Do you ever hate feeling unproductive and aggravated because a homework question is taking too long? Even an hour? I've been there and I never want to feel that way again. Neither should you! That's why I'm making this guide on how to finish homework assignments quickly to relieve stress, maximize your learning efficiency, and give you more time for hobbies or exam preparation.
1. Form a study group.
A study group with friends is not only fun and engaging but teaching the concepts to others is double learning and helps you reach a proficient understanding of the learning material. It is also helpful to receive assistance from friends when you are stuck on a question. You can check the answers with your friends after you finished the homework.
2. Ask questions during office hours or on Piazza or another public forum.
Put in as much detail as possible to ask about what you don't understand about the question so that you can receive a more relevant response to the question you are stuck on. Remember to include a screenshot of the question and your work if possible.
3. Use a constant ambient noise
Whenever I need to concentrate, I put on my headphones and use white noise or any ambient noise to block out distractions and thoughts that I might have while daydreaming. If you like lofi or classical music, you should listen to that as well.
4. Make your writing clear and organized
In case you make a calculation error or mistake, showing all steps to solve the problem or neat writing can save you a lot of time when checking your answers.
5. Make your space as organized and de-cluttered as possible.
Have a well-lit, comfortable space that includes all of the necessary supplies needed to finish your homework. Your space should look similar to the following image.
6. Find the easy questions to do first.
Difficulty is relative to the person. However, there are always some homework questions that are more simple than others. Immediately skip the questions you find difficult and work out the easier questions first. This strategy builds more stamina and confidence to tackle the more difficult questions.
7. Work on the assignments as early as assigned
Procrastination can get to the worst of us. However, starting a homework assignment the day before it's due or on the day of can be extremely stressful and lead to not completing the homework on time or not thoroughly learning the content. Starting early can give you more time to process and understand the learning material that the homework is based on.
8. Scan the textbook and lecture notes for similar questions.
There will be some questions that are very similar to the homework questions that can speed up the progress you're making with your homework.
9. Put your phone as far away as you can from yourself
Sometimes, I would lock my phone in my closet so I could concentrate on what I'm doing. This would help because I would be avoiding calls and could check my messages and any other updates after I finished my studying session.
10. Do exercise in-between your breaks
Anything from a cobra stretch to some jumping jacks can improve your concentration and lead to realizations that you wouldn't have had before. You need a break from the blue light emitting from your screen and sitting for so long. Here's a short study break workout that you can do after a study session.
11. Complete your homework in-between classes.
Do you have a schedule where you have awkward breaks in between your classes? Find a quiet place, such as an empty classroom, a learning centre, or a library to finish your homework. If you have a homework assignment due in the afternoon, you can also work on it during your lunch break.
12. Search up online tutorials for homework questions
This is especially helpful for calculation-based classes where there are similar questions found through Youtube, Khan Academy, or Socratic. Just search up the topic that the homework assignment is based on or the question instead.
13. Use a study timer
Working with little to no breaks can lead to less productivity because you will feel burnt out, aggravated, and exhausted. I recommend working for 40 minutes and then taking an 8-minute break. There are many variations of the Pomodoro timer that you can use depending on how long you can concentrate on the assignment. Lots of Colors, a youtube channel, provides a variety of Pomodoro timers with either no music or ambient music.
I'm hoping this guide will be super useful to help with finishing homework assignments and getting more free time! What is the longest time that you have ever spent on a homework assignment? Let me know in the comments below!
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