Doing Homework the Smart Way

Ever forgotten about homework until the morning when it’s due?

I hope not.

But let’s say some of us have faced this predicament. My guess is that the homework will be rushed that morning (with help from a friend 😉) and quickly submitted without cross checking the answers, and written in a not-so-cute handwriting, or the homework could be done very well, but submitted very late. Either way, the results may not be too pleasing. With the first case, the teacher could find out that your answers are not really your answers or could deduct some marks because your work is rough, and with the second case, marks may be deducted for late submission.

The main idea here is not just to do your homework on time, but to plan yourself and your tasks in a way that your work is done in a smart and efficient way. Apart from getting you good scores, this will also relieve you of some stress. If you’ve ever had trouble with homework, here are some useful tips to doing homework the smart way:

Have a reminder: This could be in the form of a book where you write down each assignment that has been given for the day. It could also be in a daily planner where your tasks are outlined. A reminder could also be in the form of a trusted friend, who can remind you of all the homework you have for that day. This friend will have to be your classmate, of course. Sometimes, all the day’s work can be overwhelming and you may forget that you have some work to do after school, especially for assignments that aren’t due the next day. Having a reminder will keep you in check and prevent you from missing deadlines.

Don’t procrastinate: If you’re given homework that’s due the next week, for instance, it’s very easy for you to say that you’ll ‘do it later.’ Before you know it, the deadline is the next day and you still haven’t done the work. In order to avoid such situations, try to finish up your homework early enough so that you have time to rest and not panic about any work not done. You can create a timetable for after school hours, and try to follow it strictly. Moreover, teachers usually give a deadline for homework according to how much time you need to complete it. So, if an assignment’s deadline is a week from the day it’s given, then you probably need to do some extra research and put in more effort.

Have study groups: Sometimes, some assignments require more time, effort and research to complete. Being part of study groups with friends and classmates can help you with such assignments. By ‘help’, I don’t mean merely sharing answers amongst yourselves, but coming together to understand the concepts behind the questions, or studying the topic from which the questions were taken. This helps to fully grasp what the questions are about and it ensures that you actually understand what was taught and what is being asked.

Switch up your environment: Sometimes, discomfort can play a big role in disrupting your workflow. If you seem restless or unable to work in a particular position or location, try moving to a different place or changing the scenery. You could get bored of doing your homework in the same place every day and this could distract you. However, for some people, doing work in a fixed position is more convenient for them because this provides a more organised routine for them. We’re all different, and we have different preferences, so choose what suits you.

Ask for explanations when needed: Homework is given to test your knowledge on what has been taught in school. This is different from in-class tests or exams because you can still get some supervision when doing homework. Supervision could come from parents, older siblings, friends, classmates or tutors, and this is fine. Doing your homework the smart way here means that you’re not just asking for the answers without understanding the question or making an attempt to answer by yourself, but asking for explanations where you don’t understand and trying to apply reasoning from the explanations into your answers.

Try applying these tips the next time you have homework, and see if anything changes. Homework shouldn’t feel like a burden to anyone and if it does, then something isn’t right. If you plan yourself well and take things easy, then things should work out just fine.