In 2007, the United States National Center for Education Statistics estimated that the average high school student spends close to seven hours on homework every week, spread over at least three days. Spending so much time on homework – on “being” at school when you aren’t at school – can be frustrating and stressful, especially when being in school already takes up over thirty hours each week. If you can’t figure out how to stay focused on homework for so much time, and would rather be doing something else, you’re not alone – and we have some ideas that should help.

Our Ideas: How to Stay Focused on Homework

1. Create a routine. You can “train” your brain to focus on something by making it a part of your routine! If you do your homework at around the same time and in the same place every day, your brain will begin to associate that time and place with homework. From here, your brain will teach itself how to focus on homework from the association alone!
2. Keep some healthy snacks nearby. The key words here are “healthy” and “nearby!” Getting up to go to the kitchen to grab a cookie might feel good in the moment, but it’s also a great way to completely sever your focus on what you’re doing. Reaching out to grab a bite of a nearby apple, grape, or nut, on the other hand, can be just as fulfilling without breaking your flow.
3. Prioritize your work before you get started. A good trick to learn is prioritizing an easy or quick assignment that you can get out of the way quickly for a boost to morale and a feeling of success. Apart from this, avoid putting off your high priority tasks! Bigger, longer, or tougher assignments tend to be a source of significant stress that can make it hard to focus on others.
4. Create a distraction-free environment as best as you can! Let others in your home know when you’re doing homework (which, should be the same rough time every day!) to avoid distractions. If you’re working by hand, distance yourself from the internet… and give serious, serious consideration to leaving your phone in another room. You know it’s where the distraction comes from. Deep down, you know.
5. Reward yourself with breaks – but not excessively! A short bout of walking, exercise, or fresh air can do wonders for your focus, but don’t let yourself get carried away. Transitioning from math homework to English homework is a good time for a short break. Transitioning from question four to question five is not. Procrastination never feels good – don’t get sucked in!
6. Use smart compression. You can wear eSmartr sleeves as you do your schoolwork to feel reduced stress and increased focus, removing two of the most common obstacles to your success!

Homework is no fun, but falling behind isn’t great either. Learning how to stay focused on homework usually means making compromises, but it helps you to avoid some of the most stressful and frustrating elements of formal education. Managing your time and motivation to get your homework done quickly and effectively can make a big difference on how well your school year goes – and eSmartr can help you to adopt a lifestyle that is great for your brain and ultimately beneficial for all of your studies.