing elements in your homework environment

Recognizing disturbances can help the students learn what can distract them. Besides the environmental distractions, digital disturbances can be a harmful habit, and according to various studies, these can influence the study’s growth.

If the learners are examining to get attention and develop more valuable study methods, examine the students’ online performance primarily and foremost. This can be the best method for how to finish your homework fast.

Tip #5: Restrict the utilization of technology

Have you ever noticed how social media distracts you from doing the homework faster? If you are seeking how to finish your homework fast, you need to stay away from social media and other platforms.

The sound/vibration of various notifications could be adequate to distract your attention from the task at the help. And later, it happens to the information overload, the worry of dropping out, and the types of addictive habits. Technology is changing students’ creativity further than ever, and it is continuously taking students’ attention.

Tip #6: Have “breaks” more often

Taking breaks can help you to relax and refresh yourself. After each study session, the students must involve themselves in other sections of the mind before moving back to their studies to attain the desired performance. 

With one cup of tea or coffee and another your favorite drink, you can regain your energy and continue your work with great productivity and efficiency. There one has it — how to finish your homework fast amidst the various disturbances in the home surroundings!

Tip #7: Do not hesitate to take help

Most students feel hesitation when they need to ask something from their teachers or professor and refuse to take their suggestions and recommendations.

Students should ask any questions related to their homework to clear their confusion. There is nothing wrong with that; even brilliant students seek help from tutors and others. The students can also request their parents for aid if they can. Students can also ask an individual teacher, who can help them determine more about the subject.

Tip #8: Reward Yourself

This is one of the best steps that can help you to motivate yourself to complete your homework on time. Because when you give yourself a reward, then you can do your homework fast every day.

For example: suppose you have difficult homework to complete, and it takes 45 minutes to finish. But if you have finished it in 30 minutes, you can apply those 15 minutes as a reward. 

Tip #9: Do Your Homework At School

If you want to do your homework on time then you can do your homework at school. There is no restriction on doing homework in school.

In fact, in my opinion, the best time to finish homework is when your teacher has just taught you about the lesson and the material is still fresh in your head. And you can do your homework fast.

See also The Comprehensive Guide on How to Write an Analytical Essay

Methods For Completing Homework Faster

Three simple methods to follow while doing homework. It helps you to know how to finish your homework faster.  

Homework is quite time-consuming, and students also get frustrated sometimes while doing it. Students get so much homework, assignments, projects, etc., and they want to complete it faster. To do your homework fast, here we below mentioned some methods for completing homework faster-

Method 1- Stay focused

• Ensure you’re sitting on a comfortable chair and doing your homework on a desk. Don’t do your homework in bed because it can make you drowsy and cause your neck and back pain.
• Try to avoid all types of disruptions, such as cell phones, television, or something else. Turn your cell off. Notify your friends and families that you will be offline for a certain period of time.
• Set a timer for your homework if you want to complete your homework quickly. It will support you in remaining on track.

Method 2- Do proper planning and organize your work

• Just keep resources on your study table that you may use for your homework. You won’t have to stand up again and again to get the things.
• Start early to finish early. If you expect to start in the evening, you can get exhausted if you continue working late at night.

Method- 3 Be motivated

• Taking a nap can be relaxing for you and help to calm down your mind’s disturbances.
• Reward yourself for meeting small goals. 

When you follow these methods, you do not need to worry about how to finish your homework faster. You will complete your homework quickly and get back to whatever you have scheduled for yourself if you follow these methods.

Reasons To Complete Your Homework Faster

Don’t think it is a joke! It is actually beneficial for you to complete the work faster that help you to get some spare time-

• It is helpful for yourself

Complete your homework quickly can be a stress buster for you and give you ample time to take a rest.

See also A brief knowledge of Kinematics Physics Equations

As a result, you’ll be doing yourself a favor if you can avoid the mounting tension that comes with a deadline. Complete your homework a few days or weeks ahead of schedule will save you from the stress growing with the coming deadline.

• Your teachers will appreciate you

There were also a few times where a professor praised me for sending my homework early. While doing homework takes a lot of time and effort, grading them takes about as much time and effort on your professor’s part. It’s also beneficial for them to focus on marking steadily rather than getting slammed with 30 or many papers at once and trying to grade them quickly.

• It gives you time for proofreading .

There are plenty of things that could go wrong. But here’s the beneficial thing about completing your homework early: all of those mistakes will happen, and if you give yourself a few days’ notices, preferably a week or more, you can resolve all mistakes. You can proofread your work or give your work to someone who can proofread for you. After that, you can correct all your errors timely.

• Your work gets better .

Some people can work under pressure, only if they get some reward for it. But you will get more benefits if you complete your work before the time like a few days or a week before. It will help you get your work done better than the work done before a night by spending sleepless nights.

• Gives you immense satisfaction to complete the work early

It definitely helps you stay motivated to do work more accurately. You will always get a sense to push yourself harder. If you do the work early and give your 100 percent, then you put yourself ahead of others. In education nowadays, things get competitive in it. So, it’s beneficial for you to push yourself to do work early, and it will give you peace of mind.

Quick Links

• How To Do Your Homework Faster In Slotted Time?
• How To Do English Homework Fast

In this article, we have included all the relevant information regarding How to finish your homework faster with some tips and tricks. We have also included information regarding the things learners can do while drafting their school homework, which will help them recognize how to finish homework last minute adequately. 

If you have any problems regarding your programming and any other assignments and homework, you can ask for our experts’ help. We can provide you with high-quality content along with plagiarism reports. We can also provide instant help to you as we are accessible 24*7. 

How do I force myself to finish homework?

Here are some steps to force yourself to finish your homework faster: 1. Make a plan.  2. Get help.  3. Set small goals.  4. Stay organized.  5. Take breaks.  6. Reward yourself.  7. Get help when you need it.  8. Stay positive.

Is homework harmful?

No, if you do some amount of homework it can help you improve in-class performance. But if you do too much homework it can have damaging effects.

When was homework invented?

Homework was invented in 1095 – or 1905 and is created by Roberto Novelis of Venice, Italy.

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How to Do Your Homework Fast – Like a Pro!

How many times have you found yourself working on assignments for a long time or past midnight even when you commenced homework hours earlier? It could even take longer if you have a lot of homework, and other engagements, but you are exhausted. Therefore, what is the secret of how to do homework fast?

The secret of how to do math homework fast is good planning, focus, and staying motivated. So, here are nine easy homework hacks to help you complete that mountain of homework faster and professionally.

Table of Contents

Plan how to get homework done before starting, gather all the resources needed to complete homework, identify a quiet place to do your college homework, start doing homework early, turn off your phone when doing homework, time to tune to some classical music, have ample water and some snacks to get homework done fast, make sure to take short breaks, reward yourself for completing the assignment.

For most students, the process of doing homework is simply getting the books out of the backpack and getting down to it. If you do this, there is a danger of taking long on the assignments because the available time is not properly planned for. But there is a better way of how to do homework fast and get good grades. Here is how to do it.

• Establish the time available for doing homework.
• List the different homework tasks that you need to do.
• Determine how much it will take to finish every assignment.

Remember to be realistic when allocating time for each assignment. For example, you might need to include a break when switching from one assignment to another.

One of the things that waste a lot of time when doing homework is having to move from the working table to look for books and resources to use. When planning how to do homework fast, it is important to determine and gather all the items needed to complete the assignment.

Some of the common things that you might need to complete an assignment include calculator, pencil, tablet, rough papers, and textbooks. If you are using online resources, consider downloading the needed materials and making them readily available.

One of the secrets of how to do your homework fast is selecting the right working area. Well, you cannot be seated in front of a television or play station and expect to complete the homework fast. The distractions are likely to make you take longer on tasks that could have ended much earlier.

But when talking about getting a quiet place free of distractions, you also need to be realistic.

For example, it might not be possible to remove the television and the entire home theater every time you have homework. So, consider getting creative. For example, you can cover the television, or set the work station on one corner facing away from the distractions. Remember that the faster you complete the task, the faster you can jump into that game of your dreams.

When scheduling your homework, it is also important to appreciate that you need to also complete other tasks. For example, you might have a movie to watch, a book to read, or dishes to do.

Doing the homework early implies that your mind is still energetic, and you do not have the pressure of missing the due dates. Therefore, you can concentrate more, complete the task faster, and get high grades.

Your phone can be a major distraction when working on how to get homework done fast. The time you take checking notifications and answer calls could make you take longer on an assignment that could have ended in thirty minutes.

So, consider shutting the phone or placing it in a different room.

But if you are using the phone to access resources like books for your homework, consider blocking incoming calls and messages during the homework period.

For most learners, a dead quiet working environment is considered perfect for doing assignments. Sure, it works. But researchers have established that if you play some background music when doing homework, the level of concentration goes up. The overall effect is that you will be able to complete your assignment fast. So, get a good classical music playlist and let it stream softly in the background when doing your homework.

Most assignments are done in the evening or after other chores on weekends when the energy levels are getting very low. One of the best ways of how to do homework really fast is to ensure your system’s energy is replenished well when doing homework. So, consider having some healthy snacks and plenty of water to take.

Note: You should avoid using energy drinks, soda, and sugary snacks because they spike the insulin levels resulting in the craving for more even before you are done.

When you have loads of homework, you might feel the pressure to continuously do them until the last part. But this strategy only ends up prolonging the time you need to complete the assignments. What to do when you have a lot of homework is ensuring to get short breaks in between the assignments.

The short breaks help your mind to switch and get refreshed before starting the next assignment. It is also a good way of telling the mind that “look two assignments are down, and now only one is remaining.” If you are a starter, consider working continuously for 25 minutes and taking a break of three-five minutes.

You will agree with me that homework is challenging, but you have to do it. Therefore, being negative about it is likely to take your mind away and slow you down. Instead, you should be positive and look at it like a bridge that takes you to the best grades and career success.

In addition to being positive, you need to reward yourself. Identify something that you like, such as a great movie, playing a favorite computer game, or the best meal to enjoy after completing the assignments.

This implies that in addition to finishing the homework fast, your mind will also be anticipating the reward.

Seek Help with Homework

Using the above nine homework hacks, you can now complete your assignments fast and more efficiently. But if you are still taking too long, there is another method of how to do homework efficiently: seeking help from writing experts .

The assistance is provided by experts with a lot of experience on how to finish homework faster and guarantee top grades. So, no matter how tight or tough the assignment is, working with writing experts gives you the assurance of completing the homework professionally and on time. You can never go wrong with experts!

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How to Cut Homework Time in Half

The amount of time spent agonizing over assignments bears no direct correlation to the quantity of knowledge and learning attained. in other words, homework that takes forever is pointless. so learn how to blast through school work with these tips for parents and teachers of children with adhd..

Homework problems lead to many kids with ADHD failing in school. Almost every parent of a student with ADHD has been on the front lines of homework battles, but homework doesn’t have to be exhaustive to be effective. The National Education Association and the Parent Teacher Association recommend 10 minutes per grade level per day. In other words, a sixth grader should spend roughly 60 minutes on homework, while a first grader should have no more than 10 minutes each evening. If teachers are piling it on, have a friendly discussion with them. The following strategies for how to get homework done fast can shorten completion time and reduce stress at home.

Tools for Teachers

One size doesn’t fit all. Data from assessments (formal and informal), daily observations, and anecdotal notes from the previous week should be used to determine homework assignments. Before assigning the entire class the same math practice page or reading passage, classroom teachers should consider, “What does each child need some extra practice with?” Individualizing homework increases the odds that a child will complete it.

Factor in students’ learning styles . Be creative and give students a “menu of options” for homework. Options for learning weekly vocabulary words might be to write a rap song or create a PowerPoint using the words. Students will be more enthusiastic about the homework process if they are given choices.

Have a study buddy (or two). Assign willing students to be the go-to person to answer questions from a student with ADHD who doesn’t understand the homework assignment.

Be responsive to parents who report frustration over homework. Be willing to adjust homework assignments , so that students with ADHD and LD spend a reasonable, not an excessive, amount of time doing them each evening. Does completing 50 subtraction problems really help a child learn? Wouldn’t 10 or 15 math problems provide enough practice and give you enough feedback? Try to shorten and reduce the workload — particularly the amount of writing required.

[ Free Download: The Teacher’s Guide to ADHD Learning Styles ]

Post assignments on the board. Write the homework assignment in the same place on the board each day.

Have students use an assignment calendar or agenda — then guide and monitor the recording of assignments.

Collect homework and give some feedback. It is frustrating to students and parents to spend a lot of time on assignments that the teacher never looks at.

Don’t assign homework as a punishment or a consequence for misbehavior at school. Don’t send home unfinished classwork to do as homework. Instead, provide the necessary modifications and supports, so that in-school work is in-school work, and homework is homework.

[ Turning It In Should Be the Easy Part of Homework, Right? ]  

Provide a variety of ways for a student to get homework assignments. Record assignments on a classroom answering machine or school voicemail, as well as on the teacher’s Web page. Another option: Post homework assignments on an outside window of the classroom, so students can return to check it after school.

Provide incentives for turning in homework. Let your students play Homeworkopoly (download the game board and “Chance” cards at teachnet.com ). Every day, students who have turned in their completed homework get to roll a die and move their individual marker that number of spaces along the game board, which looks like a Monopoly board. Along the way, they may land on special squares, earning small prizes or privileges.

Have students chart their progress. Ask students to graph their own homework completion and return rates.

Check assignment calendars and planners, since students with ADHD often make careless recording errors, entering assignments on the wrong date. Routinely ask table partners or groups seated together to check each other’s assignment pads.

Are the parents in the know? Invite parents to observe lessons in your classroom, so they will have a better understanding of how to work with their child. Don’t assume that parents will know what to do or how to help their child complete the assigned tasks. Demonstrate ways for the parent to help her child. Parents are a key factor in student success, and teachers must take the initiative to educate them.

Pointers for Parents

Be there. Sit with your child and talk through what needs to be done. Once she starts to work, you may fold laundry, knit, or read in the same room. At some point, she may ask you to leave. If so, go.

Get him moving. Physical activity — walking on a treadmill or fiddling with pipe cleaners — increases alertness for mental activity. Encourage your student to walk around the house reading aloud from a book. Chances are, she will soon settle down and be able to focus on her work.

Use medication. By the time they get home from school, most kids with ADHD are tired and their medication is wearing off — a double whammy for doing homework. Talk with your doctor about prescribing a short-acting medication. When medication is working, students stay focused and complete homework more quickly. They also tend to remember the material they studied.

Set the stage. It’s the end of the day and everyone in the household is tired, but you still have to do homework. Make your child feel comfortable as he starts his homework. Have him wear comfortable clothes and make the sure the environment doesn’t distract him. Some kids need a quiet room with no distractions, while others may need a little background noise.

Make it fun. Writing definitions for 25 vocabulary words is boring. Turn it into a game! Post words and definitions around the house for them to match. Have them jump on the trampoline while learning multiplication facts. Talk with their teacher about ways to make homework active.

Avoid interruptions. Once the student begins homework, hold his telephone calls until break time or until homework is completed. You may have to take a cell phone away to keep him from texting.

Spice things up. If a homework assignment is boring, play music or TV at low volume. When reading, break assignments into segments marked by colored paper clips. When the student reads as far as the clip, he can take a break.

Skip missing information. Students with ADHD often look for excuses to stop doing their homework. So if he needs information to answer a question, have him work around it, leaving a blank that can be filled in later that night or the next day.

Take a break when no homework has been assigned. Don’t require your child to study on those days. Use the time to have fun with your child. You will deepen family relationships and build his self-esteem.

Find a tutor. If you find it hard to help your child with schoolwork, find someone who can. A junior or senior high school student may be ideal — and the right price — depending on the need and age of your child.

Put completed homework into the appropriate folder. See that completed work is placed in the designated folder and is put into the backpack the night before. To keep him from losing it before class, set up a system with the teacher to collect the work upon arriving at school.

[ The ADHD Homework System We Swear By ]

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Homework & Studying: Read These Next

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Angie McArthur Angie McArthur is Professional Thinking Partners' acting CEO. She has been an integral part of PTP since 1998, co-facilitating and designing global conferences, leadership retreats, training programs, and ongoing one-on-one Thinking[…] Go to Profile

Smart Skills Go slow to go fast: A counterintuitive way to improve your work habits Today’s fast-paced culture leaves no time for relational intelligence. Here’s why it’s worth slowing down to eventually speed up. ▸ 7 min — with Angie McArthur

When your method or worldview clashes with a colleague’s, how do you respond? Leadership expert Angie McArthur has one word for these encounters: exciting. She views them as opportunities to develop relational intelligence—a skill that is sorely missing from most workplaces today. McArthur believes that the confusion of not understanding why someone acts or thinks a certain way is a growth opportunity that, in the long run, builds more productive teams that make stronger decisions. The problem is that our fast-paced performance culture leaves no time to step into that confusion and explore it—in fact, we don’t even like to admit our confusion exists. Here, McArthur speaks with diversity and inclusion expert Jennifer Brown about slowing down and retraining your relational intelligence for quality results over fast deliverables. This live conversation was part of a recent New York panel on diversity, inclusion, and collaboration at work. Angie McArthur is the co-author of Reconcilable Differences: Connecting in a Disconnected World .

JENNIFER BROWN: Do you think relational intelligence is more important than ever, given we live in very polarizing times? And I know that this is kind of bleeding into the workplace and every client that I work with, where dialogue has really in some ways stopped because I think people don’t have this kind of intelligence. Because these are the tools where we keep the door open. These are the tools where we are curious with no agenda about establishing a connection with others. And I think it’s difficult because feelings are running high and that sort of “I’m going to square off against” is an easy energy. I think the harder energy is “staying with and staying in”. Something where you may feel there’s a disagreement that feels personal or emotional, et cetera. So what kinds of advice do you find yourself giving these days in particular, given that the stakes feel higher and it almost is the toughest time I can remember to build bridges? ANGIE MCARTHUR: Yes, absolutely. I mean, I really feel this. I get, now—actually this is going to sound very odd. I now get excited when I bump up against a difference with someone, because it’s an opportunity to practice exactly what I preach, which is stepping into the conversation, digging in. And the mantra that I carry that I would invite anyone to use on any possible connection is: what can I learn from this experience? How can I grow from this experience? If I hold that in my mind I feel like I can get through anything with anyone. And it takes this unbelievable courage to step in and dig in and be willing to be—which we don’t like in this culture at all—confused. Which changes your mindset. I love confusion and often in the team setting we don’t allow for confusion. And honestly when we bump up against differences and when we start going, “Oh, gosh, what she said is terrible,” or, “That guy over there…” you know. Often what happens in those circumstances is because we’re looking for quick answers, we’re looking for people to be right all the time.

But any group or any team as they’re working through decisions, or even in family systems, you need to allow for confusion and group confusion: people being okay with, “Oh, I don’t quite get where she’s coming from,” or, “God, what he said, you know, that doesn’t make sense to me.” That’s okay. Step into it. Move into it. Open up those doors. Ask them more.

And so I think that’s a huge part of it, is we’ve gotten very slick in how we expect people to be, with this “performance” kind of mindset. And confusion is a really necessary part of relating to one another well, because you won’t understand each other. Even people who have a huge amount in common, they will bump up against each other’s differences. So it’s that willingness to discover, to be awkward for a minute. That’s okay. I love awkwardness! Love confusion. So next time someone is sitting next to you and you find yourself confused instead of judging yourself or judging them say, “Huh, I wonder why that is.”

JENNIFER BROWN: And it feels like the speed of business is almost counter to what you’re talking about because you’ve got to leave time to be confused and time to dive in and time to explore. And yet we live in this—like you said—a performance-based expectation culture where we deliver, deliver, deliver. And I feel like it’s a binary. That’s so binary, and yet it leaves so much behind.

So we might make a decision but we might not have heard all the input and we may not have dealt with the cognitive dissonance that—what I call the “creative abrasion” between people. And we didn’t then give ourselves time to develop the skills for the next time as well, to welcome different viewpoints and go through the process of reconciliation. So it seems sort of at odds with the world that we are being held accountable to be successful in. So how do we build-in time to practice relational intelligence in this fast-paced, frenetic, fewer-resources kind of world?

ANGIE MCARTHUR: I don’t think we can afford not to, and it’s not even necessarily about time, it really is about our mindset and our approach to one another. We all like to think we’re open-minded, and to me I challenge us all: to be open-minded means openness of perspective, of not willing to be so, “Okay, here’s the agenda item. Okay, we’ve got that decision made. Okay, this is done.” We get so much satisfaction about checking things off the list that we don’t check those things off well and with attention. And so it’s not even necessarily a time thing. It’s openness, and when you talk about diversity of perspective it’s also giving time to really step back and say: what perspective is missing?

We tend to “tribe” and we tend to be on this fast-track train, but I think the more people practice this—as I mentioned before, I get excited when I bump up against a difference with someone, it can be a difference of anything because it gives me a chance to practice this willingness to go, “I wonder what’s really important to them in this moment. Are they willing to listen to what’s important to me?" And while it seems to take time it actually accelerates the effectiveness of the decision, the effectiveness of the outcome. So it’s retraining how we’re actually thinking about time. It’s not such a linear process. It’s more of, okay, what does our engagement here look like so we can produce the absolute best result we could?

JENNIFER BROWN: It’s really quality over quantity. It’s go slow to go fast.

ANGIE MCARTHUR: Go slow to go fast.

JENNIFER BROWN: And ultimately we go faster together and the quality of our output is going to be better. And how we got there is going to feel that we were honored versus making a decision going forward just for the sake of going forward. So I mean this is so classic, it’s a classic business dynamic that really matters. It really matters.

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If you want to succeed: Go slow to go fast

To succeed in business, it's important to figure out where you're going before stepping on the accelerator..

A few years back, I was in an advanced driving class when the instructor brought up the concept of going slow to go fast — which is anything but obvious. In high-speed driving, what he meant was you need to enter the corner more slowly than you think to properly set up for the exit, which results in a higher average speed.  

Several decades earlier, in a competitive analysis class, the professor argued you need to initially go slow to make sure you have a solid plan before executing. Over the years, I’ve found that his premise — most people move to execution too quickly — is correct.  Put in simple terms, think of a race; if you start running before you determine where the finish line is, you’ll likely be running in the wrong direction, and the faster you go, the farther behind you’ll be. 

To drive this point home, let me recount events I’ve covered over the years that were catastrophic for the companies involved and could have been avoided had the decision-makers gone slow to go fast.

The restaurant supply company

This story was heartbreaking. A family-owned restaurant supply company that had become wildly successful wanted to expand, so it hired an ex-IBM sales exec as CEO who promised to grow them to market dominance. The issue with most executives in large companies is that their operational skills become out of date, and they don’t have enough breadth to understand all of the elements needed to do the CEO job. 

In this case, the new CEO — who knew nothing about the Restaurant Supply business — believed, as most sales execs I’ve met often do, that the way to grow a business is to hire more salespeople. And he took a quantity-over-quality approach, making the common mistake that a salesperson from one industry can do well in another. So, he staffed the company up with a massive sales staff. 

And he upped production to handle what he thought would be a significant increase in sales. But because the new sales staff didn’t understand the business (restaurant supply is generally relational and restaurants don’t easily switch suppliers unless there is a problem), revenue growth fell well behind the increase in those salespeople’s costs and premature orders.  Rather than growing the business, which had been very profitable, he bankrupted it in a year. The company no longer exists. 

Telephony gone bad

In an IBM subsidiary, a vice president of manufacturing was promoted to CEO and given the mission to grow the business from $750M a year to $1B.  He didn’t understand how sales commissions worked, having come from manufacturing. He also figured out the operation needed more salespeople. But, at that time, the top salespeople made more in income than he did, thanks to commissions. 

His fix was to hire more salespeople and change the compensation plan from one that was essentially commission-based to one that was primarily based on salary. We call this going from an at-risk compensation model to more of a fixed mode. All the top salespeople quit, and instead of sales jumping to $1B, it declined by 2/3rds, he was fired, and IBM ended up selling the division to Seamans under a deal where IBM would cover half of any losses for some time. That cost IBM an extra $5 billion.

And it remains one of the most idiotic things I’ve ever seen a company or an executive do.

Same company, different owner

After Siemens took over, another IBM executive ran sales, and he staffed it with computer salespeople.  Sales continued to decline, and the vice president of sales argued that the products were too expensive.  I was commissioned to find out whether his assumption was correct. I already knew we were the cheapest solution in the market, so I focused on identifying the real problem: the salespeople not only didn’t understand how to sell telephony products, but their frustration in selling things they didn’t understand made them abusive.

They not only were losing deals, they were also alienating customers.

Rather than addressing the real problem, the sales VP tried to have me fired by leaking one of my reports to a competitor and then blaming me for it. Had he done his homework, he would have known I ran security for the unit as well and was able to identify the leaked report as coming from his office. He left the company shortly thereafter.

Wrapping up: the recurring problem

In each of these cases, including the attempt to get me fired, an exec moved forward before understanding the problem and often failed spectacularly — often with career and company-ending outcomes. If you are a doctor, you spend time to diagnose an illness before prescribing the remedy; otherwise, you raise the risk of killing the patent. In a company, you need to understand its complexities and dynamics and the problem you need to solve before crafting a policy to deal with it.  

I’ll leave you with one example where a company did the right thing. One of my first interactions with Dell (note: Dell is a client) was to blacklist their PCs for quality issues in the late 1990s. Gartner, a research competitor, disagreed — and made fun of me at Symposium. Then, a strange thing happened:  the CIOs in the audience said I was right. Dell’s quality sucked. Dell could have, and they wouldn’t have been the first, done the “you’ll never work in this town again” thing. Instead, they flew me to Dell’s headquarters so they could understand my position, as their internal reports disagreed with my conclusions.

I suggested they do a forensic review of those reports to confirm their accuracy; to their credit, they found that the internal reports lacked integrity. The difference was that before acting, they determined the right course. What Dell did made things better, and today it’s considered a segment quality leader. 

Go slow to go fast. Take the time to understand the problem, including the skills and knowledge you lack, before executing. By doing so, you are far more likely to be successful than if you shoot before you are ready or aim. 

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Rob Enderle is president and principal analyst of the Enderle Group , a forward looking emerging technology advisory firm. With more than 25 years’ experience in emerging technologies, he provides regional and global companies with guidance in how to better target customer needs with new and existing products; create new business opportunities; anticipate technology changes; select vendors and products; and identify best marketing strategies and tactics.

In addition to IDG, Rob currently writes for USA Herald , TechNewsWorld , IT Business Edge , TechSpective , TMCnet and TGdaily . Rob trained as a TV anchor and appears regularly on Compass Radio Networks, WOC, CNBC, NPR, and Fox Business.

Before founding the Enderle Group, Rob was the Senior Research Fellow for Forrester Research and the Giga Information Group. While there he worked for and with companies like Microsoft, HP, IBM, Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, Sony, USAA, Texas Instruments, AMD, Intel, Credit Suisse First Boston, GM, Ford, and Siemens.

Before Giga, Rob was with Dataquest covering client/server software, where he became one of the most widely publicized technology analysts in the world and was an anchor for CNET. Before Dataquest, Rob worked in IBM’s executive resource program, where he managed or reviewed projects and people in Finance, Internal Audit, Competitive Analysis, Marketing, Security, and Planning.

Rob holds an AA in Merchandising, a BS in Business, and an MBA, and he sits on the advisory councils for a variety of technology companies.

Rob’s hobbies include sporting clays, PC modding, science fiction, home automation, and computer gaming.

The opinions expressed in this blog are those of Rob Enderle and do not necessarily represent those of IDG Communications, Inc., its parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies.

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How to Get Homework Done when You Don't Want To

Last Updated: June 24, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Ashley Pritchard, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden . Ashley Pritchard is an Academic and School Counselor at Delaware Valley Regional High School in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Ashley has over 3 years of high school, college, and career counseling experience. She has an MA in School Counseling with a specialization in Mental Health from Caldwell University and is certified as an Independent Education Consultant through the University of California, Irvine. There are 9 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 251,294 times.

Homework can be a drag, but it's got to be done to keep your grades up and stay on track during school. Going somewhere quiet, making a plan, and giving yourself breaks can all help you stay focused and on task to get your work done quickly. Try to keep your assignments organized and give yourself credit for completing hard or boring work, even if you didn’t want to.

Getting Motivated

• Keep a list of your assignments and check them off as you finish them. This can give you a sense of accomplishment that can motivate you to keep going.

• Make it the rule that you work for a certain amount of time, or until a certain amount of work has been accomplished. Afterward, you can hang out. Stick to this schedule.
• Try this out and see if it works. If you're too distracted by having friends around, make a date to hang out after homework instead.

• Make sure you keep the competition to yourself. Competing with your friends isn’t fun, especially over homework assignments and grades.

• Learning something that will probably help with future assignments, even if you don't know what they are yet.
• Proving to your teacher that you understand the homework so that they don’t keep assigning it over and over.
• Improving your GPA.
• Getting a good grade.

• Try not to reward yourself with food, as that can lead to snacking when you aren’t really hungry.

Staying Focused

• For instance, tell yourself that if you finish your first assignment in 20 minutes, you can go on your phone for 5 minutes.

• Make sure you stand up and do something when it's your break, or you won't get your wiggles out.
• Set a timer on your phone or use a kitchen timer to let yourself know when it's time to switch tasks.

• If you don't have control over the subject, try to find connections between the topic and something you care about. Find aspects of the subject that interest you.
• For instance, if you have to study History but you care the most about fashion, investigate the styles of the times and places you are studying. Learn how political and economical developments changed the way people dressed.

• You can find playlists on Spotify and YouTube that are made for studying and doing homework.

• When you're struggling to focus, sign out of your email and all social media so you don't check them as a reflex.

Creating Good Study Habits

• If you have many textbooks and worksheets, stack them and put them to the side.
• Get things like pencils, erasers, calculators, rulers, and paper.

• Having a planner will make it less tempting to procrastinate, as long as you have broken up your studying into manageable chunks.
• Your planner can be paper, or you can get one on your phone. Just make sure it has space for task lists as well as events.
• Once you have completed a task, cross it off or put a check next to it. Seeing that you're getting your work done will make you feel better, which in turn will motivate you to keep up the good work.
• Don't put more than you can do in one day on a list! Split up your week's work so that every day has a manageable amount.

• If you have a job or extracurricular activities that change your daily schedule, determine a weekly schedule that you stick to as much as possible.

• Sometimes just explaining what you have to do will help you understand it better.
• Talking to another person is a great way to brainstorm ideas. They may ask you questions or provide comments that can help you organize your ideas.
• Other times, the person you are talking to will notice something about the prompt that you overlooked.

Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Expert Q&A

Reader Videos

• Try asking a family member to help you remember when to start your assignments so you don’t forget. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2
• If you’re really struggling with a topic, consider going to a tutor for extra help. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2
• Getting motivated can be tough. Just try your best, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2

Tips from our Readers

• Set up a dedicated study area at home with your needed supplies, to establish a consistent homework routine. Having everything in one prepared place helps minimize distractions.
• Use a planner to schedule out all your assignments. Break them into small, manageable pieces so it's less overwhelming. Checking tasks off as you finish motivates you along.
• If completely stuck on an assignment, reach out and talk it through with someone. Verbalizing it can provide new insights to move forward.
• Take short activity breaks every 45 minutes. Get up, stretch, grab some water. It refreshes your mental focus so you stay engaged.
• Incorporate a fun personal interest into an assignment when possible. Writing about something you care about keeps you absorbed.
• When you really need to concentrate, eliminate enticing distractions like your phone. Logging out keeps you on track.

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://hwpi.harvard.edu/files/comm/files/smarttalk_staff_guide.pdf
• ↑ http://www.wcsu.edu/housing/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2018/05/Handout-V6N6.pdf
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/worry-wise/201410/how-prevent-homework-procrastination
• ↑ Ashley Pritchard, MA. Academic & School Counselor. Expert Interview. 4 November 2019.
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html
• ↑ http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/organize-focus.html?WT.ac=p-ra#
• ↑ https://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/sites/default/files/homework_tips.pdf
• ↑ https://childmind.org/article/strategies-to-make-homework-go-more-smoothly/
• ↑ http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html#

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Why Startup Founders Must Go Slow to Go Fast A conversation with Will Herman and Rajat Bhargava, authors of 'The Startup Playbook.'

By Sujan Patel Edited by Dan Bova Apr 16, 2018

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

"We hear it all the time: speed, speed, speed, speed. Speed is important. But while we fully believe that getting a product into customers' hands fast is critical to the success of any startup, if you try to do it insanely fast, you're going to make so many mistakes that, ultimately, you'll slow yourself down."

Those are the words of Will Herman, co-author of The Startup Playbook: Founder-to-Founder Advice from Two Startup Veterans . Herman, along with co-author Rajat Bhargava, argues that the way we talk about startups is all wrong.

It isn't all about velocity. It isn't all about time to market or even about first-mover advantages.

It's about laying the necessary groundwork for your company's success -- even if doing so takes longer than you'd like. It's about going slowly at the start when it comes to your funding, your customer validation and your product-market fit, so you can go fast when it really counts.

I had the chance to chat with Herman and Bhargava recently, and loved the battle-tested advice they shared on embracing this "go slow to go fast" philosophy if you're a startup founder.

Go slow with your funding.

Both Herman and Bhargava acknowledged that most founders are funding-focused. According to Herman: "It's what on everybody's mind: 'How do I get money?' Our point is, 'Don't put that first, because you'll get screwed if you put that first.'"

Bhargava further explained, based on his experience as the founder of 10 startups, that "everybody wants to jump right into VC meetings or investor meetings. Don't do that. Go take the time to really understand your business model, how you want to pitch it and who invests in companies of your style and genre. Really do your homework on who is going to be potentially the right fit to invest in your business."

Then, make sure your presentation, your business and financial models and your team are all put together in a way that gives you the best opportunity to get funded, Bhargava said. "Founders want to jump into meetings because they're exciting and fun," he said, "but what those investors start to do is dig in and ask questions. And when you don't have those answers, you lose momentum -- and it's hard to get funding when you start to lose momentum."

How do you get answers to those questions? According to Herman and Bhargava, they come from validating your customers and your products ... slowly.

Go slow with your customers.

As the founder of five companies, an investor in more than 70 and an advisor to several hundred startups, Herman has seen the challenges that come with making assumptions about your business's customers first-hand.

"They'll go and test their idea with two or three, basically, friends of the company, who will give them instant validation on what they're doing, and they'll say, 'Good. I'm ready to go forward. Product/market fits. Here I come,'" Herman said.

Of course, that results in an imperfect understanding of your business model, which is why Herman also advised: "You have to go find the naysayers. You have to go flesh out 30 to 50 different customers. Depending on your market, it's going to be a different number of customers."

Bhargava tied this back to the whole point of the book: that going slowly at first ultimately enables you to go faster in the long run. He stated, "If you don't know who your customer is -- if you haven't defined that super tightly -- you end up spending a lot of time and a lot of money on people that probably aren't going to buy your solution."

The approach both advocated looks a bit different from much of the standard startup advice that's out there. "At the beginning of a company, we advocate finding the smallest possible group that really just is dying for your product or service," Bhargava shared. "Understand them deeply, because if you can get them to buy, you'll have a good understanding of the characteristics of that group. If you don't understand that at the beginning, you're going to flounder."

Go slow with your product.

Finally, let your newfound understanding of your customers inform your development of the product or service you'll offer them, the authors told me.

Once you've fleshed out your different customers, advised Herman, "find out what they really need. That's at the core of it. That's how you start to build your value proposition, and that's how you start to learn how to differentiate yourself. That's how you learn what your go-to-market strategy is going to be, and even how you'll make money."

"If you do all those things," he continued, bringing the process full circle, "you can actually figure out if you can get funding for what you're doing."

Agree or disagree with their position? In either case, leave me a note below sharing your thoughts.

Co-Founder of ContentMarketer.io & Narrow.io

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If You Want to Succeed: Go Slow to Go Fast

In the world of technologies and start-ups, it is important to act quickly. But this approach can hurt the business...

In the world of technologies and start-ups, it is important to act quickly. But this approach can hurt the business in the long term and slow down its growth in the future. Growth isn’t all that matters.

If we move too fast, we might miss the most important things for business that make it stable and effective. Stability of this growth and its longevity is much more important.

To go slow to move fast means to invest in activities and processes that matter long term. It is better to take time not only to solve a problem but also to plan the solution correctly. Put in simple terms, think about driving; if you are driving without a specific direction, you are most likely going nowhere.

If your goal is to generate consistent profits and build a reliable business like Toyota, then to slowdown can be the secret to your company’s success.

Top Speed is Overrated

Fast results are not always what we really need. There are cases when you need to test your ideas as soon as possible, collect information, so that you can quickly adjust your actions later. But this approach is not suitable for all businesses and can often lead to loss of efficiency and profits in the long run. How does it work?

Think about what happens when you make a lot of quick decisions and try to plan on the go. The whole process of work turns into chaos, and you cannot concentrate on the main thing because you spend most of your resources on solving endless current problems. You are sinking in a bog of operational tasks and physically cannot devote time to such strategic aspects as company culture, HR, and others.

The strategy of “go slow to go fast” allows you to plan your actions and consider possible difficulties. Thus, the time that you spend on planning, you can compensate when you directly perform tasks.

Small Changes = Big Outcomes

According to the Kaizen philosophy , if you perform even small but regular actions, you can achieve significant improvements. You should implement them daily. They may be minor, but collectively, they will yield significant strategic victories. And the quote “go slow to go fast” shows the main principle of this philosophy.

It is necessary to maintain a PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Adjust) cycle to make the process of improvement continuous.

• Plan : set goals and a plan of actions that will lead to better performance.
• Do : execute the intended action plan.
• Check : identify the results of the implemented plan, whether it led to the achievement of the set goal.
• Adjust : build and standartize better processes that prevent problems from recurrence.

The advantage is that these changes often require no investment. You need to focus on your work and figure out how to improve it. In order to go fast, you must go slow and find out what changes can be made. It is better to confidently move forward in small steps than to stand still for a long time, waiting for a breakthrough.

Microshifts are Easier to Make

Small actions can be done immediately. Their results are easier to track and measure. It’s better to properly plan a series of small changes that will lead to incremental improvements than to grab onto everything.

Remember, you will start acting from questions that you understand rather than from some confusing projects. There is a constant temptation to postpone huge and obscure tasks. And lack of understanding of how to solve them leads to procrastination. As a result, you stagnate for a long time and get closer to a solution even longer. Microshifts create momentum for subsequent actions that set off a chain reaction. It seems to you that you are holding on slowly, but in fact, you come to the goal faster.

Making microshifts requires you to slow down to go fast and create powerful momentum. Each movement creates a cumulative effect and will motivate further action.

How to Go Slow?

Once Lincoln said: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” This approach of famous personalities became the origin and inspiration for the creation of the idea of “go slow to go fast”.

There are a few simple steps you need to take systematically to properly incorporate the “slow down to go faster” philosophy into the day-to-day tasks of your company.

Take time to create a plan and strategy for achieving the goals. Better to spend time planning them now than constantly reworking and fixing errors.

Set specific goals and parameters for their measurement. Determine how you will measure the results, what will be the criteria for determining success.

Brainstorm with your team. Share your goals with them and assign each of them a role. Let them get involved early on. Let them be creative and come up with all sorts of ideas so they have plenty to choose from later. Be sure to write down the results of these meetings and the next steps you have identified.

Do analysis on time. Decide how long you need to get the first results and then measure them. Try to implement these steps at first not for the whole company, but only for one department. Set a timeline and allocate enough resources to test the new approach. Some employees may be confused about new techniques and even sabotage them. Explain to them why this is important for the development of the company. Think about the benefits they will get from implementing the new strategy. Prove them that sometimes you have to slow down to go fast.

What Else Can You Do?

Improve Your Base Product

You cannot build a good and big building without a solid foundation. There is a risk that it will crumble before you finish it. First, you need to design what this house and its foundation will be like. Only then will you start construction work.

Build a solid foundation and make improvements over time. You don’t have to try to please all of your customers’ desires. They often do not have a vision of how each small change will affect the overall functionality. In addition, they do not always really understand what they need. Therefore, you cannot trust them to make such decisions.

Take the time to think about how you can give the client what he wants without sacrificing your priorities. Do you know its purpose? What problems does it solve thanks to your product? What results does he want to get? How can you improve the functionality to help him without complicating it with new features?

The difficulty of developing overly customized products is that they are very difficult to maintain and require significant resources. If you want to build a flexible product that can scale easily, you have to go slow in order to go fast. A solid foundation will help your business to thrive during volatile times and ensure surviving during an economic crisis.

Put The Right People In Place

The meaning of the principle “go slow to go fast” implies spending time on strategically important areas of the company, such as resource management and culture creation. Employees of a company can be both the main driving force of its growth and the reason for its slow development. If initially you were in a hurry and did not lay down certain principles and values, then it will be much more difficult to change the already established foundation.

Determine what is important to you in your work and customer relationships. Based on this, create a specific culture in your company. It will help you build a community within your organization that will reach your goals and focus on your mission.

Make your employees become followers of your principles. Hire people who believe in what you do and how you want to do it. Thus, your ideology will spread within the company without your efforts.

Practice Your Values Daily

You have to slow down to go fast, if you do not want to deviate from the original goals. It is often tempting to give a quick solution when there is some pressure from the client. But will this decision be beneficial for him in the long run? It’s always important to think ahead of how these changes will affect the performance of your product in the future. If you originally planned to create a universal service that would be easy to use, and the client asks to add something that will not play a big role now.

But later on, a few more such changes will complicate the functionality. Then it is better to slow down, analyze the situation and come up with a solution that will help solve the client’s problem and will not let you go astray.

You have to go slow to go fast and give him more than the expects. You can explain to him that the task will take you more time, but it will bring him certain benefits. Then he will appreciate cooperation with you even more because he will see that you care about him not in words, but in deeds.

Before you start doing something, ask yourself questions that will help you dig deeper into the problem. Use “the 5 Why” technique to get to the heart of the problem.

For example, the engine does not start. (problem)

• Why? – The battery is dead (first question)
• Why? – The generator does not work (second question)
• Why? – Problems with the alternator belt (third question)
• Why? – The belt was fine up to this point but never changed (fourth question)
• Why? – The car did not undergo a proper technical inspection according to the recommended schedule (fifth question, root cause)

Take small steps to get quick results. Use the PDCA cycle in your daily tasks and track improvements. Give due consideration to strategic issues such as thinking through the product fundamentals, hiring the right employees, and applying your values in every area of the company.

To go fast, first, you must go slow. Take time to understand the problem before proceeding. This way you have a much better chance of success than if you start shooting without aiming.

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