So, I feel like I have absolutely no time to do homework. I have marching band practice for 3 hours after school for 4-5 days (almost everyday) and I come home absolutely wiped out. I can barely keep my eyes open when I do homework, and many times I’ve actually fallen asleep in the middle of doing homework. I inadvertently procrastinate by falling asleep while doing homework and as a result, I’m up absolutely drowning in the work I have to do. I am absolutely positively not trying to procrastinate intentionally; I am sincerely trying to work and get ahead. However, I’m just so wiped out that I can hardly focus when I do manage to stay awake. I stay up till ~3am because I’m constantly dozing off and I work so slowly because of my fatigue.
I have tried working on weekends, but I’m not any less tired then. I usually spend Saturday and Sunday sleeping, but even then I’m not 100% recharged. I do my weekend homework on Sunday nights, while I still find it difficult to focus. I feel like I’ve tried everything, but I still can’t get ahead and I still can’t work through my fatigue. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Also: I’m currently taking AP US History and AP English Lang, plus I have college apps. I can’t drop my AP classes nor marching band (as in it’s literally impossible at this point in the school year).
You need to drop marching band. Explain to your high school counselor that you can’t do both and your classes are more important.
Your health and your grades depend on you making this decision and then standing firm
You need sleep. Two to three hours of sleep per night isn’t enough, and sleep is the only way you will feel rested. Is there time during the school day to do your some of your schoolwork? It might take up some social time but make it possible for you to get more sleep.
@menloparkmom Like I said, it’s literally impossible. I’m a student leader in marching band. I have a responsibility there and it would be a huge disrespect if I dropped out. I don’t know how to explain marching band to those who haven’t joined it, but I can’t drop out even if I wanted to.
@NorthernMom61 I actually do work during lunch. I spend it doing Latin homework from the night before, since I have Latin after lunch and it doesn’t take me long to do.
Plus other students have survived my situation. The difference between me and them is that they were fine with staying up all night and not getting sleep. If I could go to sleep at midnight OR if I had some way to work even while I’m tired, that would be great.
I’m not sure what other suggestions anyone can give you. Something has to give.
Dropping band hurts both the student (if it’s something they enjoy) and the program. If you go to a school like my high school marching season would be over in about a month anyhow.
I agree with post #2. If working during the day is not an option, maybe you could try strategically timed caffeine or something…taken early enough that you’ll be awake to do homework and that you won’t still be feeling the effects when it’s time to go to bed.
See a doctor. If you’re sleeping all day Saturday and Sunday and still not feeling refreshed, you may have some sort of sleep disorder.
Maybe you can try to finish some of your easier homework when you get back and go to sleep earlier. Then get up early and you’ll be a little more rested and can finish the rest of your homework. This isn’t the best strategy as you might not be able to finish all your homework before school the next day if you don’t get up early enough, but it might help occasionally.
@batatachal That’s actually not a bad idea!
@Malina_Misa Thanks- its actually what I do pretty often, but you have to be really good with time management and estimating how long it will take you to finish your homework. I personally can focus way better when I do my homework in the morning, and the pressure of having to get it done sooner makes me work faster, but you have to actually get up when your alarm rings or else you won’t have enough time.
Also if you review what you have to work on before you sleep, it will be on your mind and you might subconsciously think about it in your dreams.
I’m someone who struggles with this as well.
If there’s no way around marching band…
Do some homework at the lunch table
Go to the school library for an hour after school (or public, some are built close to the high schools).You WILL procrastinate less than at a house with tons of technology in every room.
Some individuals like myself cannot do homework when we feel tired. To compensate, maybe try going to bed and get some rest like a normal night with good sleep, but wake up 1-2 hours before the usual time and work then. Though you may be tired when you wake up like most teens, chances are, it will be a lot less tiring than the night before, especially if you got 6 or more hours of sleep.
Maybe you could take a nap before starting homework? I’ve found that taking a 30 min nap before starting homework really helps. Just be careful to set an alarm and not sleep through it.
See a doctor. There is no reason a healthy high school student can’t commit to 3 hours of an EC and still manage to keep up with relatively difficult classes, that should leave you 3-4 hours before lights out right? Then talk to someone who can help you with time management and come up with a system that gives you a minimum of 7 hours of sleep EVERY night of the week, preferably 8. Honestly, if there is nothing wrong physically, as a parent I’d insist you give up marching band, your health is more important than ANY ec.
You need to schedule 7-8 hours of sleep EVERY night or you’ll harm your brain and body. Yes for a week it means you probably won’t have time to do hw. Then, once you sleep patterns are back (and it may take a while), insert hw again. Basically, you’re tired because you lack sleep and have an arduous work out. The two combined result in exhaustion which lead to totally unproductive “work”. Next time you fall asleep doing homework, go lay down and actually sleep.
(And, no, others can’t make it without sleep or with 3 hours a night; They say so because that’s what teens do, or they take drugs. Humans need a lot of sleep to recharge and function, and adolescents need a certain number of hours or they harm themselves, which leads to all kinds of serious problems then and later on.)
I’d recommend you get tested for Lyme Disease and Thyroid issues, too.