Did you ever stand in front of a huge pile of homework and just couldn’t concentrate on it? That happens to me a lot. In school the whole day and when you’re home at last do homework?! That’s murder!
But I learned some tricks once for concentrating on homework. I never used them when I learned them, because I didn’t need them then. But now I have to get into the habit of using them.
The first trick is: keep your desk clean! It’s just nicer to work on a surface that looks like a Japanese garden than on one, that looks as if a world war had taken place on it. If the working conditions are nicer, people just tend to work harder without feeling worse and more tired. If there’s lots of stuff on your desk just put it onto the floor. Who cares about what’s on the floor if you are working on the desk?!
Another thing that goes with keeping your working area clear is to keep nothing in your eyesight that might distract you. With me, for instance, if I see a guitar at my working area, even if it’s just in the corner of my eye, after a while I’ll pick it up and play it. It’s just hard to concentrate on something you don’t like doing if you can see something you’d like to do.
The next trick is to write down what you have to do for homework on separate little notes. Also write down the time you started doing that piece of homework and the time you think you’ll be finished onto each note. After you are finished also write that time down.
That will keep you going because you’re racing against time, but after a while you just can’t think anymore. So, after every 10 minuets open the window and walk around the room for 1 or 2 minutes, to let your brain cool down. After every half-an-hour take a 5 minuet break and leave the room if you want. Don’t forget to come back after 5 minuets!
I do think all this does help, but it takes a lot of discipline. Always making these little notes and watching the time, etc. But just try and see how you do. Now you might be thinking: “What’s this crazy guy talking about?! With all this note taking and having breaks it will take even longer to do my homework!” But you’ll be surprised…
