We've all been there – you've put off your science homework as long as you can, but it's okay, you've got time to do it after school and go to the cinema this evening too… but then Mr Edwards drops a maths homework deadline bombshell – it's due in earlier than you think!! Science homework you could handle… but science AND maths – that's another story!
No matter how organised you are, there are always unexpected challenges that pop up. Our short video is full of tips and advice about how you can better manage your time in advance so that these little bumps in the road don't throw you into a homework head-spin! Watch the video and then read our tips below.
Our Homework Helpline heroes are comedians Louise Young, Inel Tomlinson, and actor Lenny Rush – happy to help!
Inel: Here we go guys. We've got one.
Elijah: Hi, I'm Elijah and I’m in Year 9. All my homework is given out a different times through the week, with different hand in dates. I've lost track of what's in when.
Lenny: I definitely get this. Like, sometimes all the homework just snowballs up and then explodes all over your room like a massive snowball explosion.
Inel: You never want a homework explosion in your room.
Louise: Nightmarish!
Inel: You know what the experts say? Do your homework as soon as you get it.
Louise: But that's not always possible is it? Because sometimes you've got like, you know, after school clubs and things that you want to do. So the experts also say that it's a really good idea to create a chart, and on that chart don't just write your homework itself, but write the actual day that it's due. So then you can kind of plan a good day to do it that doesn't sacrifice, you know, your clubs, your coding club, or your football club, or your painting ceramic ducks club.
Inel: Well what you do is work out how much homework you've got then you can work out how much time you can dedicate to each one maybe set an alarm for like half an hour so you can get some work done and then take some breaks in between.
Lenny: See, I do do that but sometimes I don't do it till the day its due and then game over.
Louise: Okay, how about then, when you create your chart, make like a buffer. So really aim to do your homework like two days before, and then tick off your homework as you do it, and don't worry, you can write in like, free time, days off and clubs. So it's all in one place.
Lenny: That sounds like a plan right there.
Louise: Thank you very much.
Lenny: So, try and do your homework the day its set. If not, plan when you can do it and give yourself a buffer of a couple of days.
Inel: Oh, that's a good one.
Louise: And if you do make a chart, remember put it somewhere you can easily see it.
Inel: Set an alarm and make sure you don't spend all your time on one piece of homework. Oh also, work in short bursts and don't forget to take regular breaks.
Lenny: Tick it off as you go along so you can really enjoy your free time.
Inel: Indeed, and if you want some more great homework help visit BBC Bitesize support.
Five time management tips from our experts
Homework? Completed it mate
It's a good idea to try and do all your homework on the day it’s set. This means you’ll know your homework is done way before it’s due in. Working in this way is best practice, but isn’t always practical or possible – for example, you might have a regular club on a Tuesday night, meaning you’ll have limited time to complete homework during that evening. So onto the next tip…
Plan ahead
Making a weekly plan for when you’ll do your homework will help you to make sure it’s all completed by the time it’s due in. First, you’ll need to work out which days and times are going to be available for you to complete your work. Next, look at the due dates, and prioritise the pieces of homework that are due first, planning them in first. Finally, begin to fill in other pieces of homework that you know about, and be prepared to add to your plan as the week goes on.
Be realistic
When you make your plan, be realistic about how long you should spend on each piece of work – your school should give you some guidance on this, but as a general rule, don’t spend more than about half an hour on a piece of work.
Give yourself a buffer
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. This means if something comes up unexpectedly, and you’re unable to complete your task on the day you originally planned, you should still be able to get it done on time.
Tick and chill
Tick homework off as you complete it, and review where you are at the end of the week. Do you need to add anything extra to next week’s plan? Remember to plan in time to relax and do fun things, too, even if you don’t have organised activities on a particular night – it’s important to find time to chill out.
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 BBC Action Line.
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