You cannot teach a man anything, you can only help him find it within himself.

Galileo

Most people don’t love doing homework. At primary school it is easier than high school which is why you might be looking for homework hacks to help you.

Knowing how to do homework efficiently will give you more time to do the things you love and help you to enjoy your school work.

So if you want to know how to make homework less work keep reading because this article is for you.

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Preparation

One of the first effective practices for homework is preparation.

Spending time to create a schedule will help you in the long run. Having a schedule means that you will be less prone to interruptions and distractions, which will allow you to focus. Ultimately, if you want to know how to make homework more manageable, the key is not to procrastinate.

Sometimes it is the little thing, like making sure that you go to the loo before you begin your homework, or making sure that you eaten or have a bottle of water handy. Also, make sure that you have all your textbooks, stationery, and exercise books on your desk.

These homework hacks may seem obvious but actually, they are effective practices for homework success.

Find a Quiet Place

Knowing how to do homework effectively starts with making sure that you have an appropriate and comfortable place to study. Make sure it is somewhere where you are able to concentrate. For instance, sitting on the sofa where there is a television in the same room is not a good idea.

Avoid distractions like phones, TV, messages and music – unless this is helpful for concentration. Instrumental music or white noise can sometimes be helpful when studying.

Controlling your environment is one of the most effective practices for homework and assignments.

Always make sure that your workspace is as neat and tidy as possible. Homework hacks like these may seem obvious but can make all the difference.

Don’t Leave Homework to the Last Minute

If you want to know how to make homework less work, do not leave it until the last minute. It is much better to work a little bit every day instead of cramming everything in at exam time.

Prioritise Urgent Tasks

Learning how to prioritise is one of the most effective practices for homework that you will master. When you have a lot of homework, organise your tasks in order of priority and be prepared to adjust your approach as you go along.

Always start with urgent tasks first.
When you have assignments due for the next day, be sure to get those out of the way first.
Begin with difficult tasks.
Knowing how to do homework effectively means facing up to challenges instead of ignoring them. When you begin with your difficult tasks, your mind will still be fresh. Bear in mind that the harder your homework is, the longer it will take. Once you have the tricky jobs out of the way everything else will seem quite easy. You can always be flexible with this approach but it is one of those homework hacks that have helped many students in the past.
Start with important tasks.
If you have exercises for English grammar and a past paper for an English exam that you'll be taking the next day,  start with the old exam paper first.

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How to Do Homework Efficiently: Take Breaks

If you want to know how to do homework efficiently, then place importance on taking short breaks. It can be challenging spending two hours doing homework after a full day of lessons at school, this is why it is recommended to take breaks at least every 45 minutes. Make sure that your breaks are short so that you stay motivated and willing to return to your desk. A short 10-minute break to get some air or walk around will help you to re-focus.

Remember that even though wanting to know how to do homework effectively is admirable, you should not be too rigid about it either. There are not any rules. If it suits you to work for 20 to 30 minutes at a time and rather take five minute breaks, then do so. Or, perhaps you are one of those people who like to work for a whole hour without any break. Do what works for you and in your breaks avoid screens to give your eyes a rest.

two schoolgirls outside using laptop and writing in notebooks
A homework buddy can hold you accountable. - Image: Mary Taylor

Change Subjects Every 30 Minutes

To keep things fresh, change your subject matter every 30 minutes. This is one of those simple homework hacks to help you know how to do homework efficiently. Remember that your concentration will dip after 20 to 30 minutes anyway which makes it a good time to change gears.

Try changing subjects and come back to it a bit later.

For instance, you could go over your history lesson for 30 minutes and then check out a maths problem. If you decide to move onto your French grammar after that, you can be sure you won’t get bored. This is certainly how to make homework less work – or at least appear that way.

How to Do Homework Effectively: Focus on One Thing

Don’t try and multitask.

edit
Remember:

You can only do one thing properly at a time, so try not to think about your maths homework while you are learning geography..

If you move onto something else before you have completed a task, make sure that you are focused on the new subject. It is always preferable to finish something before moving on to something else on. By this we mean at least finishing a section before changing the subject.

Stay on Top of the Load

Knowing how to do homework efficiently means not letting it run away with you. If you do happen to fall behind your homework, you could always dig in to your free time to help you get ahead. However, remember that you can only do this if you have a good schedule. Also, be sure to not make a habit of this, rather, let it be an exception when you are under pressure.

Working in a study group with a private tutor can help you immensely to improve your results and establish healthy study habits.

Reward Yourself

Incentivise yourself with rewards, when you stick to your schedule, you will find that you have more time for relaxation and hobbies.

A dedicated schedule can also help you to avoid distractions. If you are still prone to a lack of concentration, consider giving your parents your phone while you are studying, or doing your homework and getting it back once you have finished.

You could also ask a good friend or study buddy to keep you accountable. Share your goals with each other so that you will feel even better about your rewards.

Plan Your Week on the Weekend

person writing in a notebook
Don't multitask! Focus properly on each task. - Image: Artem Podrez

It is always helpful to plan your schedule in advance. Keeping up with your homework will help you to remember what you were taught in class, and by staying on top of it, your academic performance will undoubtedly improve.

Remember that homework is an important part of your overall education. It is a good idea to organise the work you have done and the work you still need to do at the end of each week – plan which days you intend to do each task. Use any extra time to work on special projects or assignments.

If you feel you need academic support with any particular subject or with your homework, consider getting help from a qualified and experienced Superprof tutor.

You could take an in-person private tutorial or opt for online or group sessions depending on your affordability and preferred learning style.

One-on-one tutorials are obviously extremely beneficial for the student because the entire focus is only on one person. For this reason, they tend to be the most expensive option, even so you will probably be surprised by the affordability of private tutoring especially because there are tutors of all levels available.

Online tutoring is typically more affordable because there is no transport cost. While these kinds of tutorials might not be effective for practical, hands-on subjects, they are helpful for most academic subjects, revision, exam preparation and homework help.

Some students prefer learning in groups which is easier on the budget too. The options are endless, simply find one that works best for you.

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Niki Jackson

Niki is a content writer from Cape Town, South Africa, who is passionate about words, strategic communication and using words to help create and maintain brand personas. Niki has a PR and marketing background, but her happiest place is when she is bringing a story to life on a page.