If students were given a free reign of the educational institutes then the first thing that they would abolish would definitely be the homework given to the students. And there is good reason for that too (at least in the eyes of the students!) - doing homework rarely accomplishes anything.
What students don’t know that most of the homework that is given to them is very important for their learning process. Even if the students realize this, they won’t be any closer to liking the homework that is given to them. And that is because they can’t stay focused long enough to complete their homework in a short time and end up spending hours battling with the mammoth that is their homework. Different studies have shown that the average attention span of human beings is around 45 minutes. Some students have attention spans that are even shorter than that. All this results in students asking the question, “Will you please write my assignment?”
There are several tips and tricks that the students can use while studying that will help them remain focused and will help them concentrate on their homework. Let’s discuss those points here:
- Understanding the homework
The number one reason why students lose interest in their homework or become stuck is that they don’t understand the homework. This ends up with them being frustrated and losing their concentration, which results in them spending a lot more time than it would actually take them to finish their homework. The best way to avoid this is to ask the teacher for clarification, when the task is being assigned, if you have any confusion. And if you are unable to ask the teacher, then don’t be shy to ask your parents or siblings for help. Spending a few minutes understanding the assignment can save you hours.
- Assigning time for each homework assignment
It is usually a good practice to make specific time slots for each assignment that you have to do. The duration of these slots depends on how tough the assignment is and how good you are in that particular subject. Assigning time for each task will help you stay focused as you will have a target to work for. Targets like these can really improve your efficiency.
- Taking appropriate breaks
Taking short breaks while working is a sure way of keeping your mind fresh and in turn, maintaining your ability to focus on different problems. But be careful, if the breaks are too long then these breaks themselves can be the reason that you waste time. A 5 to 10 minute break after every 50 minutes or an hour should be enough to keep you focused while studying.
- Getting distracted is not the end of the world
If you have a short attention span and even small things distract you then don’t get frustrated. Think of these small time periods as small breaks. Refocus your attention and attack the problem again with all your might. If you stop working after being distracted, then you will cost yourself a lot more time than that little distraction will cause you.
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