“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”, said Nelson Mandela. Education plays a significant role in our lives and in the progress of our society. While we understand the importance of education, it might be challenging to stay motivated to go through the cycles of schoolwork and homework repeatedly. Therefore, when the time comes to do the actual work that it takes to educate ourselves, it is often a discipline that wins over motivation. One of the most intense and sometimes dull activities is schoolwork or homework. This is where one’s consistency as a student is tested to its limits. Depending upon your school and course, schoolwork can take anywhere between several hours to several days. So, knowing how can we motivate ourselves to do homework or how to focus on schoolwork is definitely the first step?
Tips to Focus on Schoolwork
1. Know your Purpose
Education can be one of the most important assets in life if we’re clear on purpose behind it. If you have enrolled in a particular course, take the time to find out why the course matters to you and what is your purpose for taking the course. Once you have a vision that determines how you can use your knowledge to make an impact, however big or small, it becomes easier to find the focus and motivation always to give your best.
2. Understand your Privilege
If you have the opportunity to get an education, chances are, you are privileged, at least to some extent. In a world where education is not so easily available to young people, getting an opportunity to get educated is a golden one. Make sure to put this privilege to good use, and be mindful of it when you feel the boredom creeping up.
3. Know Your Limitations
Sometimes, we find ourselves in extremely difficult positions, be it in terms of education or other aspects of our lives. If this is the case for you, make sure to acknowledge the limitations that the situation might be imposing on you and find proactive ways to overcome them.
4. Prioritise Your Well-being
You can’t cut a tree with a blunt axe, nor can you pour from an empty cup. As you plunge into the seemingly never-ending pile of schoolwork or homework, make sure to prioritize your well-being. This can include taking care of your mental and physical health, making time for family and friends, scheduling breaks, and engaging in some hobbies of your choice.
5. Do Your Homework the Day You Get it
While this might sound a bit extreme, try to do your schoolwork or homework as soon as possible. Procrastinating can lead to work piling up, which can further demotivate you from even starting out. On the other hand, staying on top of your work can allow you to take the time to do it well and reap its benefits over the long term.
6. Prepare for Homework
Paying attention in class can prepare you for your homework and make the task much more manageable. Usually, the assignment given is related to the material taught in class. If this is the case for you, make sure that you go to the class prepared and make notes that might help in your homework.
7. Design your Space to Aid in Productivity
The space that we work indirectly impacts our productivity. Therefore, making sure that our space is designed to our liking and comfort can aid in maximising productivity. Choose a comfortable space with adequate ventilation, and gather all the material you might need for your homework before you start.
8. Tune Out all Distractions
Whether these are other gadgets, social media notifications, or the voice of self-doubt inside you, take the time to tune out these distractions so that you can focus on the task at hand. Focused work can save time and ensure that you put your best foot forward.
9. Take a Positive Attitude towards Homework
Sure, homework can be boring for some students. You might even find it pointless to do the work you are assigned. However, if you look deeper, you can find value in every assignment or project that is allotted to you. Maybe you won’t need the Pythagoras theorem in the future, but you will definitely need the logical skills that math sharpens. Keeping this in mind, do your work with integrity and sincerity, and you won’t have to work so hard to motivate yourself anymore.
10. Ask for support
Sometimes, working as a student can get very isolating. Depending upon the conditions in which you are getting educated, you might find yourself unable to do it all alone. In such cases, make sure you find support in whichever form you need. Be it a conversation with your family, a walk with your friends, guidance from your mentors or therapy from a professional; try to seek the support available to you in the best way possible.
These were some tips to focus on schoolwork or to motivate yourself to do homework. While these tips can be a good starting point, only you can decide how each one applies to you. Each student is unique, and therefore, education is a different experience for everyone. Taking the time to think about your needs and limitations can help you gain insight into the kind of factors that help you motivate yourself.
Unfortunately, the comparison has become a prevalent factor in education. While it is always helpful to learn from others or be inspired by them, it is crucial to bear in mind that everyone’s journey is different. So, it is time you celebrate your own journey, and use your story to motivate yourself on how to focus on your schoolwork goals.
Also Read: There are enormous possibilities that kids will throw a petty tantrum when you ask them to complete their homework. Only one thing that will help you to overcome this is to make homework fun.
