subject: Homework Doesn't Do Itself - Stop Stressing and Get Busy [print this page] Homework Doesn't Do Itself - Stop Stressing and Get Busy
But then, are you at the peak of your stress level when the deadline is right around the corner? If you answered yes to any of these questions, well, you just have to face the fact: homework does not do itself! So, here are 5 ways to stop stressing and get busy.
1. Take time to save time. Look at the big picture then break it down. At the beginning of every school year or semester, teachers hand out a syllabus that lays out the course requirements. This gives the outline of what chapters will be covered when and due dates for homework, papers, projects and exams. The problem is that most students take more than one course at a time and often several. That means there are always many long boring chapters to read, many papers and projects to work on and many tests to study for and they all seem to have deadlines that coincide.
Just digging in is one approach but if you get so caught up in one assignment, deadlines for others creep up then suddenly hit - leaving you unprepared. Here's where the big picture approach helps.
While each course syllabus provides an overview of course requirements for the semester, students need to break it all down into monthly, weekly and then daily plans. This requires time that some might think can be better spent on actually doing the homework. Experience shows otherwise: time spent now will be worth it in the end.
2. Start with the quick and easy. Some assignments are huge while others are simple. When there are numerous assignments, it feels overwhelming. By quickly cranking out 3-4 short assignments and leaving 2 medium and maybe one large, accomplishment is achieved with a sense of control and relief.
3. Break it down. Tackle the big project or paper by breaking it up into parts and setting dates to coincide with completing each part. Again, map this out at the beginning of the semester.
4. Read in a whole new way. Those long, boring reading assignments can kill a person! Don't just sit down and start reading. The first step is to get the big picture of the reading assignment. Find the beginning and the end and then flip through the entire assignment to assess how much there is to read, the general layout of the reading, (are there charts, diagrams, special interest stories, pictures?) and the basic outline of the content. Ask yourself what you will be reading about and estimate roughly how long it will take. Now you can assess when the best time will be to do the reading. If it is a quick read, do it now. If it is a long read, plan a time when you can take it on in one setting. This will help you get the most out of the reading assignment.
5. Have fun. College is not all about studying. There are so many activities and just plain old hanging out. Taking advantage of all can result in graduates who are well-rounded and well educated in academics and life experiences.
So, take time at the beginning of the semester to look at the big picture and get organized. You might be surprised when you find just how much can be accomplished that is not all work and no play.
Copyright 2009 Gloria Howell
Gloria Howell
http://www.glohow.com
Gloria Howell has over 25 years combined experience in the counseling field and in higher education as a psychology instructor and college administrator. She is a recipient of the Most Inspiring Faculty Award from Old Dominion University, a member of the National Speaker Association, and recently completed the Disney marathon in Orlando, Florida. With a passion for teaching, training, and coaching, and the skills and enthusiasm to motivate, she has the expertise to help people change and improve their lives.
Visit my website at http://www.glohow.com for more information.
