We all know the feeling. You tell yourself you’ll start on your homework because you have something important due, but next thing you know you’re scrolling 148 weeks deep into Kim Kardashian’s Instagram feed. Sadly, this is something teens know all too well. It’s strange, really. Why is it so hard to get homework done? After strong thought, I narrowed it down to three major aspects of the struggle that is homework.
1. Your phone
Probably the most common issue affecting teens is an addiction to smartphones. In fact, there are rehab efforts made for those suffering from just that. Social media has been spreading like wildfire in the past years, so it’s no surprise that it’s a huge contributor to homework distractions. One of the most interesting things I’ve observed is that on any given weeknight, my Twitter timeline is filled with students ranting about how much homework they have to do.
I could be done w my homework but my ass is sitting on Twitter smh
— amaya papaya (@amayaniicole) November 15, 2016
It’s amazing how naturally the urge to pick up your phone comes but there is a certain willpower required to resist it. If you can’t trust yourself to avoid checking your social media, delete the apps. Once you’ve done this, remove your phone from the work environment. Of course, there might be an occasional temptation but think about this: you would have to get up and walk to your phone, then download the apps again and log in. Honestly, that’s just too much work and hopefully you’ll realize it isn’t worth it. Twitter will still be there when you’re done and you won’t miss out on anything important.
2. Your class
Another problem might be that you just don’t understand the material. The best thing to do in this situation is to seek help. Ask your teachers for help. If they brush you off at first, tell them that you want to succeed in the class. It might seem like they don’t care, but they do. Trust your teachers since they are, after all, meant to help you. At this point, you might be thinking, “My teacher doesn’t teach, what do I do?” Believe it or not, your teacher isn’t the only person who knows the material. Don’t be afraid to ask a classmate for help. Even if it’s someone you don’t really know, remember that you’re all there for the same reason: to pass the class.
Besides, you probably aren’t the only one struggling, so it’s important to establish connections with those that you can (and you might even make new friends along the way).
If you absolutely cannot build up the courage to ask someone for help, take advantage of online resources like Youtube, Khan Academy, or Quizlet. Depending on the subject, one might be more helpful than another, but they all serve their purpose, so don’t let the fear of not understanding the work stop you from doing it.
3. Your mind
From a psychological viewpoint, the high school student is interesting. We have a habit of waiting until the last minute to do pretty much everything. A big part of this is our tendency to overestimate how much time we actually have. If it’s 10:00pm and you still haven’t started, it might be a good idea to take your work seriously. Instead of calculating that an essay will take a solid hour while working hard, be realistic and think about how many times you’ll go on your phone or get distracted by something else. Despite knowing that something is due in a matter of hours, some people still procrastinate. You need to remember that no matter how long you wait, your essay isn’t going to write itself.
However, you also need to be aware of how much work you can handle. Our society has done a great job at bringing attention to the mental health of teens nowadays, so pay attention to how you feel. This definitely isn’t your first time hearing this, but don’t forget that your mental health is important. I’m not saying to forget about your homework, but if you really don’t think you can handle the stress, take a break, but only if you really need it.
If you’re like me, your struggle is a combination of all three, and chances are, you’re only reading this to avoid doing homework, so get to work. Break’s over. Do it for you.
