INTRODUCTION
Homework is an essential part of school education and can not be avoided. It is normal for students to get overwhelmed or frustrated as a result of multiple difficult homework, but this goes further to cause a serious damage on their ability to focus and retain vital information. It can also lead to piled up home works which will certainly cause more stress and might affect their academic grades. Learning how to reduce homework stress is therefore important to every student.
WHAT IS STRESS?
Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry or nervous. Stress is your body’s reaction to a challenge or demand. Stress can be positive, such as when it helps you avoid danger or meet a deadline and when stress lasts for a long time, it may harm your health.
THE EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS
Poor grades.
Poor social life.
Lack of energy and focus.
Forgetfulness.
Aches and pains.
Loss of appetite.
Sleeping problem.
Cold and sweaty palms.
Trembling/shaking.
Weight loss.
Tiredness.
HOW TO REDUCE HOMEWORK STRESS
1. CREATE AND STICK TO A SCHEDULE
Develop a good schedule for attending to home works, house chores, sleep and other activities, place this schedule at visible places where you would always find it easy to see hence, making it difficult to ignore. Aside developing the schedule, ensure you stick to it and carry out every activity according to what you have on the schedule.
2. PRACTISE GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT
Time management is essential to avoiding homework stress. Plotting out the time you need to complete your homework or assignment can quickly make what seems like an overwhelming task much less stressful to approach. Pay full attention to your homework and avoid distractions like mobile phones or television.
3. PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS AND TAKE NOTES
Pay attention and write down important points and ideas in the classroom. You will discover this helps organize your thoughts and help remember vital information that will make homework time much easier than you ever imagined. Paying attention in class gives you a better understanding of what the teacher is teaching.
4. PRACTISE TEST QUESTIONS
Practise test questions regularly as this would help you know areas where you are lagging and need to work on. The more you practise, the less stressful it will be when you see it in your homework, test or exam.
5. STAY ORGANIZED
Study only in organized places, ensure the homework station is tidy and has all necessary materials needed to do the homework. The homework station should be a noise free one with no form of distraction.
6. ASK THE TEACHER QUESTIONS
Make it a habit to ask questions in class especially when you are not clear with what is being taught by the teacher instead of going home with little or no clear understanding of what the teacher has taught.
This would go a long way in ensuring your homework is done with ease.
7. ORGANIZE A HOMEWORK GROUP
Creating a homework group can help greatly in reducing homework stress. Studying class notes and other related materials alongside with your classmates can boost understanding as questions are being tackled as a team rather than as an individual.
8. AVOID PROCRASTINATION
Procrastination causes more harm than good and it is the basic factor responsible for homework stress. Learn to do your work at the right time, avoid the habit of pushing your homework to a later time as this would only increases your chances of not getting it done.
9. MAKE TIME TO RELAX
Set aside a good amount of time to relax and engage in activities you derive joy in. it might be engaging in sports activities, seeing movies or playing video games. Whatever the case may be; just make sure it is what you enjoy doing. A healthy and happy mind is essential for a stress free body.
10. GET A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP
The importance of getting a good night sleep can not be over emphasized as this is one responsible factor for improved productivity. Getting a good quality amount of sleep would help a student achieve focus, clear thinking, decision making and creativity would be at the peak level.
Original article can be found here.
