Finding Motivation for Students

Few students like to do homework and everyone seems to put it off. It is easy to say that you will do it 'later'; and yet, when 'later' comes, you still do not want to do it. But, it has to be done!

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.
2. Get motivated. Promise yourself a reward for finishing the dreadful homework, such as an activity you enjoy or anything that you would find enjoyable and doable after you finish. Don't use food as a reward, however! 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.
3. Think of the consequences. What will happen if you don't do your homework? You'll get a bad grade? You're 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.
4. Find a place with less distraction. Set up your special study place. No friends, television, or other potential distractions. 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.
5. Get the work done, savor your reward. Don't cut it short or change the plan. Take as much enjoyment from your reward as possible.

Tips

• Use your spare time at school, and while riding the bus to begin your homework. Do the rest of your homework right after arriving at home. You are still in the school learning mode, and it will be easier to remember all you have learned. Then, you will have the rest of the day and evening free, without having to even think of school, until the next day.
• If you really don't want to do your homework, then just get everything ready to do your homework: paper, pencil, textbook, and cup of tea. Then sit down and open the book to the page you need to read. Then read the first paragraph. Usually by then you will feel that you can write the first sentence. Break it down into little bites.
• Studies show that during sleep, the brain tends to hold the memories you have right before you go to sleep. Therefore, if you have to memorize something, try to learn it just before you go to sleep. That does not mean you can cram 100 vocabulary words right before you go to sleep; memorize some during the day so that right before sleep you can review most or all of them.
• If the homework is going to take a long time (2+ hours) take a 15-minute break every hour. On the break, do not start your reward or anything else that you might be tempted to use as an excuse to not go back to your homework.
• Do the easiest work first. You will feel great after you accomplish some thing and you'll have more time to concentrate on the more difficult things. Also, it will motivate you for your next assignment.
• Do your homework on a table or desk, but never try to work on the couch or in your bed. You will get bored, and the bed is so soft, and you'll fall asleep...
• Music may often help you concentrate; though try to avoid music with lyrics or very complex melodic progressions, as they may cause you to think more about the music than your homework. Certain classical music and some jazz are good for listening to while doing homework.
• If there is something you don't understand, write down what the specific question, or mark the page in your book. Then you can ask your teacher for help. If you just go to your teacher and say, "I didn't understand the homework so I couldn't finish it," it will be difficult for her/him to help you if you can't be specific about what was actually hindering you.
• It's easier to recall something if you remembered it under a similar environment (known as state-dependent learning). That's why it is important to study at a table and with proper lighting instead of reading on your bed, for example.
• If you are an extreme procrastinator, you might try some "structured procrastination". As the suggestion above says, do the easy homework before doing the hard homework, however not just to give yourself a sense of accomplishment, but also to avoid doing the big stuff. When it comes to the big stuff, find another larger task (like annoying chores) to put off in order to do the big homework. While in the long run this method is not productive (eventually you will have some really big things that you keep putting off for smaller ones), it can be more satisfying/effective for a hardened procrastinator.
• Some people use 'study drugs' (such as dextroamphetamine) in order to stay awake, and stay focused. While this is an effective way to avoid sleep, be aware that using drugs in this manner may cause unwanted side effects (such as mild depression, anxiety, insomnia, etc.), and is likely illegal. Since psychotropic drugs work differently for different people, this may or may not be an effective way to study. If you have a good doctor, talk to him about your pharmacological options.

Warnings

• Don't get distracted! It's easy, but try to stay focused.
• Don't do homework with a friend. It's easy to get off subject and not do work in time.
• Don't eat while you work! You'll go through a whole bag of chips, and then get up to get more.
• Don't get frustrated. If you are having trouble getting through a certain assignment and it takes a long time, temporarily switch to another assignment.
• If you can help it, don't go to bed. What will happen is that you'll say, "Oh I'll get up early the next morning to finish it." Then, you either don't get up early enough, or you do, and you're totally worn out for the rest of the day.
• If you choose to listen to music, be aware that studies show you perform best on a test when the conditions (light, noise, etc.) are the closest to the conditions you studied with (known as state-dependent learning). So if you can't listen to music during a test, it may actually be better to study in quiet.