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Concentrate on Homework- What to Do When You Can’t Focus on Homework?

by Apr 16, 2016Homework Help

The ability to stay focused in an age of distractions is not an easy feat to achieve. This becomes especially true when it comes to students and their homework. While there is no denying the fact that the arrival of laptops, computers, smart phones and the like have made resources for homework easily available, there remains the fact that these tools have increased the reasons behind distractions manifold. However, it is also important to concentrate on homework as they are an integral part of the entire educational structure. But what to do when you can’t focus on homework? What measures can a person resort to in order to stay focused?
Why Is Doing Homework Important?
It is very common among students to grumble and despair at the amount of homework assigned by teachers. Thus, before seeking an answer to what to do when you can’t focus on homework, it is important to convert that feeling of despair into something positive. And for this, it is important to understand the importance of homework at the very outset.

  1. Reinforcement-

Homework allows a student to reinforce the concepts that have been already covered in class. This means that they can explore the concepts further and make them relatable and relevant.

  1. Independent learners-

Students often need to refer to other resource materials in order to get their homework done properly. This not only enriches their knowledge base but also helps them become independent learners.

  1. Time management-

Assignments often come paired with a deadline that students are needed to adhere to strictly. Hence, this allows them to not only to become self-disciplined but also enhances their time management capability.

  1. Planning and organizing-

Students are also required to plan, organize and decide upon a course of action in order to complete their assignments successfully and within the given deadline. Therefore, one could say that homework builds the planning and organizing capability in students which is important for being successful later in life.

  1. Development of Problem solving ability-

Assignments require students to identify and comprehend the given problem and then devise a suitable solution for the same. Hence, homework can be said to play an imperative role in the development of problem solving abilities among students.
Why Can’t We Concentrate On Homework?
Though homework is quite an important aspect in educational system, there remains the fact that a large number of students find themselves being unable to concentrate on homework. Before focusing on what to do when you can’t focus on homework, it is important to answer a more pressing question- what are the reasons for not being able to concentrate on assignments.

  • Lack of sleep

An average human body needs about 7 to 8 hours of sleep a day in order to function properly. Not fulfilling this requirement causes irritation and a perpetual feeling of exhaustion and drowsiness thus, leading to low levels of concentration.

  • Distractions

Focusing on assignments can prove to be a doubly difficult feat if a part of mind is indulged in the various recreational opportunities provided by smart phones, laptops, computers and the like.

  • Sedentary lifestyle

Indulging a certain amount of time regularly in physical activities keeps the mind healthy, thereby improving concentration, while the lack of it can result in poor concentration.

  • Stress

The ability to focus on a particular task also decreases manifold due to the stressful environment that we are always surrounded by. While we can’t simply do away with all the stress factors of our lives, meditation and yoga do help to large extent.
What to do when you can’t focus on homework?
The inability to focus on an assignment is a disease that plagues everyone- right from fresher to senior students. While all of them are probably aware of the importance of finishing off the assignments within the allotted time period, doing the thing itself seems to be a great challenge- all the more because of the numerous distractions surrounding us. So, what to do when you can’t focus on homework? What are the measures that a person can take in order to prevent his/ her concentration from going astray?

  • Creating right environment

Setting up an appropriate environment acts as the much required impetus for enhancing the concentration levels and focusing on your homework. Organizing all the materials before beginning, shutting off all sources of distractions are some of the things that contribute in creating the perfect environment. Some people even find light soft music in the background as a catalyst for improving concentration powers.

  • Planning and organizing things

Focusing on assignments can prove to be a lot easier if you have planned things properly. It is important to understand, plan, organize and work upon a definite plan of action in order to finish off the homework properly. Making a schedule and working accordingly can prove to be a catalyst for increasing the concentration levels.

  • Staying away from distractions

Assignments are not something that can be finished by thinking about the latest twist in your favorite television program, browsing through your phone every few seconds or fantasizing about the situations written in the Mills and Boons novel. It is important to turn off all those distracting elements completely in order to stay absolutely focused on the work at hand. This can be one of the many answers to the question what to do when you can’t focus on homework.

  • Doing one task at a time

While multitasking seems to be not only the trend but the need of the day, it is better if avoided. Trying to solve an integration problem along with an exercise on verbal does not enhance the concentration levels in any way. So, if you are trying to find out a complete plan for how to stay focused when doing homework, you would better consider focusing on one task at a time and move on to the next only after finishing the work in hand.

  • Taking breaks

The cognitive domain of the brain often gets exhausted after a prolonged session of activity. Hence, it is advisable to take short breaks in between long sessions so as to refresh yourself. Meditating, taking a short walk or indulging in other such activities can positively contribute in keeping you focused by rejuvenating the concentration levels.

  • System of rewards

Setting up a system of rewards can also prove to be quite beneficial. You could try making deals with yourself wherein you can set a goal and reward yourself upon successfully reaching that goal. For instance, you could reward yourself with an episode of your favorite TV show after finishing off a certain number of sums.
Though what to do when you can’t focus on homework seems to be a persistent question amongst the student community, there are certain simple steps that one could follow and finish off the assignment on time.