How to Find Motivation to Do Homework, Part 1

Very few students like to do homework and everyone seems to put it off. It is easy to say that you will do it 'later' but when 'later' comes, you still do not want to do it. But, it has to be done; you're going to have to finish it sometime! It is better done earlier than later. Steps: 1. Plan ahead. If you have a study hall, do as much of it there as possible. The more you do when you are in class, the less you will have to do at home. Try to do it in class if time is provided and at lunch, or any other spare time you might have. Also, be sure to put the hardest class' homework at the top of your list to do. 2. Get motivated. Promise yourself a reward for finishing the dreadful homework, anything that you would find enjoyable and doable after you finish. Don't use food as a reward. Save a special magazine to read when homework is done or make plans to talk with a friend on the phone as soon as both of you have completed your assignments. Also take advantage of any holidays or vacations that may be coming near. On a Thursday, remind yourself that it is almost the weekend. Remind yourself that Thanksgiving, winter break, or summer break is nearing. 3. Work Smarter, Not Harder. A fried brain absorbs little information. Break up your homework time into chunks. Take regular breaks. Set a timer; take a 10-15 minute break for each hour you study. Get up, stretch, and move around. 4. Think of the consequences. What will happen if you don't do your homework? You'll get a bad grade? Your teacher will be disappointed in you? If none of these things seem to apply to you, remember that homework is to help you learn, which everyone ultimately wants. In the real world, knowledge helps you master the rules of the game...and if you don't know the rules, then you just lost the game. If "Knowledge is Power," then ignorance is minimum wage. 5. Find a place with less distraction. Set up your special study place. No friends, television, or other potential distractions should be present. Your homework place should also have a hard surface, like a table, to write on. If you need to do most or all of your homework on a computer, as many high school students do, make sure to avoid chat programs, unrelated websites, etc. If you have difficulty keeping focused, or awake, consider doing your homework at the library, at a table with some amount of foot traffic passing by it. The quiet atmosphere will help you focus, the surrounding mild activity will help keep you from falling asleep, and if you get stuck, there are those helpful librarians and references. 6. Avoid procrastination. Do it right away, never delay things you can do now. 7. Reward yourself. After you have finished your homework and your chores give yourself some goofing off time, such as, watching TV, chatting on the phone, or surfing the web, but make sure you put limits. 8. Find a homework partner. Make sure this person isn't one of your crazy friends who'll distract you. Find someone to sit with who is quiet and focused. This will help you feel comfortable working, because someone else is working along with you. Just be sure not to end up talking more than working. 9. Listen to some quiet music. Listening to music and studying does not work for everyone. If you are going to listen to music try listening to classical or instrumental music. Or if this is not for you just pick a quiet song that you don't know, so you don't get caught up in the music, and start working. 10. Create your own learning method. Everybody learns at his own pace and uses different intelligences to help memorize the material. Some find walking helpful while others like to have a support in form of pictures and colours. 11. Do physical exercises. It will make you feel relaxed. Besides your brain will work better and your eyes can rest for a few minutes. 12. Make a routine. It will help you do the homework and it becomes a routine. 13. Write down motivational tools that work for you. Sometimes we get in the habit of always needing motivation to start homework or assessments. If you're going through a list of motivational techniques, such as this, write down all of the techniques that make you go "hmmm, that actually might work". By doing this, next time you can look at your own list that is you-specific. You will find that you get your work started faster, and will feel more in control. originated by: Anonymous, Flickety, Luke, Dman0875 Source: www.wikihow.com