Three tips to help you with your homework

Homework is an essential part of school life and learning, but it can often feel like a chore, especially when trying to fit it in around all of the other things you've got going on in life.

Scroll down for some handy hints that could help you with your homework, and make it feel a little less like hard work.

Do your homework as soon as possible

Procrastination is when you delay doing something that you don't enjoy, but you are only postponing the inevitable, and it's important to get your homework done! So rather than waiting for your homework assignments to stack up, which could cause you a lot of stress, you'll probably find it works best to do homework tasks when you first get in from school. You’ll feel so much better once you've done it and you can enjoy your evening without that homework dread hanging over you.

Planning ahead helps, so make a weekly plan for when you’ll do your homework to make sure it’s all completed by the time it’s due in. Wherever possible, build a bit of a buffer into your plan – for example, if an assignment is due in on a Thursday, aim to complete it by Monday or Tuesday.

For more homework time management tips check out this article.

Don’t be afraid to ask for homework help

It can sometimes feel overwhelming asking for help because you don't know how your teacher is going to react. But asking them for help is a key part of the learning process, and they will be happy to give you some guidance.

You might be able to message your teacher via an online platform to ask questions, or email them directly. You could also ask your teacher if you can go and chat to them about your homework. Whatever approach you choose to take, try to be specific about what you need help with. Rather than saying “I can’t do my homework” or “I can’t do question 10”, say what you’ve already done, and why you’re stuck.

It's often best to ask for help with your homework as soon as possible, even if you're in the class and the teacher is just giving out the homework. Just don't leave it too close to the deadline.

Avoid distractions whilst doing homework

If possible, try to avoid using your phone whilst doing homework, as it’s easy to get side-tracked by other apps on there. Put your phone away somewhere else completely, but if you can’t avoid using it for homework, then turn all notifications off. It’ll be hard to do a difficult homework task if you know your friend has just sent you a message.

Try and find a space away from other people to do your homework, if possible. Sit at a table rather than on the sofa, if you can. You might not have your own desk or your own room, but if you can clear some space somewhere just while you get your homework done, it will help you focus on finishing the task.

You can find more tips for getting into a good homework routine here.

If you need support

You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.

If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are more links to helpful organisations on the BBC Bitesize Action Line page for young people.