Homework tips–how to best manage your time with homework

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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Although I was skeptical about some of the points in his book, one of the things that most interested me in How to Be a High School Superstar was the homework tips. Do any of you have homework tips that can seriously reduce homework time?

I’m leaving this as broad as possible because I really am curious.

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  1. Make sure you actually understand the material first. Otherwise, you will probably find yourself spending 3 hours on a math or physics problem that would have been easily been solvable otherwise.
  2. Set clear goals and follow them.
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Do homework during school
Take notes and stay organized right the first time so you don’t have to redo stuff

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^that too. I did almost all my high school HW during school.

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Get rid of all distractions if possible - this means all other electronics, especially if they are not necessary to your homework.

Start things early in long term projects and try to make it fun for yourself.

If studying with friends, get people that will motivate you, but will also stay focused

Set timed schedules for yourself, and race against the clock. If you finish it within your set time, offer yourself a set prize or a snack

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Just don’t do it…

JK.

  1. This might be terrible advice, but I found myself procrastinating often, so I'd just sleep for ~9ish hours when I got home (immediately) and then wake up and finish my work.
  2. Listen to music in order to focus better
  3. Take methamphetamines. A lot of people take them to do tasks in high-pressure situations better. If you're willing to lose your teeth and hair for Harvard, this would be a great way to maintain that 3.845235....I mean 3.9 GPA while showing some dedicated interest
  4. Talk to your teachers and ask them about what they'd like; knowing what they want = easier to finish and therefore, less time spent.
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@gonfaloniere‌ if there was a single way to reduce homework time everyone would be doing it. Do your homework to the best of your ability in whatever time you have. If you’re not happy with that, reorganize your priorities and figure out how you want to spend your time :slight_smile:

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@BPearlman97‌

I think you misunderstood the OP. The real question is, how can I make the boring parts of life go faster so I can get to the fun stuff?

JK.

Nice advice.

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Another way to reduce homework time is to politely ask the teacher to move the deadline a few days earlier. But I wouldn’t recommend this option.

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  1. get organized. Be sure you have ONE Place where you can find all your assignments and deadlines. Things are less likely to sneak up on you if you can see all your assignments at once.
  2. Keep a stockpile of all the stuff you're likely to need in one place at home. Know where you can find a ruler, an eraser, a stapler, some graph paper, an index card, a paper clip, more loose leaf...all that stuff that's going to cost you time.
  3. Make good use of a highlighter in class. If you can highlight the most important of your notes, you'll be amazed at how much more quickly you can find information a few hours later.
  4. Likewise, in math and science classes, you should always have an ongoing Formula Sheet in a plastic page protector. Each time you cover a new formula, you add it to your list. (And it helps if the list is on colored paper-- it makes it MUCH easier to find. My current Geometry classes had a gold sheet first trimester, and the current version is purple.)
  5. I realize MITer94 said this in jest: "Another way to reduce homework time is to politely ask the teacher to move the deadline a few days earlier. " But it does bring up a good point: let your teachers know when you're seriously swamped. It won't always help; sometimes we're up against deadlines we can't move. But I'm more than happy to be reasonable when times demand it. So if my kids have 3 big tests on a given day, I have no objection to moving my quiz a day or two. Be judicious about asking, and make sure it's a request as opposed to a demand. But if you're open to the possibility of a quiz or assignment possibly being moved UP, I think you'll find that teachers will work with you.
  6. Learn how to prioritize. You know which subjects require more effort from you, and it may not be the same as your best friend. Learn to determine which assignments and subjects require major effort, and where you can do less when time is tight.
  7. Get enough sleep. You'll accomplish a LOT more in a lot less time if you're well rested!
  8. Likewise, watch your diet. A diet of soda and Doritos is NOT the path to high grades!