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Introduction
A homework routine is hands-down the most basic and foundational way to get good grades, yet a majority of students seem to ignore it. A well-structured homework routine is like a secret weapon for academic success. It not only helps you manage your workload efficiently but also allows you to achieve a healthy work-life balance. In this article, we’ll explore how to create a homework routine that suits your learning style and schedule, as well as a routine that gets you on the path to academic excellence.
Step 1: Set Clear Goals
Before diving into your homework routine, it’s essential to set clear academic goals. Ask yourself what you want to achieve in the short term and long term. Do you want to get better grades, satisfy your parents, impress your dream schools, or have the chance at a higher employment rate? Setting a crystal clear goal will give you a sense of purpose and motivation as you tackle your assignments.
Just think about it, why are you doing your homework? Couldn’t you just not do it and be ok? What are the consequences of not completing your homework or being on task with your homework?
Step 2: Choose the Right Environment
As I mentioned multiple times before (in the studying posts), you seriously cannot expect to get good work done while you’re slouching on the couch, or laying down on your bed. And even if you did get reasonably good work done, is your work ethic better than it would be sitting down at a desk, with peace and quiet? There’s absolutely no way.
Coming from me, I suggest a quiet environment, with reasonably bright lights, a desk, and no over-comfortably chair. This way, you for sure won’t fall asleep and will be mentally forced with getting your work done.
Step 3: Creating the Schedule
Now, it’s time, the part everyone’s been waiting for; the actual schedule itself. Similar to the study schedule discussed in another post, you should be allocating different time slots during the day for different tasks. For example, maybe you participate in sports during the afternoon, therefore only having time in the evening to actually get your assignments done. Note that down.
As a suggestion, you can consider using Google Calendars to organize your tasks throughout the day in manner that suits you. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday |
| 7AM – 2PM: School | 7AM – 2PM: School | 7AM – 2PM: School |
| 2PM – 4PM: Sports Practice | 2PM – 6PM: Sports Competition | 2PM: Sports Cancelled |
| 5PM – 10PM: Tasks | 7PM – 11PM: Tasks | 3PM – 8PM: Tasks |
As you can see, this is what a simplistic (non-complicated) daily schedule should look like. As you can also see, the end of each day is allocated for homework completion. Now, here’s what a specific homework schedule looks like:
| Homework Assignments (5PM – 10PM) |
| 5PM – 6PM: Chemistry Homework 6PM – 8PM: Calculus Homework 8PM – 8:30PM: Art Homework 8:30Pm – 9:30PM: Programming Homework 9:30PM – 10PM: History Homework |
Now, whether the schedule seems realistic or not is up to you to determine, but that’s what a homework schedule should look like.
Step 3.1: Prioritizing Specific Tasks & Breaking them into Manageable Chunks
The purpose of the schedule above is to show you how any ordinary homework routine should look like. There are prioritized tasks, which are the different homework assignments for different classes. In addition, we also break them into manageable chunks.
When I say “manageable chunks” by the way, I’m also saying that you’re making the task of “getting homework done” seem a lot lighter. Just seeing that you’re going to be working for 5 hours straight non-stop is scary enough, so if you’re able to lower that fear by breaking that large goal into smaller goals, psychologically, the task will seem a lot more minimized.
Step 4: Eliminate Distractions
Doesn’t it seem so tempting to grab that phone and just start scrolling non-stop for 30 minutes straight, just to realize how much time you’ve wasted, followed by you complaining and regretting that decision for the next 15 minutes? Oh wait, it doesn’t sound so appealing anymore, does it?
Eliminate your distractions (loud background noise, phone notifications, irrelevant tabs, etc.) to drastically increase your productivity. If you don’t believe me, conduct all the research you feel like. You will still end up with the same conclusion I made right here, right now.
Step 5: Take Any Necessary Breaks
When you’re starting out with such a hefty routine, you will burnout eventually. There will be a point where you just can’t stand it anywhere. There will be a time where you just want to start binge watching that Netflix show that you didn’t finish last night. Of course, don’t listen to those temptations. But, if you do have that voice in your head telling you to stop for just a moment, you probably should listen.
If you prefer to continue working and tell that voice in your head to shut it, then go right ahead. If you can work in those conditions, I suggest you continue. But, if you’re really starting out, I suggest you take a quick break. Take even just 5 minutes to do anything besides work, and feed off of dopamine.
Be Aware
Although you may say that “I’ll only take 5 minutes scrolling on TikTok”, you won’t, you’ll take longer. I know this because I always find myself in the same situation every single time I say so. If you here that voice telling you to stop, but to feed off of dopamine-inducing activities, don’t listen to it. It’s better that you continue working and maximizing the most of your productivity.
Step 6: Reflect & Adjust
Finally, I want you to reflect after a week, 2 weeks, 1 month, several months, and finally, a whole year. After setting goals/tasks to be completed/fulfilled on your calendar, did you actually find yourself completing those tasks accordingly, or not? Be sure to adjust continuously until things begin working for you as they’re supposed to. If you need to optimize your routine, feel free to do so. As long as you’re setting goals, and are completing them, then there’s nothing to stress over.
Endnotes
There, you’re all done! Creating a homework routine doesn’t have to take long. Actually, let me rephrase that: it shouldn’t take much time at all. Routines like this are mostly for organization-related purposes, so that you always know what you should be doing at every hour of the day. Remember that time is your most valuable asset, so if you know how to use it accordingly and wisely, you are setting yourself for permanent success.
