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How to Do Your Homework on Time if You're a Procrastinator

Last Updated: January 31, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Katie Styzek . Katie Styzek is a Professional School Counselor for Chicago Public Schools. Katie earned a BS in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She served as a middle school mathematics, science, and social studies teacher for three years prior to becoming a counselor. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling from DePaul University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. Katie holds an Illinois School Counselor Endorsement License (Type 73 Service Personnel), an Illinois Principal License (formerly Type 75), and an Illinois Elementary Education Teaching License (Type 03, K – 9). She is also Nationally Board Certified in School Counseling from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 551,368 times.

Procrastinating on your homework assignments can make school more stressful and can hurt your grade if you're always finishing homework at the last minute. Once you learn a few techniques to beat procrastination can make homework much easier for you! By keeping organized, setting specific goals, and asking for help, you can transform yourself into an academic star who still has time to watch TV and catch up with friends on Facebook.

Getting Organized

Step 1 Organize your notes and files into categories.

Establishing a Routine

Step 1 Set up a regular workspace.

  • Set an alarm on your phone to remind you when to get back to work!

Setting Goals

Step 1 Set a goal of getting one assignment done before the due date.

  • Very few people can actually work effectively with music playing. If you like to listen to music while you work but find you aren't getting anything done, try going without it for an hour to see if your concentration improves.

Step 4 Reward yourself for meeting your goals.

Asking for Help

Step 1 Ask a classmate to do homework with you.

  • This doesn't work for everybody. If you find another person distracting, quit working with them.

Step 2 Ask a friend to hold you accountable.

How Can I Stop Procrastinating?

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • Good health can improve your study habits and can help you retain what you learn. Exercise, eat well, get plenty of sleep, and skip the alcohol and caffeine. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Ask your parents or a friend to keep your smartphone so you don't get distracted. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Try to set an alarm or a task reminder in your phone. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

how to do assignments on time

  • Even the best students know that they can't work all of the time. Allow some relaxation time for yourself, particularly on the weekends. Good study habits make you work smarter, not harder. Thanks Helpful 120 Not Helpful 9

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Do Homework

  • ↑ Katie Styzek. Professional School Counselor. Expert Interview. 26 March 2021.
  • ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-stop-procrastinating/
  • ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/focused.html
  • ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/homework.html
  • ↑ https://childmind.org/article/strategies-to-make-homework-go-more-smoothly/
  • ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/take-charge-of-distractions/
  • ↑ Ted Coopersmith, MBA. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
  • ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/school-help-teens.html
  • ↑ https://blogs.iu.edu/dbauman/2018/12/18/homework-writing-tips-for-college-students/

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Everyone struggles with homework sometimes, but if getting your homework done has become a chronic issue for you, then you may need a little extra help. That’s why we’ve written this article all about how to do homework. Once you’re finished reading it, you’ll know how to do homework (and have tons of new ways to motivate yourself to do homework)! 

We’ve broken this article down into a few major sections. You’ll find: 

  • A diagnostic test to help you figure out why you’re struggling with homework
  • A discussion of the four major homework problems students face, along with expert tips for addressing them 
  • A bonus section with tips for how to do homework fast

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you . 

So let’s get started! 

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How to Do Homework: Figure Out Your Struggles 

Sometimes it feels like everything is standing between you and getting your homework done. But the truth is, most people only have one or two major roadblocks that are keeping them from getting their homework done well and on time. 

The best way to figure out how to get motivated to do homework starts with pinpointing the issues that are affecting your ability to get your assignments done. That’s why we’ve developed a short quiz to help you identify the areas where you’re struggling. 

Take the quiz below and record your answers on your phone or on a scrap piece of paper. Keep in mind there are no wrong answers! 

1. You’ve just been assigned an essay in your English class that’s due at the end of the week. What’s the first thing you do?

A. Keep it in mind, even though you won’t start it until the day before it’s due  B. Open up your planner. You’ve got to figure out when you’ll write your paper since you have band practice, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dance recital this week, too.  C. Groan out loud. Another essay? You could barely get yourself to write the last one!  D. Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favorite artist might have just posted to Instagram...so you better check your feed right now. 

2. Your mom asked you to pick up your room before she gets home from work. You’ve just gotten home from school. You decide you’ll tackle your chores: 

A. Five minutes before your mom walks through the front door. As long as it gets done, who cares when you start?  B. As soon as you get home from your shift at the local grocery store.  C. After you give yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.  D. You won’t get it done. Between texts from your friends, trying to watch your favorite Netflix show, and playing with your dog, you just lost track of time! 

3. You’ve signed up to wash dogs at the Humane Society to help earn money for your senior class trip. You: 

A. Show up ten minutes late. You put off leaving your house until the last minute, then got stuck in unexpected traffic on the way to the shelter.  B. Have to call and cancel at the last minute. You forgot you’d already agreed to babysit your cousin and bake cupcakes for tomorrow’s bake sale.  C. Actually arrive fifteen minutes early with extra brushes and bandanas you picked up at the store. You’re passionate about animals, so you’re excited to help out! D. Show up on time, but only get three dogs washed. You couldn’t help it: you just kept getting distracted by how cute they were!

4. You have an hour of downtime, so you decide you’re going to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. You: 

A. Scroll through your social media feeds for twenty minutes before hitting play, which means you’re not able to finish the whole episode. Ugh! You really wanted to see who was sent home!  B. Watch fifteen minutes until you remember you’re supposed to pick up your sister from band practice before heading to your part-time job. No GBBO for you!  C. You finish one episode, then decide to watch another even though you’ve got SAT studying to do. It’s just more fun to watch people make scones.  D. Start the episode, but only catch bits and pieces of it because you’re reading Twitter, cleaning out your backpack, and eating a snack at the same time.

5. Your teacher asks you to stay after class because you’ve missed turning in two homework assignments in a row. When she asks you what’s wrong, you say: 

A. You planned to do your assignments during lunch, but you ran out of time. You decided it would be better to turn in nothing at all than submit unfinished work.  B. You really wanted to get the assignments done, but between your extracurriculars, family commitments, and your part-time job, your homework fell through the cracks.  C. You have a hard time psyching yourself to tackle the assignments. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to work on them once you get home.  D. You tried to do them, but you had a hard time focusing. By the time you realized you hadn’t gotten anything done, it was already time to turn them in. 

Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible). Here’s how your answers break down: 

  • If your answers were mostly As, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination. 
  • If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management. 
  • If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation. 
  • If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted. 

Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it. 

And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating. 

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How to Do Homework When You’re a Procrastinator  

Merriam Webster defines “procrastinate” as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” In other words, procrastination is when you choose to do something at the last minute on a regular basis. If you’ve ever found yourself pulling an all-nighter, trying to finish an assignment between periods, or sprinting to turn in a paper minutes before a deadline, you’ve experienced the effects of procrastination. 

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re in good company. In fact, one study found that 70% to 95% of undergraduate students procrastinate when it comes to doing their homework. Unfortunately, procrastination can negatively impact your grades. Researchers have found that procrastination can lower your grade on an assignment by as much as five points ...which might not sound serious until you realize that can mean the difference between a B- and a C+. 

Procrastination can also negatively affect your health by increasing your stress levels , which can lead to other health conditions like insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even heart conditions. Getting a handle on procrastination can not only improve your grades, it can make you feel better, too! 

The big thing to understand about procrastination is that it’s not the result of laziness. Laziness is defined as being “disinclined to activity or exertion.” In other words, being lazy is all about doing nothing. But a s this Psychology Today article explains , procrastinators don’t put things off because they don’t want to work. Instead, procrastinators tend to postpone tasks they don’t want to do in favor of tasks that they perceive as either more important or more fun. Put another way, procrastinators want to do things...as long as it’s not their homework! 

3 Tips f or Conquering Procrastination 

Because putting off doing homework is a common problem, there are lots of good tactics for addressing procrastination. Keep reading for our three expert tips that will get your homework habits back on track in no time. 

#1: Create a Reward System

Like we mentioned earlier, procrastination happens when you prioritize other activities over getting your homework done. Many times, this happens because homework...well, just isn’t enjoyable. But you can add some fun back into the process by rewarding yourself for getting your work done. 

Here’s what we mean: let’s say you decide that every time you get your homework done before the day it’s due, you’ll give yourself a point. For every five points you earn, you’ll treat yourself to your favorite dessert: a chocolate cupcake! Now you have an extra (delicious!) incentive to motivate you to leave procrastination in the dust. 

If you’re not into cupcakes, don’t worry. Your reward can be anything that motivates you . Maybe it’s hanging out with your best friend or an extra ten minutes of video game time. As long as you’re choosing something that makes homework worth doing, you’ll be successful. 

#2: Have a Homework Accountability Partner 

If you’re having trouble getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time, it may be a good idea to call in reinforcements . Find a friend or classmate you can trust and explain to them that you’re trying to change your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you to make sure you’re doing your homework and check in with you once a week to see if you’re meeting your anti-procrastination goals. 

Sharing your goals can make them feel more real, and an accountability partner can help hold you responsible for your decisions. For example, let’s say you’re tempted to put off your science lab write-up until the morning before it’s due. But you know that your accountability partner is going to text you about it tomorrow...and you don’t want to fess up that you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability partner can give you the extra support and incentive you need to keep your homework habits on track. 

#3: Create Your Own Due Dates 

If you’re a life-long procrastinator, you might find that changing the habit is harder than you expected. In that case, you might try using procrastination to your advantage! If you just can’t seem to stop doing your work at the last minute, try setting your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the assignment is actually due. 

Here’s what we mean. Let’s say you have a math worksheet that’s been assigned on Tuesday and is due on Friday. In your planner, you can write down the due date as Thursday instead. You may still put off your homework assignment until the last minute...but in this case, the “last minute” is a day before the assignment’s real due date . This little hack can trick your procrastination-addicted brain into planning ahead! 

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If you feel like Kevin Hart in this meme, then our tips for doing homework when you're busy are for you. 

How to Do Homework When You’re too Busy

If you’re aiming to go to a top-tier college , you’re going to have a full plate. Because college admissions is getting more competitive, it’s important that you’re maintaining your grades , studying hard for your standardized tests , and participating in extracurriculars so your application stands out. A packed schedule can get even more hectic once you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix. 

If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once, you’re not alone. Recent research has found that stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression— are a major problem for high school students . In fact, one study from the American Psychological Association found that during the school year, students’ stress levels are higher than those of the adults around them. 

For students, homework is a major contributor to their overall stress levels . Many high schoolers have multiple hours of homework every night , and figuring out how to fit it into an already-packed schedule can seem impossible. 

3 Tips for Fitting Homework Into Your Busy Schedule

While it might feel like you have literally no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to make sure you’re able to get your homework done and meet your other commitments. Here are our expert homework tips for even the busiest of students. 

#1: Make a Prioritized To-Do List 

You probably already have a to-do list to keep yourself on track. The next step is to prioritize the items on your to-do list so you can see what items need your attention right away. 

Here’s how it works: at the beginning of each day, sit down and make a list of all the items you need to get done before you go to bed. This includes your homework, but it should also take into account any practices, chores, events, or job shifts you may have. Once you get everything listed out, it’s time to prioritize them using the labels A, B, and C. Here’s what those labels mean:

  • A Tasks : tasks that have to get done—like showing up at work or turning in an assignment—get an A. 
  • B Tasks : these are tasks that you would like to get done by the end of the day but aren’t as time sensitive. For example, studying for a test you have next week could be a B-level task. It’s still important, but it doesn’t have to be done right away. 
  • C Tasks: these are tasks that aren’t very important and/or have no real consequences if you don’t get them done immediately. For instance, if you’re hoping to clean out your closet but it’s not an assigned chore from your parents, you could label that to-do item with a C. 

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you visualize which items need your immediate attention, and which items you can leave for later. A prioritized to-do list ensures that you’re spending your time efficiently and effectively, which helps you make room in your schedule for homework. So even though you might really want to start making decorations for Homecoming (a B task), you’ll know that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more important. 

#2: Use a Planner With Time Labels 

Your planner is probably packed with notes, events, and assignments already. (And if you’re not using a planner, it’s time to start!) But planners can do more for you than just remind you when an assignment is due. If you’re using a planner with time labels, it can help you visualize how you need to spend your day.

A planner with time labels breaks your day down into chunks, and you assign tasks to each chunk of time. For example, you can make a note of your class schedule with assignments, block out time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice. Once you know which tasks take priority, you can add them to any empty spaces in your day. 

Planning out how you spend your time not only helps you use it wisely, it can help you feel less overwhelmed, too . We’re big fans of planners that include a task list ( like this one ) or have room for notes ( like this one ). 

#3: Set Reminders on Your Phone 

If you need a little extra nudge to make sure you’re getting your homework done on time, it’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone. You don’t need a fancy app, either. You can use your alarm app to have it go off at specific times throughout the day to remind you to do your homework. This works especially well if you have a set homework time scheduled. So if you’ve decided you’re doing homework at 6:00 pm, you can set an alarm to remind you to bust out your books and get to work. 

If you use your phone as your planner, you may have the option to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events . Many calendar apps, including the one that comes with your phone, have built-in reminders that you can customize to meet your needs. So if you block off time to do your homework from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, you can set a reminder that will pop up on your phone when it’s time to get started. 

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This dog isn't judging your lack of motivation...but your teacher might. Keep reading for tips to help you motivate yourself to do your homework.

How to Do Homework When You’re Unmotivated 

At first glance, it may seem like procrastination and being unmotivated are the same thing. After all, both of these issues usually result in you putting off your homework until the very last minute. 

But there’s one key difference: many procrastinators are working, they’re just prioritizing work differently. They know they’re going to start their homework...they’re just going to do it later. 

Conversely, people who are unmotivated to do homework just can’t find the willpower to tackle their assignments. Procrastinators know they’ll at least attempt the homework at the last minute, whereas people who are unmotivated struggle with convincing themselves to do it at a ll. For procrastinators, the stress comes from the inevitable time crunch. For unmotivated people, the stress comes from trying to convince themselves to do something they don’t want to do in the first place. 

Here are some common reasons students are unmotivated in doing homework : 

  • Assignments are too easy, too hard, or seemingly pointless 
  • Students aren’t interested in (or passionate about) the subject matter
  • Students are intimidated by the work and/or feels like they don’t understand the assignment 
  • Homework isn’t fun, and students would rather spend their time on things that they enjoy 

To sum it up: people who lack motivation to do their homework are more likely to not do it at all, or to spend more time worrying about doing their homework than...well, actually doing it.

3 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Do Homework

The key to getting homework done when you’re unmotivated is to figure out what does motivate you, then apply those things to homework. It sounds tricky...but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Here are our three expert tips for motivating yourself to do your homework. 

#1: Use Incremental Incentives

When you’re not motivated, it’s important to give yourself small rewards to stay focused on finishing the task at hand. The trick is to keep the incentives small and to reward yourself often. For example, maybe you’re reading a good book in your free time. For every ten minutes you spend on your homework, you get to read five pages of your book. Like we mentioned earlier, make sure you’re choosing a reward that works for you! 

So why does this technique work? Using small rewards more often allows you to experience small wins for getting your work done. Every time you make it to one of your tiny reward points, you get to celebrate your success, which gives your brain a boost of dopamine . Dopamine helps you stay motivated and also creates a feeling of satisfaction when you complete your homework !  

#2: Form a Homework Group 

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, it’s okay to turn to others for support. Creating a homework group can help with this. Bring together a group of your friends or classmates, and pick one time a week where you meet and work on homework together. You don’t have to be in the same class, or even taking the same subjects— the goal is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) your assignments. 

Another added benefit of a homework group is that you can help one another if you’re struggling to understand the material covered in your classes. This is especially helpful if your lack of motivation comes from being intimidated by your assignments. Asking your friends for help may feel less scary than talking to your teacher...and once you get a handle on the material, your homework may become less frightening, too. 

#3: Change Up Your Environment 

If you find that you’re totally unmotivated, it may help if you find a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been struggling to get your homework done at home, try spending an extra hour in the library after school instead. The change of scenery can limit your distractions and give you the energy you need to get your work done. 

If you’re stuck doing homework at home, you can still use this tip. For instance, maybe you’ve always done your homework sitting on your bed. Try relocating somewhere else, like your kitchen table, for a few weeks. You may find that setting up a new “homework spot” in your house gives you a motivational lift and helps you get your work done. 

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Social media can be a huge problem when it comes to doing homework. We have advice for helping you unplug and regain focus.

How to Do Homework When You’re Easily Distracted

We live in an always-on world, and there are tons of things clamoring for our attention. From friends and family to pop culture and social media, it seems like there’s always something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do.

The 24/7 world we live in has affected our ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time. Research has shown that over the past decade, an average person’s attention span has gone from 12 seconds to eight seconds . And when we do lose focus, i t takes people a long time to get back on task . One study found that it can take as long as 23 minutes to get back to work once we’ve been distracte d. No wonder it can take hours to get your homework done! 

3 Tips to Improve Your Focus

If you have a hard time focusing when you’re doing your homework, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert tips for blocking out the noise so you can focus on getting your homework done. 

#1: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Pick a place where you’ll do your homework every day, and make it as distraction-free as possible. Try to find a location where there won’t be tons of noise, and limit your access to screens while you’re doing your homework. Put together a focus-oriented playlist (or choose one on your favorite streaming service), and put your headphones on while you work. 

You may find that other people, like your friends and family, are your biggest distraction. If that’s the case, try setting up some homework boundaries. Let them know when you’ll be working on homework every day, and ask them if they’ll help you keep a quiet environment. They’ll be happy to lend a hand! 

#2: Limit Your Access to Technology 

We know, we know...this tip isn’t fun, but it does work. For homework that doesn’t require a computer, like handouts or worksheets, it’s best to put all your technology away . Turn off your television, put your phone and laptop in your backpack, and silence notifications on any wearable tech you may be sporting. If you listen to music while you work, that’s fine...but make sure you have a playlist set up so you’re not shuffling through songs once you get started on your homework. 

If your homework requires your laptop or tablet, it can be harder to limit your access to distractions. But it’s not impossible! T here are apps you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working so that you’re not tempted to scroll through Twitter or check your Facebook feed. Silence notifications and text messages on your computer, and don’t open your email account unless you absolutely have to. And if you don’t need access to the internet to complete your assignments, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the online chatter is a great way to make sure you’re getting your homework done. 

#3: Set a Timer (the Pomodoro Technique)

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique ? It’s a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you focus!

Here’s how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, y ou get to take a 5 minute break. Every time you go through one of these cycles, it’s called a “pomodoro.” For every four pomodoros you complete, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. 

The pomodoro technique works through a combination of boundary setting and rewards. First, it gives you a finite amount of time to focus, so you know that you only have to work really hard for 25 minutes. Once you’ve done that, you’re rewarded with a short break where you can do whatever you want. Additionally, tracking how many pomodoros you complete can help you see how long you’re really working on your homework. (Once you start using our focus tips, you may find it doesn’t take as long as you thought!) 

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Two Bonus Tips for How to Do Homework Fast 

Even if you’re doing everything right, there will be times when you just need to get your homework done as fast as possible. (Why do teachers always have projects due in the same week? The world may never know.) 

The problem with speeding through homework is that it’s easy to make mistakes. While turning in an assignment is always better than not submitting anything at all, you want to make sure that you’re not compromising quality for speed. Simply put, the goal is to get your homework done quickly and still make a good grade on the assignment! 

Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments , even when you’re in a time crunch. 

#1: Do the Easy Parts First 

This is especially true if you’re working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems. As you do, make a mark beside the questions you think are “easy” to answer . 

Once you’ve finished going through the whole assignment, you can answer these questions first. Getting the easy questions out of the way as quickly as possible lets you spend more time on the trickier portions of your homework, which will maximize your assignment grade. 

(Quick note: this is also a good strategy to use on timed assignments and tests, like the SAT and the ACT !) 

#2: Pay Attention in Class 

Homework gets a lot easier when you’re actively learning the material. Teachers aren’t giving you homework because they’re mean or trying to ruin your weekend... it’s because they want you to really understand the course material. Homework is designed to reinforce what you’re already learning in class so you’ll be ready to tackle harder concepts later. 

When you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes, you’re absorbing the information you’ll need to succeed on your homework assignments. (You’re stuck in class anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!) Not only will paying attention in class make your homework less confusing, it will also help it go much faster, too. 

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What’s Next? 

If you’re looking to improve your productivity beyond homework, a good place to begin is with time management. After all, we only have so much time in a day...so it’s important to get the most out of it! To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best time management techniques that you can start using today.

You may have read this article because homework struggles have been affecting your GPA. Now that you’re on the path to homework success, it’s time to start being proactive about raising your grades. This article teaches you everything you need to know about raising your GPA so you can

Now you know how to get motivated to do homework...but what about your study habits? Studying is just as critical to getting good grades, and ultimately getting into a good college . We can teach you how to study bette r in high school. (We’ve also got tons of resources to help you study for your ACT and SAT exams , too!) 

Need more help with this topic? Check out Tutorbase!

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10 powerful tips to complete your homework on time.

   Posted on May 18, 2018 by Jessica Velasco

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how to do assignments on time

Do you have homework that you need to work on but can’t seem to get it done? Maybe you are having difficulty balancing between schoolwork, studies and your duties at home. Many teachers believe homework is a necessary evil.

But I guess most students would disagree. Procrastination is the number one factor that causes us to keep us from doing our homework. The following tips will help you stay on track with your assignments and help you ensure that you submit them on time:

We often put off tasks that seem challenging or tedious at first glance. The hardest part of doing your homework is starting. To overcome this, just take out the assignment and place it on the study table.

It will push you one step closer to getting the work done.

2. Have a Dedicated Study Area

To get any job done, you need to have an area created just for handling that matter. It’s the number one reason why most freelancers can’t get much work done if they work on their beds. Been there, done that. The area should be organized and conducive for you to deal with your homework.

3. Keep Away from Distractions

In this digital age, we can quickly access vast information, but it comes with the challenge of increased distractions. From getting notifications from your social media accounts to constantly be checking your email, it takes your focus away from your studies. Use apps that encourage concentration, e.g., StayFocusd. Switch off your phone and attend to the assignment.

4. Time Management

Set aside time each week to work on your homework. It should be when you are alert. Plan to use this set time, each day, to get any pending assignments done. Remember to prioritize by starting with the tasks that are due the soonest.

5. Start with The Toughest Assignment

We all have preferences. Sometimes you can’t wait to start the assignment, and other time, the thought of it could make you sick. Get the hardest assignment out of the way, first. When done, you will realize that the subsequent tasks are much easier to handle.

6. Break It Down

There will be a time when an assignment you love feels like it’s too much to handle. This dread may keep you from searching for the information that is needed. If it’s an essay, start with the outline. Break down the report into manageable parts and work on each, step by step.

7. Take Breaks

Just as you do when studying, you need to re-energize your brain and body. For most people, their concentration span is 45 minutes at most. Schedule the time to work, including breaks.

Work on the assignment for 45 minutes and takes breaks of 10 minutes, after each interval. You can do whatever during the breaks.

8. Create a Reward System

Having a reward system will motivate you to keep doing what you are doing. After working for two hours with the regular breaks, you can take a longer  break. Or you could watch one more episode of your favorite show. The reward doesn’t have to be something huge; it could even be a piece of your favorite candy.

9. Don’t Multitask

Handle each task one at a time. Doing too much at the same time will lower your productivity. And thus, you will spend more time on a job and usually that time will be more than you would have needed.

10. Get Help

Work on the school work independently. When necessary, get assistance from tutors, peers, family members, friends, etc. When students hand in assignments that they feel good about, it increases their self-esteem and confidence.

You can also consider getting a study buddy. They keep you updated on any missed work, and could provide useful resources to help you in your studies.

Say no more to handing in your homework late or always finding it difficult to start on your assignments. Instead, adopt the tips outlined above.

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10 Useful Tips for Students to Submit Assignments on Time

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We all have been on the receiving side of the terror that comes with running late to turn in your assignment. As a student, one of the most critical skills you can develop is submitting your assignments on time. Late submissions can result in lost grades, missed opportunities, and added stress, making it essential for students to understand the importance of timely submissions.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll share a wealth of tips and strategies that can help you ensure timely submissions and help you stay on top of your coursework - 

1. Create a schedule

The first step in submitting assignments on time is to create a schedule. This can prove to be a useful step in the entire process. A schedule will help you keep track of your deadlines and plan your time accordingly. You can use a physical planner or a digital calendar, whichever works best for you. Make sure to include all of your assignments, exams, and other commitments in your schedule so that you have a clear understanding of how much time you have available.

2. Start timely

It is essential to start working on your assignments as early as possible. Waiting until the last minute to start your assignment can result in stress and decreased quality of work. By starting early, you’ll have enough time to review and refine your work, ensuring that you submit a high-quality assignment. Having said that, we understand and aren't too optimistic that balancing school life and homework can be a task. In that case, you can always start with the easy part so that it can create a sense of winning, which will eventually lead you to complete the entire assignment.

3. Break down tasks

Breaking down a large assignment into smaller tasks can make it seem more manageable and help you avoid procrastination. By setting deadlines for each of these tasks, you can keep yourself accountable and ensure that you’re making progress toward your end goal. Another way to go about it is to prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency, making sure to complete the most critical tasks first.

One of the key benefits of breaking down tasks is increased productivity. When students are faced with a large and complex assignment, it can be easy to become overwhelmed and demotivated. However, by breaking the assignment down into smaller tasks, students can focus on one component at a time, making it easier to make progress and complete the assignment in a timely manner. This can help students to avoid procrastination and ensure that they are making progress toward their goals.

4. Use tools and resources

There are many tools and resources available to help students stay organized and on track. For example, you can use online citation generators to help you format your bibliography correctly or use productivity apps to stay focused and avoid distractions. Utilizing these tools and resources can save you time and help you submit your assignments on time. One such assignment help website is Desklib; here you can find study material and documents in abundance where as a student you can have access to help conveniently. 

5. Ask for help

Don’t hesitate to reach out to your teachers, tutors, or classmates if you need help. They can provide you with valuable feedback and insights that can improve your work and ensure that you’re on the right track. Furthermore, if you’re struggling with a particular aspect of an assignment, seeking help can save you time and prevent you from making costly mistakes.

Asking for help is a critical aspect of student success, especially when it comes to completing class assignments. Whether students are struggling to understand a complex concept or need assistance with a specific task, seeking help can provide them with the support they need to succeed. 

6. Manage your time effectively

Effective time management is necessary in order to turn in an assignment timely. When writing an assignment, make sure to allocate your time wisely and prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency. This step can also help improve the quality of the final product. It is important to take regular breaks, review the work completed so far, and make any necessary revisions. By managing time effectively, it is possible to allocate sufficient time for these activities, ensuring that the final product is of the best possible quality.

7. Stay organized

Staying organized can also help to prioritize tasks and deadlines. When working on an assignment, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the many tasks and deadlines involved. However, by staying organized, it is possible to see the big picture and prioritize tasks in a way that ensures that everything is completed on time and to a high standard.

Make sure to keep all of your notes, materials, and other resources in one place so that you can easily access them when you need them. You can also use a filing system or an online storage solution to help you stay organized. 

8. Set realistic goals

It’s important to set realistic goals for yourself when submitting assignments. While it’s great to strive for excellence, setting unrealistic goals can result in added stress and decreased productivity. Make sure to set achievable goals and focus on making progress towards your goals rather than striving for perfection.

9. Eliminate distractions

Distractions can have a significant impact on your productivity and ability to complete a task at hand. While working, make sure to eliminate distractions by creating a conducive environment for studying like turning off your phone, or using a noise-canceling app. I know this might sound and feel a bit tough at first but trust me, it only gets better from hereon. This step will get the work done effectively and timely. 

10. Reward yourself 

In the end, do not forget to pat yourself on the back. After having completed the assignment, it is equally important to reward yourself for your hard work and achievements. 

Conclusion:

In conclusion, submitting your assignments on time is crucial for your academic success. We hope that we could help you a little by providing you with these tips. We hope that the above-given tips will help ensure that your work is completed to the best of your ability and submitted on time.

Remember, consistent effort and planning can go a long way in achieving your goals.

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How to Submit Assignments on Time

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Struggling to Submit Assignments on Time?

Picture this: after a long week, you’re sitting on the couch with a snack rewatching your favorite show. It’s around ten at night, the blanket’s warm, and you’re comfier than you’ve ever felt before. Right before you fall asleep, you get a nagging feeling you forgot something. You shoot up as that cold pit of dread hits – you have an essay due at midnight. And you haven’t even started writing. Worse, you don’t even know what to write about. If you’ve had this experience or a similar one, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Every semester, thousands of students struggle to submit assignments on time.

And that feeling, that cold pit of dread, still haunts some of us years after graduation. Notably, graduates report having nightmares of missing that important assignment.

Many don’t start working until the last second for a variety of reasons. Indeed, while the stereotype for a procrastinator is the lazy, uncaring college student, many have other responsibilities that take up a lot of time. And with the college mental health crisis being a hot topic in higher education, there’s a lot more to consider than simple laziness.

However, there are methods you can use to turn in work on time. From detailed planning to consistent schedules, students can build basic time management skills as they adjust to college life.

Why it Matters

While these skills are very important later in life, students may not realize how vital it is to turn in homework on time. They don’t see why it matters if they submit their essay at 11:59 pm or 2:30 am. As long as it’s in. But most college professors set some sort of penalty for late work and some can be devastating.

Indeed, the best student can turn in the highest quality essay and still receive a failing grade if it’s submitted late. And the strictest instructors don’t care if you have a valid reason. However,  late policies  vary from professor to professor. Some will give full points as long as you either submitted high-quality work or reached out to them ahead of time. Others won’t accept an essay if you turn it in even a minute after the deadline. In the middle, you’ll find instructors who deduct points based on how many days late you are.

Regardless, unless you find one of those kind professors, your grade will suffer. And you may find yourself repeating the class if your grade takes too many hits. Truly, it’s important to submit assignments on time.

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4 Tips to Submit Assignments on Time

Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to just start submitting work on time. No one can wake up one day and have it all together. If it were that simple, we wouldn’t have so many students procrastinating their way through a degree. To succeed, you have to retrain your brain and build  time management skills .

Below we will go over some of the ways you learn how to submit assignments on time.

1. Create a Calendar

Once you start a semester or recognize your struggle to stay on schedule, you should create a calendar of all of the assignments and due dates. Your professor will either provide a schedule or you can find one in the  syllabus . Using these resources, plot all of your courses’ assignments in either a planning notebook or on your phone for the entire semester. You’ll likely need to update them as you go and due dates change. Whether you go traditional or digital should depend on what tool you’ll actually want to use.  

Either way, you’ll have a tool that can help you submit assignments on time.

Indeed, some people love to buy  notebooks and planners , but then never touch them. They tuck them away one day and never pick them back up. Or they don’t update them when due dates change. Indeed, there is no button to quickly change what you’ve written.

But, notably, we tend to remember things better once we’ve written them down. Thus, they can help improve your memory overall. And some students don’t like notifications or will casually snooze them as soon as they go off. For them, a planner works best to help them submit assignments on time.

Going Digital

Today, our phones come with calendars built-in,  apps  that allow you to create events and set reminders weeks in advance. Thus, even the basic ones are perfect for students. You should set up a handful of notifications to go off days and weeks before your due dates. And for those big assignments, you may want to set up reminders two to three weeks beforehand.

If the basic calendar apps aren’t your cup of tea, there are many specialty options designed for students. They’ll allow you to create custom schedules for each of your classes, color code assignments, and more.

In the end, calendars are helpful as they help you remember assignments. Digital ones send you regular customizable reminders. And planners allow you to visualize the work ahead. Whatever your preference, we recommend creating a calendar to help you submit assignments on time. You may even consider using both to ensure that your work gets done.

falling asleep on campus with textbook on face, not submitting work on time

2. Create (and Stick to) a Schedule

Creating a schedule  is one of the best ways to stay on track in your courses. We’ve all gotten caught up with friends, our favorite show, or just a really good nap before and pushed our homework to the side. Indeed, most of us when left to our own devices will choose fun and relaxing options before doing schoolwork. And that’s okay – you deserve to rest, too. Naps and friends still should be a part of your weekly schedule, but you need to make sure you have time for everything.

Thus, we recommend setting a specific time to read, study, and write essays each week. If possible, it should be at the same time week after week. This scheduling will help you build a routine, which can help you submit assignments on time. Notably, building a routine makes it easier to sit down as you’ll feel that it’s time to work. Instead of thinking “I’ll do it later,” and then finding that you’re too exhausted later, you’ll get your work done

And it may actually help you see your friends more, as procrastination often costs us more free time than it saves. For example, you tell people you can’t come out as you have to do your essay, but, instead, you deep clean the oven. Your essay still needs to be written and you miss another possible night out tomorrow.

3. Ask for Help

A common reason students put assignments off is that they’re confused or frustrated by something. Maybe the rubric wasn’t clear or they don’t understand some of the content. Instead of asking for help, they’ll think “I’ll do it later.”

For some, later ends up being the night before it’s due. Students stay frustrated at the thought of the essay or worksheet and don’t want to touch it. And because the assignment needs extra work to get around the confusion, they end up spending hours on something that could have been finished in one. These students don’t submit assignments on time because they need help and don’t know how to ask for it.

Truly, people of all ages struggle with asking for help. They feel like a burden or want to do it all themselves. However, knowing when you need help is a sign of wisdom, not weakness. We can’t know or do everything ourselves.

If you’re falling behind because you’re confused,  email your professor , use online resources, ask a classmate, or try your college’s tutoring center.

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4. Be Kind to Yourself

Finally, one way to help yourself submit assignments on time is to let yourself off the hook. Basically, don’t be hard on yourself when or if you fall behind.

Negative thinking often becomes circular thinking . We fall into a pit of bad thoughts and anger pointed at ourselves. And when we reach that point, it becomes harder and harder to get back on track. We think we should have been able to do this whole college thing with ease and we’re lesser for struggling. But it’s simply not true. Many of us will miss a deadline in our lives, whether at school or work or with another responsibility. It happens. As we said at the beginning of this article, there are a hundred different reasons students fall behind.

Many of us have jobs, some of us have families, and the student mental health crisis is real. Don’t be too hard on yourself for missing a deadline or two. Continue to reward yourself for your hard work and aim to do better.

Final Thoughts

Lakewood University is an accredited online school that offers a variety of degree and certificate programs. We have rolling enrollments and asynchronous courses. In other words, you don’t have to worry about missing a lecture or running late to class. If you plan on enrolling in college while working, Lakewood University offers the flexibility you need to earn your degree.

Don’t hesitate – reach out to our admissions department today to learn more !

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How to Meet Deadlines and Finish Tasks on Time: 8 Tips

Learn how to stick to your self-imposed deadlines and get things done before the deadline. Here are some helpful tips!

For many, deadlines are a dreadful matter. You may procrastinate till the deadline approaches and fail to complete the task in time despite your last moment efforts.

Missed deadlines can have a negative impact on your productivity and impression in both personal and professional life alike. Check out the points explained here to find out how you can meet every deadline with ease.

1. Create Many Bite-Sized Milestones

An illustration of milestone written on asphault

Do complex and time-taking tasks lead you to procrastinate? If yes, then you’re not alone. Sometimes, your mind feels overwhelmed and demotivates you to work until the last moment.

That's why you must break down your ambitious goals into smaller milestones. For example, if your target is to complete a 50-page assignment, you can divide it into small chapters and work on one chapter each.

Once you do this, your subconscious will not feel overburdened. Instead, the small deadlines will seem manageable and motivate you to get started with the work. As you continue to achieve all the small milestones one after another, reaching the big objective won't be difficult.

2. Find a Motivating Partner

Working alone is difficult—especially when it involves a complex task. While working alone gives you freedom, you can also end up being someone with no motivation to complete the work. As you’re not accountable to anyone about your personal deadlines, missing milestones can become commonplace.

If you’re having trouble managing your self-imposed deadlines, you can always involve someone else. It would be nice to have someone who knows about your deadlines. This accountability partner can be someone from your family or friends.

To finish reading a chapter, you can loop in a classmate and study together. If you can't find a partner, even knowing about someone who achieved the same milestone will be inspiring.

3. Always Keep Track of Progress

An image showing tracking reports or project progress

Making progress tracking a daily habit will help you finish a task on time. Even if you set a deadline, that doesn't mean you'll finish it on the last day. This means you will work on the project for multiple days to complete it before the deadline.

You may not be equally productive during all these working days. However, regularly tracking the progress will help you identify the gaps and let you make up for your weak points.

You can use MeisterTask to track how much progress you have made on any task. You can add any number of tasks to it and track their progress as you work on them each day.

4. Avoid Leaving Loopholes in the Planning

Before coming up with a deadline for personal tasks, you must have gone through a detailed planning process. Knowing the objectives, working process, and available time are some things you should consider before fixing a deadline. Having issues with your planning can cost you the deadline.

There’s no point blaming yourself for missing a deadline if you had flaws in your planning process. For instance, you need to borrow some books from a library to finish a project by Monday. You did the planning for Friday, but the library stays closed on Saturday and Sunday.

As you can see, there is a loophole in this scheme. Due to this, you are bound to miss the deadline here. To avoid such circumstances, make sure your work plan doesn’t have any flaws.

5. Keep Distractions at Bay

Someone using mobile during office hours

Distractions are one of the biggest reasons why you’re unable to complete tasks in time. Long emails, social media notifications, urgent but less important tasks, a family member stopping by to chit-chat—all these distract you from your goals and hamper your workflow.

Once your mind is diverted to something else, it’s tough to bring back the same concentration and attention to your original work. When you’re into a task, try to make as much progress as possible in one go.

You can mute your mobile and computer notifications to avoid distraction . Using anti-distraction apps is also useful to keep you focused during working hours.

6. Use an Efficient Calendar Tool

If you have too many things on your plate, losing sight of the deadlines and pending tasks can happen. The best way to be aware of your tasks and deadlines is to use a calendar tool. Such apps will help you schedule tasks, events, and meetings.

Keeping track of your past and future deadlines and milestones becomes easy with the calendar software. These apps let you visualize the upcoming deadlines in a sorted manner. Check these tools daily to stay on track of your to-do tasks for the day.

Google Calendar is a calendar scheduling app that you can use for your personal and professional task scheduling. It also supports integration with different project management tools that make deadline visualization effortless.

7. Use a Soft Deadline

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A soft deadline is a tentative deadline you put before the original one. In case you’re wondering whether a soft deadline can help you, the answer is yes. It’s not only helpful for professional projects. Soft deadlines are equally effective for personal milestones.

Even the best-laid plans can experience hiccups. You can fall sick or have some technical issue. Don't let these force you to miss a deadline. Have a soft deadline in place and try to finish the work before that.

Besides saving your back during any unexpected events, it’ll ensure the timely completion of a task.

8. Avoid Procrastination at Any Cost

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Most of you would agree that procrastination is the reason why you keep missing deadlines, even the self-imposed ones. While task complexity is responsible for this in most cases, sometimes people might procrastinate as there is no reward for finishing a task.

Procrastination becomes more common in personal tasks that do not involve any supervisor or reward. But, you can always treat yourself after finishing work on time. It’ll inspire you to avoid procrastination next time.

Related: The Top Tips to Avoid Procrastination and Meet Deadlines

Timely Task Completion Increases Productivity

Deadlines should not be stressful and demotivating. Instead, it should motivate you to complete the tasks in time. You can follow the things mentioned here to meet your self-created deadlines.

You should also avoid delays in your professional life at any cost by finding out the possible reasons and their solutions.

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14 Proven Tips For Completing Assignments

Tips for completing assignments

Completing assignments can be a daunting task, but there are a few things that you can do to make the process a whole lot easier. 

Are you finding it difficult to complete your assignments on time? If you’re looking for some tips to help you get organized and stay on track, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, I’ll share some helpful strategies that will make completing your assignments a breeze.

But first, let’s analyze why it’s essential that you complete your assignments on time.

Why are assignments important?

Though often met with groans and complaints, academic assignments are actually beneficial in a number of ways. For one, they force students to engage with the material on a deeper level, encouraging them to really think about what they’re learning and stay on track with their studies.

In addition, academic assignments help students to develop important research, writing and study skills that will be useful in college and beyond.

Academic assignments also give students the opportunity to receive feedback from their instructors on their work.

Assignments are a great way to increase parent engagement in learning and for students to develop a sense of responsibility.

Notably, despite its benefits, too many assignments can do more harm than good.

Too much assignments can interfere with free time and involvement in extra-curricular activities. Assignment completion may be increasingly frustrating and stressful when there are challenges with the home environment. O’Rourke-Ferrara, 1998

Why is completing assignments on time important?

Completing assignments on time allows you to fully engage with the material and understand the concepts.

Subsequently, you’ll likely earn better grades and improve your chances of success in school. Additionally, completing assignments in a timely manner will also give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Completing assignments on time demonstrates to your instructor that you are capable of meeting deadlines. This is important in both academic and professional settings.

Plus we all know that once you start falling behind on assignments, it can be difficult to catch up.

Finally, completing assignments on time will likely improve your sleep and reduce stress levels.

According to research, completing assignments improves independence, self-discipline, and time management skills. In addition, it has been linked with better grades and academic success. planchard et al., 2015

14 Proven Tips For Completing Assignments

Tips for completing assignments

So how can you make sure that you complete your assignments on time? Here are a few tips that may help:

1. Read the assignment instructions carefully

Make sure you understand what is expected of you before you start working on the assignment. Read the instructions carefully, and if anything is unclear, be sure to ask for clarification.

2. Identify why the assignment is necessary

Identifying why the assignment is necessary is an important first step for success. Acknowledging the importance of a task or goal can help you stay motivated to do the best possible work and see meaningful results.

It gives purpose to your efforts, and this in turn can help provide focus and direction, leading to better results through hard work and dedication.

Research shows that the main motivating factors for homework completion were: (1) Reinforcement: desire to learn or master the material (2) Credit (3) Extra-credit planchard et al., 2015

3. Start early to complete assignments on time

Assignments can take longer than you think, so start working on them as soon as they’re assigned. This will help you avoid last-minute stress and ensure that you have enough time to complete the assignment to the best of your ability.

4. Set goals for assignment completion

One way to stay on track with an assignment is to break it down into smaller goals. For example, if you have a research paper to write, your goal for the first day might be to choose a topic and find five sources.

Once you’ve met that goal, you can set a new goal for the next day. Breaking the assignment down into smaller tasks can help to make it feel less overwhelming, and it can also help you to track your progress. 

5 . Create a schedule to finish assignments

Once you know when the assignment is due, create a schedule that breaks the work down into manageable tasks. This will help you stay on track and avoid feeling overwhelmed by the assignment.

Research shows that the most common demotivating factors for homework completion were: (1) Other commitments (2) Difficulty understanding (3) Too difficult or too long planchard et al., 2015

6. Identify the resources required for the assignment

Another important step in completing an assignment is to identify the resources that you’ll need. This might include books, articles, websites, or people you can interview. Having a list of resources will help you to focus your research and make the process easier.

7. Track your reference s when researching

As you’re doing research for your assignment, be sure to track the references that you’re using. This will save you time when you’re writing your paper and will ensure that you give credit to the sources that you’ve used.

8. Set aside uninterrupted time for assignments

Once you have a schedule, set aside time each day or each week to work on the assignment. During this time, turn off distractions like your phone and social media. This will help you stay focused and make the most of your time.

"Be open to opportunity and take risks. In fact, take the worst, the messiest, the most challenging assignment you can find, and then take control." - Angela Braly

9. Ask for help if you get stuck

If you’re struggling with the assignment, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Talk to your professor, a tutor, or a friend who is doing well in the class. They can offer guidance and support that can help you get back on track.

10. Take breaks when completing assignments

Working on an assignment for long periods of time can be overwhelming and lead to burnout. To avoid this, take breaks throughout the day or week. during your break, do something that you enjoy or that will help you relax.

11. Celebrate your progress

As you complete tasks on your schedule, take a moment to celebrate your progress. This will help you stay motivated and focused. It can be something as simple as taking a break after completing a section or giving yourself a small treat.

12. Proofread your assignments

Once you’ve completed the assignment, take the time to proofread it. This will help you catch any mistakes and make sure that your work is of the best quality.

13. Submit your assignments on time

Make sure to submit your assignment on time. If you’re having trouble with this, talk to your professor or a tutor. They may be able to offer extension or help you get back on track.

14. Relax after completing each assignment

After you’ve submitted the assignment, it’s important to relax. Take some time for yourself and do something that you enjoy. This will help you relax and prepare for the next assignment.

Final words on proven tips for completing assignments

If you follow these tips, you will be well on your way to acing any assignment. Do you have any other studying or coursework tips that have worked well for you?

Drop a comment below and let me know. Best of luck in all your future assignments.

Read also: 22 Key Tips To Easily Improve Writing Skills

O’Rourke-Ferrara, Catherine. “Did You Complete All Your Homework Tonight, Dear?” Information Analyses (070) Opinion Papers (120) — Reports Research (143) 1998

Planchard, Matthew S. et al. “Homework, Motivation, and Academic Achievement in a College Genetics Course.”  Bioscene: The Journal Of College Biology Teaching  41 (2015): 11-18. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1086528.pdf

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4 Tips for Completing Your Homework On Time

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  • B.A., English, University of Michigan

Homework, a necessary evil according to many teachers, has a lot of students tied up in knots. Some students can never seem to get things turned in on time. In fact, many students do not even realize that they  have  homework until a friend from class texts them or they overhear someone in the halls talking about Ms. So-and-so's terrible, no-good, awful, horrifying worksheet for Chemistry that is due the next day. These five tips for completing your homework on time, however, should help you get that homework finished on time. 

Tip 1: Rely On a Planning System

Most of you by now are well acquainted with a homework planner. It has the dates, the school subjects you are taking, and a whole lot of blank space to write down your homework assignments. Use these planners if you have them. Writing with an actual pencil or pen may seem almost archaic what with technology virtually doing everything for us, but the kinesthetic movement of writing down an assignment into one of those little squares (Language Arts test tomorrow - STUDY TONIGHT), will actually help solidify that homework in your brain.

Plus, when you are packing up to go home at the end of the school day, all you have to do is open up that planner to see which books, folders, and binders need to go home with you so you will not miss out anything that you need to do that evening.

Some people  hate  using planners. They'd rather walk on a pile of crushed glass than actually write something down in a planner. That's quite all right. One student kept a wadded up piece of paper in his pocket where he'd scrawl his assignments. It worked for him, so it was fine. For those of you not keen on planners or crumpled up notes, your phone can come in really handy. Just download a productivity app and type your assignments in there. Or, keep track of all the work due in the notes section of your phone. Or, snap a picture of the homework board in each teacher's class before you head out into the hallway. Or, if you are really dead-set against anything planner-related, then just send yourself a text after each class with your homework assignments for the night.

No matter which planning system you prefer, use it. Check off each item once you get it in your backpack. Your brain can only process so much information at a time, so you absolutely must write your homework down if you plan to complete it on time. 

Tip 2: Prioritize Your Homework Assignments

All assignments are not created equal. It's strongly recommended you use a prioritizing system when you sit down at home with your homework. Try a system a little something like this:

  • Examples: Studying for a major test coming up tomorrow. Finishing a major project due tomorrow. Writing an essay worth a LOT of points that is due tomorrow. 
  • Examples:  Studying for a quiz coming up tomorrow. Completing a homework sheet that is due tomorrow. Reading a chapter that is due tomorrow. 
  • Examples: Studying for a spelling test that will occur on Friday. Writing a blog and posting it on the class board by Friday. Finish a book upon which you will take a quiz on Friday.
  • Examples: Reviewing chapters for the midterm exam. Working on an on-going project, research paper, or long assignment due at the end of the quarter. Completing a packet that isn't due for two weeks. 

Once you've prioritized the work you have to do, complete all the 1's first, then the 2's, moving down as you go. That way, if you find yourself pressed for time because Great-Grandma decided to stop over for family dinner and your mom insisted you spend the evening playing bridge with her despite the fact that you have hours of homework ahead of you, then you will not have missed anything vitally important to your grade. 

Tip 3: Get the Worst Assignment Over With First

So, maybe you absolutely hate writing essays (But, why, though when all you have to do is follow these essay tips? ) and you have a major essay staring you in the face that  must  be completed before tomorrow. You also have to study for a major math test, complete a social studies blog by Friday, study for the ACT  next month, and finish up your science worksheet from class. Your "1" assignments would be the essay and the math test. Your "2" assignment is the science worksheet, the "3" assignment is that blog, and the "4" assignment is studying for the ACT. 

Ordinarily, you would start with the science worksheet because you  love  science, but that would be a big mistake. Start with those "1" assignments and knock out that essay first. Why? Because you hate it. And completing the worst assignment first gets it off your mind, out of your homework cache, and makes everything that comes after it appears to be really, really easy. It will be an absolute  joy  to complete that science worksheet once you have written the essay. Why rob yourself of joy? 

Then, once you've completed the stuff due first, you can focus on putting in a little bit of time on the ACT. Easy peasy.

Tip 4: Take Planned Breaks

Some people believe that sitting down to complete homework means that you literally park your behind in a chair and you don't move it for the next four thousand hours or so. That is one of the worst study ideas in history. Your brain only has the capacity to stay focused for about 45 minutes (maybe even less for some of you) before it goes on the fritz and starts wanting to make you get up and dance the Roger Rabbit. So, schedule your study time with breaks actually built in . Work for 45 minutes, then take a 10-minute break to do whatever it is people your age like to do. Then, rinse and repeat. It looks a little something like this:

Homework Time:

  • 45 minutes: Work on "1" assignments, starting with the absolute worst.
  • 10 minutes: Get a snack, play Pokemon Go!, surf Instagram
  • 45 minutes: Work on "1" assignments again. You know you didn't finish.
  • 10 minutes: Do some jumping jacks, dance the Macarena, polish your nails.
  • 45 minutes: Work on "2" assignments and maybe even finish with any 3s and 4s. Put everything in your backpack.

Completing your homework on time is a learned skill. It requires some discipline and not everyone is naturally disciplined. So, you have to practice checking that you have everything you need for homework when you are still at school, prioritizing your work, plunging into the assignments you loathe, and taking planned breaks. Isn't your grade worth it?

You bet it is. 

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Turning In Assignments On Time

“my professors say my ideas are great, but my grades suffer because i hand in my assignments late. do you have any suggestions”.

Sandy Maynard

To change your behavior, you must start placing as much value on the timely completion of your assignments as you do on their overall quality.

List the characteristics that make you proud of your work-it’s original, unconventional, and so on – and add “completed on time” to that list. In addition, set deadlines for completing portions of each assignment, rather than thinking only of the project’s final due date.

Finally, schedule appointments with your professors to get feedback about your ideas, discuss an outline, or review your progress. This holds you accountable-and shows your professors that you’ve gotten serious about meeting deadlines.

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7 Time Management Tips for Online Students

7 Time Management Tips for Online Students

More students than ever before are turning to online learning to further their education. In fact, studies indicate that over half of all students  are now taking at least one online course. Given the benefits of online learning , it’s easy to see why so many students are drawn to virtual classes.

For students who are new to online learning—like those affected by school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic or those simply looking to make a change—transitioning to online learning can take some getting used to. And, if you are adjusting to a full-time online program or balancing school and work , it is critical to be able to manage your time effectively.

Whether you’ve chosen to pursue online learning or you’ve been thrust into it, there are key skills you will need to make the most out of your online education, including time management.

The Importance of Time Management For Students

One of the most valuable skills you can have as an online student is effective time management.

This is especially important for online students, who are often working full-time, taking care of family, or juggling other commitments. Without the camaraderie of a class to motivate you or having a set time where you need to be on campus, effective time management is crucial to helping you stay focused.

Effective time management not only helps with your learning but can also make you more productive at work and in your personal life.

Below are seven time management tips to help you stay ahead of your coursework.

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Time Management Tips for Online Students

1. plan ahead..

Despite the flexibility in being an online student, it’s important to have frequent engagement with your studies throughout the week. For this reason, planning ahead is a critical part of time management.

Planning ahead allows you to divide your required readings, assignments, and online discussions into manageable segments.

Consider purchasing a calendar to help you plan your daily and weekly assignments, highlighting:

  • Assignments due, including drafts and final submissions
  • Activities related to your program, such as study group meetups or on-campus networking events
  • Virtual or in-person office hours with professors and advisors

Melanie Kasparian, associate director of assessment for the Northeastern University College of Professional Studies , shares a sample schedule of what a typical week might look like:

2. Don’t multitask.

Avoid multitasking—which can actually decrease your productivity . Focus on one assignment at a time, whether that’s studying for an exam, reading a textbook, emailing a professor, or participating in an online forum. Arrange your tasks in order of importance, and pay attention to the three or four crucial tasks that require the most effort.

If you need help staying focused, then consider creating lists using a project management tool to help organize tasks. Some useful tools include:

If you prefer a traditional to-do list, then look at digital notebooks such as:

Lastly, concentrate on what needs to get done in the present and avoid anything too far-off. If it’s a small assignment that you don’t need to address for several weeks, put it on your calendar to focus on when the deadline is closer.

3. Set up your virtual office.

Whether you study at home or your local café, it’s important to work in the optimal setting needed to complete your work. Here are some tips for setting up your virtual office:

  • Check your WiFi: Whether you’re working from home or somewhere else, it’s important to ensure that there’s high-speed internet. If you’re unsure of your connection speed, check your WiFi speed using an online speed test . You’ll want to aim for a download speed of at least 6 mbps —more if you’re sharing your connection with others.
  • Make sure you’re in a comfortable environment:  Your surroundings should be conducive to effective study. Make sure you’re in a relaxing space with the right lighting, and comfortable seating.
  • Minimize auditory distractions: Make sure the background noise you hear while studying isn’t distracting. For example, some people prefer to work with headphones on, while others prefer silence or an ambient backdrop with people quietly chatting.

Along with these elements, make sure you have all the required materials, such as textbooks and industry-specific software. Set up as much as you can ahead of time to stay on task with your coursework.

4. Block out distractions. 

Your hectic schedule, combined with daily distractions, can easily get in the way of finishing tasks. So it’s important to learn how to set aside time to focus. This includes having a consistent time and workspace, and tuning out distractions such as Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms.

Close out any tabs or browser windows that don’t pertain to your study, and put your phone away. Doing so will make it easier to concentrate on your studies.

If you’re struggling to stay focused, then consider the Pomodoro Method . This technique helps with productivity by arranging how you work to increase efficiency. The tool builds on 25-minute work sessions, optimizing your time to focus on your online studies. The best way to use this method is to:

  • Set a timer for 25 minutes and work uninterrupted for the scheduled period.
  • Take a five-minute break to grab a coffee, check emails, or do something else.
  • Once you’ve completed four work sessions, treat yourself to a longer, 15-minute break.

If you’re still struggling with procrastination, download a website blocker for your Pomodoro sessions. These tools minimize online browsing and let you follow through on your daily tasks. Some examples include:

With these tools, you can block all websites or redirect your favorite sites to your school’s homepage.

5. Reward yourself.

It’s important to reward yourself after a job well done in order to avoid burnout. Otherwise, it will be difficult to concentrate on even the simplest tasks.

You can reward yourself by celebrating your accomplishments and treating yourself to something you truly enjoy, whether that’s watching your favorite show on Netflix or going out to a nice dinner and a movie. If you’ve been working on an assignment for several months in a row, then take a week off when you’re finished.

6. Create a balance.

In addition to rewarding yourself, it’s also important to find a balance between coursework and your other obligations, especially if you’re juggling school and work . 

To help create an effective balance and avoid burning out, be sure to prioritize your time in a way that allows you to focus on school, work, and your personal life when you need to. Creating a predictable schedule can help you establish a routine that works for your lifestyle and allows you to dedicate your full attention to each aspect of your life at a given time.

7. Get a good night’s sleep.

Sleep is essential to rest your body and keep your mind fresh for the next day. Try to get seven to eight hours of rest a night. In addition to the quantity of sleep you get, however, it’s also important to ensure that the quality of your sleep is sufficient.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the following tips for improving sleep quality :

  • Be consistent: Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, including the weekends.
  • Be comfortable: Keep your bedroom’s temperature at a comfortable level for you, and make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet.
  • Disconnect: Turn your electronics off before getting ready for bed, and don’t check them again until morning.
  • Avoid caffeine: Large meals and caffeine can interfere with sleep quality, so avoid them before bed.
  • Exercise: Physical activity during the day can help improve sleep quality at night.

Pulling all-nighters is less productive than studying consistently. Include sleep in your schedule, and you’ll be rewarded with increased energy and productivity levels.

Taking Charge of Your Online Education

Enrolling in an online degree program is a great way to further your education and ultimately advance in your career, but it’s up to you to take charge of your learning so you can get the most out of your classes. A key component of doing so is employing effective time management strategies to stay on top of your responsibilities. 

As important as it is to be a good student, finding an online program that fits your needs is also critical to success. When choosing an online degree program , be sure to do your research and understand how the content and structure of the courses align with your own goals and objectives. If career advancement is your ultimate goal, for example, a program that values collaboration and networking could be a good fit. 

By choosing the right program to fit your needs and taking charge of your learning, you can prepare yourself for online learning success.

For more on how to be a successful online learner, explore our related  online learning tips and advice posts , or watch the recorded webinar below.  

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20 Effective Time Management Strategies and Tools for Students

Teachers can use these too!

Time Management Strategies including Pomodoro technique and timeboxing

One of the most important life skills for anyone to master is time management. Keeping track of everything that we have to do and carving out the time to get it all done can be a real struggle. Try these time management strategies and techniques, plus find helpful tools for staying on track.

General Time Management Strategies

Time management techniques, time management tools.

These time management strategies work for everyone, helping you set goals and prioritize, then set a schedule to get things done.

Visualize the big picture

2-page bullet journal spread showing a year-at-a-glance layout

Use a calendar of some type to lay out all your big-picture goals for a year, month, or week. Include major projects and assignments, as well as school and personal events. This is your place to get an overview of everything that’s on your plate. Keep items to broad descriptions: “History Project” or “Spring Play Opening Night.” You’ll get into the details next.

Break it down

Comic with first panel showing a person with tasks separated in smaller tasks, and the second panel showing a giant rock labeled

The next step is to take major projects and assignments and break them down into smaller, more manageable parts. This is an incredibly effective way to overcome that feeling of “I’ll never get this all done!” It also prevents procrastinating on an entire project until the very last minute. Set smaller, more manageable goals with their own due dates in advance of a complete project or event.

For example, imagine your big-picture calendar says “History Project Due Feb. 23.” Breaking that down could look like this:

  • Choose topic and presentation method: Jan. 9
  • Initial research: Jan. 10-30
  • Presentation outline: Jan. 31
  • Write presentation script: Feb. 1-5
  • Create visual aids: Feb. 6-12
  • Rehearse presentation: Feb. 13
  • Fine-tune presentation: Feb 14-16
  • Final rehearsals: Feb. 17
  • Give history presentation: Feb. 23

At first, this method might feel a little overwhelming, because it may make you feel like there’s too much to get done. But as you use it, you’ll see how it can actually make you feel more prepared and in control, and make your time easier to manage.

Determine priorities

Sometimes it’s simply true: You don’t have enough time in a day to get all the things done that you’d like to. That’s where setting priorities becomes vital. In the “Time Management Techniques” section below, you’ll find several different ideas for determining the priority of different items on your lists.

Once you’ve figured out which items are the most important, try a color-coding system to indicate which items get a higher priority. This will help you identify at a glance what you need to do now and what can wait until another day.

Make daily to-do lists

Simple task list in a bullet journal with scheduled items and to-do items in columns

Make it a habit to start each day by creating a to-do list. (Not a morning person? You can do this the night before too.) Include high-priority items, as well as things you’d like to do but may not have to complete. Throughout the day, as you complete an item, revisit your list and check it off. It’s incredibly satisfying to cross things off, and checking in with your list a few times a day ensures you don’t forget important things.

Limit multitasking

Today’s world places a lot of value on multitasking (doing several things at once). But when you’re doing multiple things at the same time, you’re probably not doing any of them well. So keep your multitasking to a minimum. When it’s time to work on something, set your focus to that particular thing. Other stuff can wait.

But some multitasking is OK. For instance, you might throw your clothes in the washing machine, then work on your math homework while waiting for them to be ready for the dryer. Later on, you could fold and put away the laundry while practicing conjugating Spanish verbs out loud. This type of multitasking works because the physical tasks are ones that don’t require much concentration, leaving your brain free for academic subjects.

On the other hand, avoid something like trying to listen to a podcast for your history class while also doing your math homework. Your attention won’t be fully on each, and your learning will suffer.

Remove distractions

Comic showing a student trying to study amidst a variety of distractions

Some people are capable of deep focus no matter what’s going on around them. Most of us, though, need to find ways to remove distractions when it’s time to get down to work. Here are some examples to try:

  • Turn off your phone, or set it to alert you only in case of emergencies.
  • Wear noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs to block out distracting sounds. A white-noise machine or app can help with this too.
  • Close miscellaneous tabs in your web browser (like social media or news sites), and use only the tabs you need for your work.
  • Go into a quiet room and shut the door. Ask friends and family not to disturb you.
  • Check your to-do list before you start to make sure you’re on track. Then, clear your mind of other projects or tasks, and focus on what’s at hand.

Do an end-of-day review

At the end of each day, sit down with your to-do list. Was there anything you didn’t get to? Move it to another day. Did you feel too rushed today? Think about how you might make tomorrow run a bit more smoothly. Where do you stand in terms of your big-picture goals? Take a few minutes to adjust any plans accordingly.

Try a time audit

It’s OK if you don’t get to everything on your list every day. But if you find that there’s never enough time to get things done, you might benefit from a time audit. Over the period of a week or two, write down exactly how you spend your time, hour by hour. Then, look it over and see if you can identify problem areas. You might need to cut down on some optional activities and give that time to high-priority items instead. Learn how to do a time audit here.

The time management strategies we’ve talked about so far are general ways to stay on track and get stuff done. But there are multiple ways to approach some of these strategies, especially when it comes to actually settling down to work. Check out these popular time management techniques and choose one or more that seem right for you.

Eisenhower Decision Matrix

Eisenhower's four part matrix for determining the priority of tasks

President Eisenhower developed this matrix and used it to help him prioritize his tasks. He looked at each item to evaluate it by importance and urgency, then broke them into four categories:

  • Do First: These are urgent, important tasks with high priority.
  • Schedule: These are important tasks that aren’t quite as urgent.
  • Delegate: You may be able to delegate less important but still urgent tasks to someone else.
  • Don’t Do: These non-urgent, unimportant items can be eliminated entirely or postponed indefinitely.

Here are some possible student examples for each category:

  • Do First: Homework that’s due tomorrow takes top priority, as might doing laundry if you’re out of clean clothes.
  • Schedule: Set aside time (see Time Blocking) for smaller parts of long-term projects, such as research time or writing an outline. That could be today or one day in the near future.
  • Delegate: Students aren’t always able to delegate their tasks, but they can ask for help. For example, if your schedule is incredibly tight, you could ask your dad if he’d be willing to throw your clothes in the dryer when the washer is done.
  • Don’t Do: These are often bad habits you need to break, like surfing the web aimlessly instead of working, or texting your friends for hours instead of doing your chores.

Find out much more about the Eisenhower Matrix and how to use it for time management strategies here.

ABCDE Method

ABCDE method of prioritizing tasks, from Must-Do (A) to Eliminate (E)

This is another time management strategy for prioritizing the tasks at hand. Assign each item a letter:

  • A: Highest priority
  • B: Should do soon, if not today
  • C: Could do, but no serious consequences if not done
  • D: Delegate or ask for help
  • E: Eliminate from your list

This is very similar to the Eisenhower Matrix, with a little more flexibility around should-dos and could-dos. Learn more about the ABCDE method here.

Most Difficult First (Eat That Frog)

Eat That Frog: Choose the hardest task, the one you're most likely to procrastinate, and do it first

This method is based on a quote often attributed to Mark Twain: “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.”

In other words, don’t put off the biggest, hardest tasks. Get them out of the way first. Then, everything else you have to do will seem easy in comparison.

For some people, though, this concept can be counterproductive. If you’re already feeling overwhelmed, tackling something extremely difficult can be too much and cause you to shut down entirely. In that case, it’s just fine to choose smaller, simpler items. The key is to make progress, one step at a time.

Pomodoro Technique

Graphic explanation of the Pomodoro technique method of time management

The Pomodoro Technique is a simple time management method: You work for 25 minutes at a time, then take a 5-minute break to rest and recharge. Simply set a timer for 25 minutes, and focus on one single task until it goes off. Then, you can spend 5 minutes stretching, resting your eyes, or checking your social media feeds. When the 5 minutes are up, set the timer for another 25 minutes, and get back to work. If you do four 25-minute sessions in a row, take a longer break afterwards. Learn more about the Pomodoro Technique here.

Clockify app screen showing times for work and break

If 25 minutes seems too short and you’d like a little more uninterrupted time, try Flowtime instead. This stretches out both the work and break time proportionally. If you work for 25-50 minutes, take an 8-minute break. For 50-90 minutes, you get a 10-minute break. And if you’ve been at it for more than 90 minutes, take 15 minutes to recharge. Learn about Flowtime here.

Explanation of a timebox, a type of time management tool

Parkinson’s Law says that work will always expand to fill the amount of time available. Timeboxing seeks to shrink tasks back to the size they truly need to be. When you timebox, you set a specific amount of time for a task and complete it within that time.

In other words, you might look over your study planner and decide that you need one hour for tonight’s geometry and chemistry assignments, plus you’d like to spend another hour working on your English essay.

Set a timer and work on your geometry and chemistry for an hour, with no other distractions. When the timer goes off, reassess and adjust your goals as needed. Since you have to finish that homework tonight, you’ll probably need to add more time if you’re not finished.

Your English essay isn’t due for two weeks, though, so if you’ve boxed out one hour for working on it today, that’s all you need to do. Set a timer, determine your goals for day, and get to work. When the timer goes off, you’re done for today.

Here’s more on timeboxing.

Time Blocking

A calendar showing an example of time blocking for a student's week

This method is similar to timeboxing, but it involves setting blocks of time aside on your calendar for specific tasks. For example, you might block out 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day for daily homework, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. for working on your biology research paper, and 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for piano practice. Some people like to start each day by blocking time out on their calendar, figuring out how they’ll make the most of their time. Find out more about time blocking here.

Page layout from Five Star academic planner, with a smartphone displaying the Five Star Study App

Once you’ve selected some time management strategies to try, you’ll find plenty of tools to help make them work. Check out these top time management tools for students, from planners to timers and beyond.

Student Planners

Traditional paper planners come in a variety of styles, with some made especially for students. The most important thing is to choose one you’ll actually use, and keep it on hand at all times. See our selection of the top student planners here.

Planner Apps

Planner apps and online calendars are nice because you have access to them everywhere you go. For students, we really like:

  • My Study Life

See more details on each of these here, plus more options.

Study Planners

Study planners are specific to academics, and they are a simple way to keep track of both short-term and long-term assignments, projects, and more. Check out these free printable options:

  • Develop Good Habits: Study Planner
  • Alex Marie: Weekly Assignments Due
  • Sophia Lee: Homework Planner Pack

Time Management Apps

Planner apps are a good start, but other time management apps can help you stay on track by eliminating distractions or setting time limits. Here are a few to try:

  • Pomofocus : A free online 25–5 timer with the ability to add a task list for each work segment
  • Rize : An AI productivity coach that uses time tracking to improve your focus and build better work habits
  • Forest : Eliminate distractions, stay on task, and grow a digital forest to celebrate your achievements

Bullet Journal

Bullet journaling has a lot of benefits, and some page setups are especially good for time management:

  • Daily Schedule
  • Project Planner
  • Study Tracker

Check out our big roundup of bullet journal ideas here.

What time management strategies do your students find most effective? Come share your thoughts and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, ultimate study skills guide: tips, tricks, and strategies for every grade ..

Find helpful time management strategies for kids and teens like the Pomodoro Technique, plus tools like time management apps and planners.

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Five Ways to Turn Assignments in on Time

When you are in college, you may find that it is impossible to balance the demands of school, your job, and your family. Time management is critical to organization and success. It is important that you turn your assignments in on time, or your grades will slip. Sometimes, you may need to use an essay writing service or change your schedule so that this is possible. Take a look at these five ways to make sure your assignments are turned in on time.

1. Create a Schedule

how to do assignments on time

2. Use an Essay Writing Service

how to do assignments on time

3. Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

how to do assignments on time

4. Read Your Assignment Instructions Ahead of Time

how to do assignments on time

5. Go to Class

how to do assignments on time

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10 Super Useful Time Management Tips for College Students

10 Super Useful Time Management Tips for College Students

Table of contents

how to do assignments on time

Meredith Sell

Junior year of college, my schedule was totally packed. Between a full class load, working two campus jobs, writing for the student newspaper, and singing with the gospel choir, I had a lot to manage. 

how to do assignments on time

Sometime during the spring semester, I created a spreadsheet that outlined my days, hour by hour.

My goal every week (along with completing assigned readings and submitting assignments on time) was to finish my weekend homework on Saturday, so I could have Sundays totally off from school. The spreadsheet and my old-fashioned paper planner — where I kept track of every assignment and deadline — made this seemingly impossible feat possible .

I’d work in the library on Friday nights until it closed, and sometimes repeat the act on Saturdays, but Sundays were homework-free.

Time management is a challenge for many college students. But to succeed in higher education, you need to make time work for you. 

That’s why we compiled 10 time management tips to help you out 😉

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Time saving tool for students

The Basics (and Benefits) of Good Time Management

Managing your time is like managing your money:

You have a limited amount — of cash or minutes — so you work to make the most of what you have . 

This probably involves some restriction (of spending or how many extracurriculars you sign up for). Maybe you decide not to play intramural volleyball because you’re already taking tennis class and you need more time to study physics.

Or you might designate certain times for certain tasks, the way a good budget sets aside a portion of each paycheck for expenses like rent. Let’s say, you have an hour break between classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so each day, you head straight to the library to tackle reading assignments without distractions.

Think of time management as budgeting your time. You know how much time you’re working with (24 – 6-8 hours for sleep each day = 16-18 hours) and how much homework and reading you have to do. All you need to do now is assign tasks to time.

Practice discipline up front, and you’ll reap the benefits of guilt-free time that you can spend however you want — with no anxiety creeping in about that assignment you haven’t started.

10 Tips for Optimal Time Management

Before you look at our tips, make sure you’ve checked off these time management steps:

✔ Go through your syllabus from each class.

✔ Organize your assignments, deadlines, and schedule in one place, like a digital calendar or paper planner.

✔ Use color-coding or another method to distinguish homework assignments from events, classes, and social plans.

Make sure you know exactly what’s on your plate, what’s coming up and how much time you’re working with. Then, use these tips to make the most of your time:

1. Identify your time management style — and shortcomings.

Do you tend to get sucked into one project and, three hours later, realize you’ve finished one thing but have 10 other tasks still staring you down? Or do you take a more squirrel-like approach, jumping from task to task and struggling to check anything off?

Reflect on where you get stuck with time management — and use that information to strategize solutions.

If you get caught up in individual tasks, try setting a timer so you’ll know when to move on. If you’re always multitasking, try focusing on just one task for 20-45 minutes and don’t move on to the next task until after that time period (or you’ve finished the task in question). 

If you have a hard time getting started, play around with the Pomodoro Technique: 

🍅 Set a timer for 25 minutes.

🍅 Work on one task during those 25 minutes.

🍅 When the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break. Then start the cycle over again.

‍ The idea is to understand your tendencies (distraction, hyper-focus without completion, etc.) and then find an approach that combats those shortcomings and promotes productivity.

2. List your priorities. Then refine your list.

Is there a certain class you absolutely must get an A in? One you know will be especially hard?

Are you also juggling work and a serious relationship? Going to school while caring for kids?

Think through your priorities — in school and out of school. Make a list for: the semester, this month, and the current week. Now, organize your to-do list with those priorities in mind.

how to do assignments on time

What is a must-do? What could wait until after the semester ends or after you turn in that big paper?

Making priorities on the semester, month, and week levels will help you keep the big picture in mind , while also handling any surprises that arise. One week, your priority may be to research a paper for a history class. Next, you may aim to get ahead in reading for your global literature class, so later this month, when family is in town, you’ll have extra room in your schedule to spend time with them.

Write out your priorities and keep them somewhere easy to reference. As the semester continues, revisit them and adjust your weekly and monthly priorities as needed.

Use your list of priorities to hone in on what’s important — and stop multitasking. Instead of splitting your attention between five different assignments, focus on one at a time , starting with the top item on your priority list.

  • If you’re struggling in your general education astronomy class, but your accounting class (which counts toward your major) has a big exam this week, studying for your exam should be the bigger priority. 
  • If you’re in the middle of reading tomorrow’s assigned text for your British literature class, but you need to pick your kids up from daycare in ten minutes — put the book down and go get your kids.

The progress may feel slow when you’re only doing one thing at a time, but track your time and the tasks you accomplish, and you’ll see almost immediate improvement to your productivity.

3. Create a visual plan.

Are you more of a visual thinker? Do progress bars and illustrations mean more to you than percentages?

Then scrap the traditional to-do list — at least for bigger assignments. Instead, try a more visual approach:

  • Use a bulletin board and index cards or sticky notes to show where you are in the process of researching, writing, and revising a senior thesis. You can use the same columns for all assignments (for example: Research, First Draft, Second Draft, Final) or create different columns/progress steps for each assignment. Every time you complete a step, move that assignment’s card to the next ste p.

how to do assignments on time

  • Create a Gantt chart to map out the different steps and the time needed for each step. Work backwards from your project’s due date to where you are now, giving yourself enough time to complete each task. 

how to do assignments on time

Gantt charts can be especially helpful for collaborative or group projects, where each person has different responsibilities. My junior year, I used a Gantt chart to plan and track progress on a collaborative book project, where I was working with other students to write, design, edit, and print a book over the course of the semester. Gantt charts clearly show how each step is connected to the others, and how one missed deadline has ripple effects on everything else. They also show you, at a glance, exactly how much time you’re working with.

4. Get accountability.

Some people work best alone, but others need study buddies or a group to help them stay on-task. If that’s you, seek out accountability by finding a classmate or group of fellow students to study with. You might be in the same class — or you might all just prefer to camp out in the library with company. 

how to do assignments on time

The key here is that your study buddy or group helps you focus and isn’t a distraction. If your BFF is always interrupting your train of thought to gossip, you might need to study with someone else.

If you’re struggling to find anyone to study with, check with your university’s academic resource center. They may organize study groups, know about existing ones — or offer some advice for how you can effectively study on your own.

5. Find out what time of day you focus best — and reserve that time for homework.

Are you an early bird? A night owl? Does your brain fire up in the late afternoon?

Use this information to your advantage and schedule your study sessions for your brain’s peak time. Block it off on your calendar and set a routine.

  • Early risers might get up with the sun and study quietly at breakfast.
  • Midday minds may grab a quick lunch between classes and tuck away in a corner on campus with their laptops and textbooks.
  • Late-night learners might hole away in the library or residence hall lounge and take copious notes while others socialize or snooze.

Guard your prime time from competing activities. Find a place where you won’t be interrupted — and then go the extra mile and remove technological distractions.

6. Silence your phone, turn off notifications, and stay off social media.

One minute on TikTok easily turns into two hours. A quick scroll on Reddit or Instagram and you’ve completely forgotten what you’re supposed to be doing instead.

But you can make technology work for you.

Start by silencing your phone and turning off notifications from whatever social media apps you have. Then, if needed, use a tool like BlockSite or Freedom to keep yourself away from distracting websites during your study hours.

how to do assignments on time

You don’t have to give up social media altogether, but consider your priorities from earlier — is scoring another follower or like on the ‘Gram really where your energy belongs? Or is your priority to ace your next test?

Embracing digital boundaries will help keep your mind focused on the task at hand.

7. Use other tools to improve your time management.

Setting a timer and installing BlockSite or Freedom on your browser is just the beginning of how you can harness tools to keep yourself focused, on task, and working efficiently.

You can also use:

  • Wordtune for shortening your essay writing and editing time.
  • Wordtune Read for speeding up your research process (and completing reading assignments more efficiently).
  • Evernote (or Google Drive ) for collecting all of your notes in one easy-to-reference place.
  • Toggl Track to track your time (the app even has a Pomodoro timer built-in).
  • Todoist for organizing to-do lists — and keeping lists easily accessible across your devices.

8. Turn procrastination into productivity.

You’ve been sitting at your desk for 30 minutes, chewing your eraser and flipping from window to window on your computer. You’ve made zero progress on researching your expository essay, which is due next week and is your top priority for today. It may be time to let those priorities flex.

If you’re not getting anywhere with your main task, choose a different, easier, or more interesting task from your to-do list.  

Avoid things that will take a lot of time and energy. The goal here is to accomplish something in a few minutes, so you can build some momentum that will carry you into your main task. 

And even if that strategy doesn’t work — you do the starter task and go right back to staring at the screen — you’ve at least checked something off your list.

9. Take physical breaks.

Working for three-hour chunks — whether on schoolwork or at a desk job — is not sustainable. Breaks are necessary for long-term productivity. And the best breaks from brain work are physical.

Instead of spending your break scrolling your phone or opening another window on your laptop:

🚶🏼‍♀️ Walk the hall or wander campus. 

🚽 Use the bathroom.

🦘 Do some pushups, jumping jacks, air squats.

🎶 Put on some music and dance for 10 minutes.

how to do assignments on time

Just about anything physical and tactile will give your brain a much-needed break from mental work, and your eyes a break from the screen or text. When you return to your desk, you’ll find you’re refreshed and more able to focus.

10. Log every completed task.

If you still feel like you’re accomplishing nothing, this little trick can show you how much you’re actually doing. Throughout the day, take note of every little task you complete — like a to-do list, except it’s a done list. 

  • If you organize your to-do list, write that down.
  • If you do some initial research for an assignment, log it.
  • If you read 5 of the assigned 20 pages, make a note.

how to do assignments on time

Every little bit of progress is progress, and sometimes, just seeing that we’ve done a little bit can motivate us to do more. 

Pair this with tip #8 (turn procrastination into productivity) to build that task-oriented momentum, and soon enough, you’ll be writing down the fully completed tasks that have been hanging over your head all week.

Finding What Works for You

The best time management hacks vary from person to person. Some people need a detailed calendar where everything is scheduled. Some people need visuals and task lists to keep them on track. 

What works for someone else may not work for you. That’s okay — and expected!

Play around with these tips, run some experiments on yourself, and find out what does and doesn’t work for you. Then stick with what works and share the word. Who knows? You might just become your classmates’ time management guru.

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Understanding Assignments

What this handout is about.

The first step in any successful college writing venture is reading the assignment. While this sounds like a simple task, it can be a tough one. This handout will help you unravel your assignment and begin to craft an effective response. Much of the following advice will involve translating typical assignment terms and practices into meaningful clues to the type of writing your instructor expects. See our short video for more tips.

Basic beginnings

Regardless of the assignment, department, or instructor, adopting these two habits will serve you well :

  • Read the assignment carefully as soon as you receive it. Do not put this task off—reading the assignment at the beginning will save you time, stress, and problems later. An assignment can look pretty straightforward at first, particularly if the instructor has provided lots of information. That does not mean it will not take time and effort to complete; you may even have to learn a new skill to complete the assignment.
  • Ask the instructor about anything you do not understand. Do not hesitate to approach your instructor. Instructors would prefer to set you straight before you hand the paper in. That’s also when you will find their feedback most useful.

Assignment formats

Many assignments follow a basic format. Assignments often begin with an overview of the topic, include a central verb or verbs that describe the task, and offer some additional suggestions, questions, or prompts to get you started.

An Overview of Some Kind

The instructor might set the stage with some general discussion of the subject of the assignment, introduce the topic, or remind you of something pertinent that you have discussed in class. For example:

“Throughout history, gerbils have played a key role in politics,” or “In the last few weeks of class, we have focused on the evening wear of the housefly …”

The Task of the Assignment

Pay attention; this part tells you what to do when you write the paper. Look for the key verb or verbs in the sentence. Words like analyze, summarize, or compare direct you to think about your topic in a certain way. Also pay attention to words such as how, what, when, where, and why; these words guide your attention toward specific information. (See the section in this handout titled “Key Terms” for more information.)

“Analyze the effect that gerbils had on the Russian Revolution”, or “Suggest an interpretation of housefly undergarments that differs from Darwin’s.”

Additional Material to Think about

Here you will find some questions to use as springboards as you begin to think about the topic. Instructors usually include these questions as suggestions rather than requirements. Do not feel compelled to answer every question unless the instructor asks you to do so. Pay attention to the order of the questions. Sometimes they suggest the thinking process your instructor imagines you will need to follow to begin thinking about the topic.

“You may wish to consider the differing views held by Communist gerbils vs. Monarchist gerbils, or Can there be such a thing as ‘the housefly garment industry’ or is it just a home-based craft?”

These are the instructor’s comments about writing expectations:

“Be concise”, “Write effectively”, or “Argue furiously.”

Technical Details

These instructions usually indicate format rules or guidelines.

“Your paper must be typed in Palatino font on gray paper and must not exceed 600 pages. It is due on the anniversary of Mao Tse-tung’s death.”

The assignment’s parts may not appear in exactly this order, and each part may be very long or really short. Nonetheless, being aware of this standard pattern can help you understand what your instructor wants you to do.

Interpreting the assignment

Ask yourself a few basic questions as you read and jot down the answers on the assignment sheet:

Why did your instructor ask you to do this particular task?

Who is your audience.

  • What kind of evidence do you need to support your ideas?

What kind of writing style is acceptable?

  • What are the absolute rules of the paper?

Try to look at the question from the point of view of the instructor. Recognize that your instructor has a reason for giving you this assignment and for giving it to you at a particular point in the semester. In every assignment, the instructor has a challenge for you. This challenge could be anything from demonstrating an ability to think clearly to demonstrating an ability to use the library. See the assignment not as a vague suggestion of what to do but as an opportunity to show that you can handle the course material as directed. Paper assignments give you more than a topic to discuss—they ask you to do something with the topic. Keep reminding yourself of that. Be careful to avoid the other extreme as well: do not read more into the assignment than what is there.

Of course, your instructor has given you an assignment so that he or she will be able to assess your understanding of the course material and give you an appropriate grade. But there is more to it than that. Your instructor has tried to design a learning experience of some kind. Your instructor wants you to think about something in a particular way for a particular reason. If you read the course description at the beginning of your syllabus, review the assigned readings, and consider the assignment itself, you may begin to see the plan, purpose, or approach to the subject matter that your instructor has created for you. If you still aren’t sure of the assignment’s goals, try asking the instructor. For help with this, see our handout on getting feedback .

Given your instructor’s efforts, it helps to answer the question: What is my purpose in completing this assignment? Is it to gather research from a variety of outside sources and present a coherent picture? Is it to take material I have been learning in class and apply it to a new situation? Is it to prove a point one way or another? Key words from the assignment can help you figure this out. Look for key terms in the form of active verbs that tell you what to do.

Key Terms: Finding Those Active Verbs

Here are some common key words and definitions to help you think about assignment terms:

Information words Ask you to demonstrate what you know about the subject, such as who, what, when, where, how, and why.

  • define —give the subject’s meaning (according to someone or something). Sometimes you have to give more than one view on the subject’s meaning
  • describe —provide details about the subject by answering question words (such as who, what, when, where, how, and why); you might also give details related to the five senses (what you see, hear, feel, taste, and smell)
  • explain —give reasons why or examples of how something happened
  • illustrate —give descriptive examples of the subject and show how each is connected with the subject
  • summarize —briefly list the important ideas you learned about the subject
  • trace —outline how something has changed or developed from an earlier time to its current form
  • research —gather material from outside sources about the subject, often with the implication or requirement that you will analyze what you have found

Relation words Ask you to demonstrate how things are connected.

  • compare —show how two or more things are similar (and, sometimes, different)
  • contrast —show how two or more things are dissimilar
  • apply—use details that you’ve been given to demonstrate how an idea, theory, or concept works in a particular situation
  • cause —show how one event or series of events made something else happen
  • relate —show or describe the connections between things

Interpretation words Ask you to defend ideas of your own about the subject. Do not see these words as requesting opinion alone (unless the assignment specifically says so), but as requiring opinion that is supported by concrete evidence. Remember examples, principles, definitions, or concepts from class or research and use them in your interpretation.

  • assess —summarize your opinion of the subject and measure it against something
  • prove, justify —give reasons or examples to demonstrate how or why something is the truth
  • evaluate, respond —state your opinion of the subject as good, bad, or some combination of the two, with examples and reasons
  • support —give reasons or evidence for something you believe (be sure to state clearly what it is that you believe)
  • synthesize —put two or more things together that have not been put together in class or in your readings before; do not just summarize one and then the other and say that they are similar or different—you must provide a reason for putting them together that runs all the way through the paper
  • analyze —determine how individual parts create or relate to the whole, figure out how something works, what it might mean, or why it is important
  • argue —take a side and defend it with evidence against the other side

More Clues to Your Purpose As you read the assignment, think about what the teacher does in class:

  • What kinds of textbooks or coursepack did your instructor choose for the course—ones that provide background information, explain theories or perspectives, or argue a point of view?
  • In lecture, does your instructor ask your opinion, try to prove her point of view, or use keywords that show up again in the assignment?
  • What kinds of assignments are typical in this discipline? Social science classes often expect more research. Humanities classes thrive on interpretation and analysis.
  • How do the assignments, readings, and lectures work together in the course? Instructors spend time designing courses, sometimes even arguing with their peers about the most effective course materials. Figuring out the overall design to the course will help you understand what each assignment is meant to achieve.

Now, what about your reader? Most undergraduates think of their audience as the instructor. True, your instructor is a good person to keep in mind as you write. But for the purposes of a good paper, think of your audience as someone like your roommate: smart enough to understand a clear, logical argument, but not someone who already knows exactly what is going on in your particular paper. Remember, even if the instructor knows everything there is to know about your paper topic, he or she still has to read your paper and assess your understanding. In other words, teach the material to your reader.

Aiming a paper at your audience happens in two ways: you make decisions about the tone and the level of information you want to convey.

  • Tone means the “voice” of your paper. Should you be chatty, formal, or objective? Usually you will find some happy medium—you do not want to alienate your reader by sounding condescending or superior, but you do not want to, um, like, totally wig on the man, you know? Eschew ostentatious erudition: some students think the way to sound academic is to use big words. Be careful—you can sound ridiculous, especially if you use the wrong big words.
  • The level of information you use depends on who you think your audience is. If you imagine your audience as your instructor and she already knows everything you have to say, you may find yourself leaving out key information that can cause your argument to be unconvincing and illogical. But you do not have to explain every single word or issue. If you are telling your roommate what happened on your favorite science fiction TV show last night, you do not say, “First a dark-haired white man of average height, wearing a suit and carrying a flashlight, walked into the room. Then a purple alien with fifteen arms and at least three eyes turned around. Then the man smiled slightly. In the background, you could hear a clock ticking. The room was fairly dark and had at least two windows that I saw.” You also do not say, “This guy found some aliens. The end.” Find some balance of useful details that support your main point.

You’ll find a much more detailed discussion of these concepts in our handout on audience .

The Grim Truth

With a few exceptions (including some lab and ethnography reports), you are probably being asked to make an argument. You must convince your audience. It is easy to forget this aim when you are researching and writing; as you become involved in your subject matter, you may become enmeshed in the details and focus on learning or simply telling the information you have found. You need to do more than just repeat what you have read. Your writing should have a point, and you should be able to say it in a sentence. Sometimes instructors call this sentence a “thesis” or a “claim.”

So, if your instructor tells you to write about some aspect of oral hygiene, you do not want to just list: “First, you brush your teeth with a soft brush and some peanut butter. Then, you floss with unwaxed, bologna-flavored string. Finally, gargle with bourbon.” Instead, you could say, “Of all the oral cleaning methods, sandblasting removes the most plaque. Therefore it should be recommended by the American Dental Association.” Or, “From an aesthetic perspective, moldy teeth can be quite charming. However, their joys are short-lived.”

Convincing the reader of your argument is the goal of academic writing. It doesn’t have to say “argument” anywhere in the assignment for you to need one. Look at the assignment and think about what kind of argument you could make about it instead of just seeing it as a checklist of information you have to present. For help with understanding the role of argument in academic writing, see our handout on argument .

What kind of evidence do you need?

There are many kinds of evidence, and what type of evidence will work for your assignment can depend on several factors–the discipline, the parameters of the assignment, and your instructor’s preference. Should you use statistics? Historical examples? Do you need to conduct your own experiment? Can you rely on personal experience? See our handout on evidence for suggestions on how to use evidence appropriately.

Make sure you are clear about this part of the assignment, because your use of evidence will be crucial in writing a successful paper. You are not just learning how to argue; you are learning how to argue with specific types of materials and ideas. Ask your instructor what counts as acceptable evidence. You can also ask a librarian for help. No matter what kind of evidence you use, be sure to cite it correctly—see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial .

You cannot always tell from the assignment just what sort of writing style your instructor expects. The instructor may be really laid back in class but still expect you to sound formal in writing. Or the instructor may be fairly formal in class and ask you to write a reflection paper where you need to use “I” and speak from your own experience.

Try to avoid false associations of a particular field with a style (“art historians like wacky creativity,” or “political scientists are boring and just give facts”) and look instead to the types of readings you have been given in class. No one expects you to write like Plato—just use the readings as a guide for what is standard or preferable to your instructor. When in doubt, ask your instructor about the level of formality she or he expects.

No matter what field you are writing for or what facts you are including, if you do not write so that your reader can understand your main idea, you have wasted your time. So make clarity your main goal. For specific help with style, see our handout on style .

Technical details about the assignment

The technical information you are given in an assignment always seems like the easy part. This section can actually give you lots of little hints about approaching the task. Find out if elements such as page length and citation format (see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial ) are negotiable. Some professors do not have strong preferences as long as you are consistent and fully answer the assignment. Some professors are very specific and will deduct big points for deviations.

Usually, the page length tells you something important: The instructor thinks the size of the paper is appropriate to the assignment’s parameters. In plain English, your instructor is telling you how many pages it should take for you to answer the question as fully as you are expected to. So if an assignment is two pages long, you cannot pad your paper with examples or reword your main idea several times. Hit your one point early, defend it with the clearest example, and finish quickly. If an assignment is ten pages long, you can be more complex in your main points and examples—and if you can only produce five pages for that assignment, you need to see someone for help—as soon as possible.

Tricks that don’t work

Your instructors are not fooled when you:

  • spend more time on the cover page than the essay —graphics, cool binders, and cute titles are no replacement for a well-written paper.
  • use huge fonts, wide margins, or extra spacing to pad the page length —these tricks are immediately obvious to the eye. Most instructors use the same word processor you do. They know what’s possible. Such tactics are especially damning when the instructor has a stack of 60 papers to grade and yours is the only one that low-flying airplane pilots could read.
  • use a paper from another class that covered “sort of similar” material . Again, the instructor has a particular task for you to fulfill in the assignment that usually relates to course material and lectures. Your other paper may not cover this material, and turning in the same paper for more than one course may constitute an Honor Code violation . Ask the instructor—it can’t hurt.
  • get all wacky and “creative” before you answer the question . Showing that you are able to think beyond the boundaries of a simple assignment can be good, but you must do what the assignment calls for first. Again, check with your instructor. A humorous tone can be refreshing for someone grading a stack of papers, but it will not get you a good grade if you have not fulfilled the task.

Critical reading of assignments leads to skills in other types of reading and writing. If you get good at figuring out what the real goals of assignments are, you are going to be better at understanding the goals of all of your classes and fields of study.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Spend less time on homework

How many times have you found yourself still staring at your textbook around midnight (or later!) even when you started your homework hours earlier? Those lost hours could be explained by Parkinson’s Law, which states, “Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.” In other words, if you give yourself all night to memorize those geometry formulas for your quiz tomorrow, you’ll inevitably find that a 30 minute task has somehow filled your entire evening.

We know that you have more homework than ever. But even with lots and lots to do, a few tweaks to your study routine could help you spend less time getting more accomplished. Here are 8 steps to make Parkinson’s Law work to your advantage:

1. Make a list

This should be a list of everything that has to be done that evening. And we mean, everything—from re-reading notes from this morning’s history class to quizzing yourself on Spanish vocabulary.

2. Estimate the time needed for each item on your list

You can be a little ruthless here. However long you think a task will take, try shaving off 5 or 10 minutes. But, be realistic. You won’t magically become a speed reader.

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3. Gather all your gear

Collect EVERYTHING you will need for the homework you are working on (like your laptop for writing assignments and pencils for problem sets). Getting up for supplies takes you off course and makes it that much harder to get back to your homework.

The constant blings and beeps from your devices can make it impossible to focus on what you are working on. Switch off or silence your phones and tablets, or leave them in another room until it’s time to take a tech break.

Read More: How to Calculate Your GPA

5. Time yourself

Noting how much time something actually takes will help you estimate better and plan your next study session.

6. Stay on task

If you’re fact checking online, it can be so easy to surf on over to a completely unrelated site. A better strategy is to note what information you need to find online, and do it all at once at the end of the study session.

7. Take plenty of breaks

Most of us need a break between subjects or to break up long stretches of studying. Active breaks are a great way to keep your energy up. Tech breaks can be an awesome way to combat the fear of missing out that might strike while you are buried in your work, but they also tend to stretch much longer than originally intended. Stick to a break schedule of 10 minutes or so.

8. Reward yourself! 

Finish early? If you had allocated 30 minutes for reading a biology chapter and it only took 20, you can apply those extra 10 minutes to a short break—or just move on to your next task. If you stay on track, you might breeze through your work quickly enough to catch up on some Netflix.

Our best piece of advice? Keep at it. The more you use this system, the easier it will become. You’ll be surprised by how much time you can shave off homework just by focusing and committing to a distraction-free study plan.

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Time on Task in Online Courses

Understanding how time “works” in online teaching and course design is often a challenge for online instructors, especially those new to online education. Four distinct yet related questions can express the challenge:

  • How do I determine the total time on task (per week and for the entire course) expected of students in my online course?
  • How can I calculate how much time students will actually need to complete the course assignments, assessments, and other tasks?
  • What should students be doing with their time to effectively and efficiently accomplish the goals and learning outcomes for my online course?
  • What should I be doing with my time as an online instructor? 

Let us address each of these questions in turn.

Determining Time on Task in Online Education

The academic credit model, developed on the Carnegie unit over 100 years ago, is based on classroom hours for students and corresponding contact hours for faculty. Online courses appear not to fit this model, as by definition they do not have face-to-face classroom/seat time. The consensus within U.S. higher education is that one college credit requires 15 hours of classroom time plus additional homework time for students (typically two or three hours per hour of classroom time). How can this model accommodate courses that have no seat time?

The answer to this question is to de-emphasize the course mode or "delivery" method (online, F2F, blended, hybrid, HyFlex, etc.) and focus instead on total time on task (by course and/or week). This is the approach taken by the New York State Education Department, Office of College and University Evaluation, in its current policies for distance/online learning. The relevant section is worth quoting in full:

Time on task is the total learning time spent by a student in a college course, including instructional time as well as time spent studying and completing course assignments (e.g., reading, research, writing, individual and group projects.) Regardless of the delivery method or the particular learning activities employed, the amount of learning time in any college course should meet the guideline of the Carnegie unit, a total of 45 hours for one semester credit (in conventional classroom education this breaks down into 15 hours of instruction plus 30 hours of student work/study out of class.) "Instruction" is provided differently in online courses than in classroom-based courses. Despite the difference in methodology and activities, however, the total "learning time" online can usually be counted. Rather than try to distinguish between "in-class" and "outside-class" time for students, the faculty member developing and/or teaching the online course should calculate how much time a student doing satisfactory work would take to complete the work of the course, including: Reading course presentations/ "lectures" Reading other materials Participation in online discussions Doing research Writing papers or other assignments Completing all other assignments (e.g. projects) The total time spent on these tasks should be roughly equal to that spent on comparable tasks in a classroom-based course. Time spent downloading or uploading documents, troubleshooting technical problems, or in chat rooms (unless on course assignments such as group projects) should not be counted. In determining the time on task for an online course, useful information include: The course objectives and expected learning outcomes The list of topics in the course outline or syllabus; the textbooks, additional readings, and related education materials (such as software) required Statements in course materials informing students of the time and/or effort they are expected to devote to the course or individual parts of it A listing of the pedagogical tools to be used in the online course, how each will be used, and the expectations for participation (e.g., in an online discussion, how many substantive postings will be required of a student for each week or unit?) Theoretically, one should be able to measure any course, regardless of delivery method, by the description of content covered. However, this is difficult for anyone other than the course developer or instructor to determine accurately, since the same statement of content (in a course outline or syllabus) can represent many different levels of breadth and depth in the treatment of that content, and require widely varying amounts of time.

In sum, regardless of course mode or type of learning activities assigned, the total amount of student time on task for any RIT course (on-campus, online, independent study, capstone, etc.) should total 45 hours per credit/contact hour. To get the total number of time-on-task hours, multiply 45 times the number of credits. For a 3-credit course, for instance, that works out to 135 hours total. In practical terms, the 45 hours per credit is a minimum recommendation, as many programs at RIT and elsewhere expect more time on task per credit hour.

The hours per week vary depending upon the length (in weeks) of the course. See Figure 1 below for a breakdown of the time on task for RIT’s 3-credit course formats. To get the time-on-task hours per week, divide the total hours per course by the number of weeks. For a 1-week online course, for example, the instructor and/or course developer knows that students can expect to spend a minimum of 9 hours per week on course work.

Calculating the Time Needed To Complete Specific Online Tasks

The above guidelines from the New York State Education Department address how to determine not only total time on task, but also the time needed to complete specific learning tasks. For a variety of factors, it is far more challenging to determine the latter than the former. One of the biggest factors, of course, is student variability in ability, experience, and motivation.  Nonetheless, the higher education literature does offer at least four viable methods for calculating completion times for learning tasks in any course mode:

  • The experiential method. The least studied, but probably the most common method. As McDaniel (2011) wrote, “Faculty can use their experience to estimate the time and effort needed by the typical student to engage successfully in each of the learning activities in a particular field, course, and program…Using these estimates, the designers of courses determine if students have the requisite time to meet course expectations.”
  • The proxy method. Similar to the experiential method, but with a formula. Here the instructor and/or course designer first calculates how much time it takes them to complete a given task, and this figure is then multiplied by some factor. As Carnegie Mellon University (2013) explains to their faculty, “To calculate how long it will take students to read an article or complete an assignment, you can estimate that your students will take three to four times longer to read than it takes you.”
  • The survey method. Involves surveying students after they have completed a given task. Carnegie Mellon University (2013) advises faculty “to ask students how long it took them to do various assignments, and use this information in future course planning.”
  • The “workload estimator” tool . Built by an award-winning team originally at Rice University, but now at the Wake Forest University’s Center for Teaching Excellence (Wake Forest University, 2021), instructors at any university can use this online tool to calculate “completion times” for Reading, Writing, and Exams along a continuum of variables, including page density, number of new concepts, difficulty, and purpose.   

Learning Time for Students in Online Courses

Having addressed the determination of time on task, and the calculation of completion times for learning tasks, let us move on to the matter of what students can and should be doing with their time to effectively and efficiently accomplish the goals and learning outcomes for their online courses.

Despite some significant differences in communication technologies and pedagogical methods, online courses are similar to on-campus courses in many important respects. As we have seen, total time on task is the same for online and on-campus courses of equal lengths. Additionally, an online course will have the identical goals and learning outcomes as its on-campus counterpart. The online course must be equal in content and challenge as the on-campus course (Vai & Sosulski, 2011).

How students spend their time in on-campus and online courses is directly related to the assignments, assessments, and other tasks given by instructors. In the classroom portion of on-campus courses , students typically do some of the following activities:

  • Listen to and take notes on lectures, presentations, and multimedia.
  • Participate in whole-class and small-group discussions with other students and the instructor.
  • Engage in experiential learning activities, such as labs, studios, field trips, and simulations.
  • Practice developing new competencies.
  • Take quizzes or exams.
  • Write short in-class essays.

Students typically do the following as outside-class activities in on-campus courses :

  • Read articles and books.
  • Review class notes.
  • Solve homework problems.
  • Conduct and write-up research.
  • Complete projects and other major assignments.
  • Prepare classroom presentations.
  • Meet with instructor during their office hours.

The same categories of learning tasks or activities exist in both course modes, though online instructors usually modify the on-campus activities to make best use of online communication technologies and pedagogies. It should be noted that on-campus instructors are increasing incorporating online learning tools and methods into their courses. Here are several representative samples of on-campus learning activities that have been modified for the online learning environment:

  • An asynchronous video lecture may be an instructor’s commentary on the readings, with some links to illustrative images, media, or text.
  • Small-group work may be a quick breakout in a synchronous web meeting or an extended discussion in the asynchronous discussion.
  • Experiential learning activities can be virtual labs, in-person interviews, activities within the community, and actual or virtual field trips.
  • Either the synchronous web meeting or the whole-class asynchronous discussion area will allow the instructor to expand upon the lecture. It also facilitates post-lecture Q & A and general student interaction.

As these samples suggest, online teaching and design (especially in asynchronous formats) incorporates and, at the same time, changes the discrete on-campus activities. The online lecture is both lecture and reading. Individual time and effort spent in small-group work is visible and persistent (unlike face-to-face group work) and consists of research, reading, and writing. Experiential learning activities include student reports back to the instructor and/or the entire class. Whole-class online discussion is reading, writing, and (ideally) instructor-to-student and peer-to-peer feedback/review.

Example Tasks and Completion Times for One Week of an Online Course

Here is an example of one week (9 hours) of learning tasks or activities and respective completion times for a 15-week, 3-credit course:

  • Three, 15-minute chunked lectures (text or video) that cover one course topic each; links to illustrative web resources are included in each mini-lecture (1 hour).
  • Assume that students spend additional time to review these lectures and explore the links to web resources (1/2 hour).
  • Assign readings (1 hour).
  • Require students to complete a ten-item online quiz to check their understanding of key terms and concepts from the readings and lectures (1 hour).
  • Assign a discussion topic on a contemporary issue with a triple-layer response requirement (i.e., original post, responses to other classmates’ posts, responses to responses) (2 hours).
  • Stipulate that small groups meet in their web-conferencing “room” and/or asynchronous discussion area to work on an iterative deliverable for their group project; for example, discussing and producing an outline of their final report (1 and 1/2 hour).
  • Work on final research paper/project and presentation, which are due at the end of the course (2 hours).  

Instructional Time for Faculty in Online Courses

The following (Vai & Sosulski, 2011) is most likely how an instructor spends their time in an asynchronous online course, assuming they are both designing and teaching or “delivering” the course:

  • Designing the course and creating/curating the course materials . This is typically accomplished before the course begins, and therefore not counted in calculating online teaching time.
  • Posting new information after the course has been fully designed and is “live.” In response to contemporary events and student needs/interests, the instructor is putting up announcements with just-in-time videos, calling attention to relevant material outside the course shell, posting commentaries on the discussions and other activities in the course, etc., as needed.
  • Checking in on student interactions, participation, and questions about the course. This most typically happens in a dedicated discussion area (i.e., a Q & A or Ask the Instructor discussion forum), but also in email and in other ways and “places” online, such as blogs, wikis, web-conferencing meetings, etc.
  • Giving feedback on assignments.  Activities such as providing written comments (along with grades) when using the grade book, and giving more extensive written feedback on student worked that is posted to the assignment tool in the course.
  • Class management . Includes activities such as sending out reminders of assignments that are due, grouping/pairing of students for team projects, and introducing new assignments and requirements.

Carnegie Mellon University, 2013. Solve a teaching problem: Assign a reasonable amount of work . Retrieved Dec. 2, 2021.

McDaniel, E. A. (2011). Level of student effort should replace contact time in course design. Journal of Information Technology Education , 10(10).

Vai, M. & Sosulski, K. (2011). Essentials of online course design: A standards-based guide . New York and London: Routledge.

Wake Forest University, 2021. Workload estimator 2.0 . Retrieved Dec. 2, 2021.

how to do assignments on time

How to Stay Ahead of Deadlines on Your Academic Assignments

how to do assignments on time

Completing your assignments and homework on time is instrumental to your final grades at school, because it shows that you can observe time and respect deadlines, and, as a student, it is important that you are able to complete your tasks on time.

However, sometimes it might be hard to keep time or submit your assignments on time. This article will give you tips that you can use to enable you stay on time when submitting your assignments .

1. Start Immediately

Immediately after you receive the assignment, start working on it. Starting immediately will help you stay focused throughout the assignment.

Starting the assignment early will help you eliminate the procrastinating that often leads to late submissions of assignments.

2. Plan Effectively

To effectively do your homework and assignments, you need to plan your time and work well. Make a list of all the things you need to do, because having a plan enables you to plan your time effectively. Also, make sure to set aside the amount of time you would want to spend on each of your assignment each day.

A good plan will enable you beat the deadline and submit your work on time. When planning how to handle the assignments, start with the most difficult ones or the most urgent ones. However, you need to be realistic about how you plan out your time.

3. Have a Quiet Study Area

Create a study area that is quiet and free from all the distractions.

Keep away anything that might draw your attention away from the work: switch off and keep the phones or tablets away; lock the door so that no one will be coming or leaving the room.

If social media is likely to distract you, block the sites using blocking applications.

4. Get Help

You and your classmates can help each other complete assignments by working as a group. It helps you handle the tough areas of the assignment and complete it on time. Additionally, you can get help from your tutors on the challenging parts of the assignment.

If your assignment is due soon and you cannot beat the deadline, seek help. You can hire an essay writing service to help you complete and submit your assignments on time. However, try to work on your academic assignments independently.

5. Avoid Multitasking

Because it is easier to do one assignment at a time, it is important to start by planning your work well. Handling more than one assignment will lower your concentration and productivity. You will spend more time on the assignment than you had anticipated.

6. Remember to Take Breaks

Take breaks in between the assignments to reenergize yourself. Working continuously for a long time causes brain fatigue, which lowers your concentration and affects the quality of your work. Reward yourself during these breaks.

The key to completing your assignments early and submitting on time is knowing the importance of the assignment in your studies. Take the assignments seriously, plan well and give them your best. You will not have to worry about missing the submission deadline.

Daniel Reed

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No surprise here. NASCAR moved the Daytona 500 from Sunday to 4 p.m. Monday due to rain in Daytona Beach .

It will now be part of a doubleheader with the Xfinity Series after the United Rentals 300 was pushed from Saturday to Monday. The Daytona Xfinity race got pushed back again from a morning start to 9 p.m.

Rain has caused issues all weekend at Daytona International Speedway — from Cup Series qualifying to the ARCA 200 and pretty much everything else. Entering Sunday, there was a 90% chance of rain throughout the day. That came true.

Such is life in Florida.

So while drivers and fans alike figure out how to spend the delay, make sure you’re prepared. Here is how to watch the rescheduled Great American Race .

Daytona 500 updates: Follow for the latest from the speedway as the sun is out for race day

DAYTONA 500: Does NASCAR refund tickets for rain?

When is the 2024 Daytona 500 ?

  • When: 4:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19
  • Where: Daytona International Speedway

Coverage of the 2024 Daytona 500 is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. with the green flag set to drop about 4:30 p.m.

How can I watch the 2024 Daytona 500?

  • Streaming: FoxSports.com and Fox Sports app (TV provider log-in required), fuboTV (7-day free trial ), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV

The Daytona 500 will air on Fox. Mike Joy will be the main announcer, with Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick serving as analysts from the booth, Larry McReynolds and Michael Waltrip contributing and Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Josh Sims reporting from pit road.

Where can I listen to the 2024 Daytona 500?

Radio: MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

DAYTONA 500: Will another underdog win? 5 longshots to pick

When is the Daytona Xfinity race?

  • When: 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19

How can I watch the Daytona Xfinity race?

  • TV: FS1 (Channel 219 on DirecTV, Channel 150 on Dish)
  • Streaming: FoxSports.com and Fox Sports app (TV provider log-in required), fuboTV (7-day free trial), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial)

Where can I listen to the United Rentals 300?

  • Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
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K-12 students learned a lot last year, but they're still missing too much school

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Cory Turner

Headshot of Sequoia Carrillo

Sequoia Carrillo

how to do assignments on time

From 2022-2023, chronic absenteeism declined in 33 of the 39 states AEI looked at. But it was still a persistent problem: In a handful of places, including Nevada, Washington, D.C., Michigan, New Mexico and Oregon, roughly 1 in 3 students – or more – were chronically absent. LA Johnson/NPR hide caption

From 2022-2023, chronic absenteeism declined in 33 of the 39 states AEI looked at. But it was still a persistent problem: In a handful of places, including Nevada, Washington, D.C., Michigan, New Mexico and Oregon, roughly 1 in 3 students – or more – were chronically absent.

It's going to take aggressive interventions to repair the pandemic's destructive impact on kids' schooling.

That's the takeaway of two big new studies that look at how America's K-12 students are doing. There's some good news in this new research, to be sure – but there's still a lot of work to do on both student achievement and absenteeism. Here's what to know:

1. Students are starting to make up for missed learning

From spring 2022 to spring 2023, students made important learning gains, making up for about one-third of the learning they had missed in math and a quarter of the learning they had missed in reading during the pandemic.

That's according to the newly updated Education Recovery Scorecard , a co-production of Harvard University's Center for Education Policy Research and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University.

6 things we've learned about how the pandemic disrupted learning

6 things we've learned about how the pandemic disrupted learning

The report says, "Students learned 117 percent in math and 108 percent in reading of what they would typically have learned in a pre-pandemic school year."

In an interview with NPR's All Things Considered , Stanford professor Sean Reardon said that's surprisingly good news: "A third or a quarter might not sound like a lot, but you have to realize the losses from 2019 to 2022 were historically large."

When the same team of researchers did a similar review last year, they found that, by spring of 2022, the average third- through eighth-grader had missed half a grade level in math and a third of a grade level in reading. So, the fact that students are now making up ground is a good sign.

These results do come with a few caveats, including that the researchers were only able to review data and draw their conclusions from 30 states this year.

2. Despite that progress, very few states are back to pre-pandemic learning levels

The Harvard and Stanford study of student learning includes one sobering sentence: "Alabama is the only state where average student achievement exceeds pre-pandemic levels in math." And average achievement in reading has surpassed pre-pandemic levels in just three of the states they studied: Illinois, Louisiana and Mississippi. Every other state for which they had data has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels in math and reading.

"Many schools made strong gains last year, but most districts are still working hard just to reach pre-pandemic achievement levels," said Harvard's Thomas Kane, one of the learning study's co-authors.

3. Chronic absenteeism also improved in many places ... slightly

The rate of chronic absenteeism – the percentage of students who miss 10% or more of a school year – declined from 2022 to 2023. That's according to research by Nat Malkus at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He found chronic absenteeism declined in 33 of the 39 states he studied.

Yes, "the differences were relatively small," Malkus writes, but it's improvement nonetheless: "the average chronic absenteeism rate across these states in 2023 was 26 percent, down from 28 percent for the same 39 states in 2022."

Glass half-full: Things aren't getting worse.

4. But, again, chronic absenteeism is still high

Malkus found chronic absenteeism was at 26% in 2023. Before the pandemic, in 2019, those same states reported a rate of 15%. That adds some painful context to the "good news" two-point decline in absenteeism from 2022 to 2023. Sure, it's down, but it's still so much higher than it was and should be.

Think of it this way: In 2023, roughly 1 student out of 4 was still chronically absent across the school year.

In a handful of places, including Nevada, Washington, D.C., Michigan, New Mexico and Oregon, roughly 1 in 3 students – or more – were chronically absent. That's a crisis.

Research shows a strong connection between absenteeism and all kinds of negative consequences for students, including an increased likelihood of dropping out of school.

Chronic absenteeism also hurts the students who don't miss school. That's because, as the learning study's authors point out, when absent students return, they require extra attention and "make it hard for teachers to keep the whole class moving."

5. Poverty matters (as always)

Both the learning and the chronic absenteeism studies capture the headwinds that constantly buffet children in poverty.

"No one wants poor children to foot the bill for the pandemic," said Harvard's Kane, "but that is the path that most states are on."

On learning: Reardon told NPR "the pandemic really exacerbated inequality between students in high-poverty and low-poverty districts and students of different racial and ethnic backgrounds."

In 2023, students' academic recovery was relatively strong across groups, which is good – but it means "the inequality that was widened during the pandemic hasn't gotten smaller, and in some places it's actually gotten larger," Reardon told NPR.

In fact, the report says, "in most states, achievement gaps between rich and poor districts are even wider now than they were before the pandemic." The learning study singles out Massachusetts and Michigan as the states where those gaps in math and reading achievement widened the most between poor and non-poor students.

Similarly, Malkus, at AEI, found that, between 2019 and 2022, rates of chronic absenteeism rose much more in high-poverty districts (up from 20% to 37%) than in low-poverty districts (up from 12% to 23%).

"Chronic absenteeism has increased the most for disadvantaged students," Malkus writes, "those who also experienced the greatest learning losses during the pandemic and can least afford the harms that come with chronic absenteeism."

6. Families must play an important role in learning recovery

Both studies acknowledge that families must play an important role in helping students – and schools – find a healthy, post-pandemic normal. The problem is, surveys show parents and guardians often underestimate the pandemic's toll on their children's learning . "Parents cannot advocate effectively for their children's future if they are misinformed," says the learning study.

To combat this, the learning researchers propose that districts be required to inform parents if their child is below grade-level in math or English. Those parents could then enroll their students in summer learning, tutoring and after-school programs, all of which have benefitted from federal COVID relief dollars. That funding is set to expire this fall, and some of these learning recovery opportunities may dry up, so the clock is ticking.

7. There's a "culture problem" around chronic absenteeism

Reducing chronic absenteeism, Malkus says, will also depend on families.

"This is a culture problem," Malkus tells NPR. "And in schools and in communities, culture eats policy for breakfast every day."

By "culture problem," Malkus is talking about how families perceive the importance of daily attendance relative to other challenges in their lives. He says some parents seem more inclined now to let their students miss school for various reasons, perhaps not realizing the links between absenteeism and negative, downstream consequences.

"Look, the patterns and routines of going to school were disrupted and to some degree eroded during the pandemic," Malkus says. "And I don't think we've had a decisive turn back that we need to have, to turn this kind of behavior around, and it's going to stay with students until that culture changes."

How do you do that? Malkus points to some low-cost options — like texting or email campaigns to increase parental involvement and encourage kids to get back in school – but says these, alone, aren't "up to the scale of what we're facing now."

Higher-cost options for schools to consider could include door-knocking campaigns, sending staff on student home-visits and requiring that families of chronically absent students meet in-person with school staff.

The learning study goes one step further: "Elected officials, employers, and community leaders should launch public awareness campaigns and other initiatives to lower student absenteeism." Because, after all, students can't make up for the learning they missed during the pandemic if they don't consistently attend school now.

What both of these studies make clear is there is no one solution that will solve these problems, and success will require further investment, aggressive intervention and patience.

Malkus says, even the high-cost, high-return options will likely only drive down chronic absenteeism by about four percentage points. A big win, he says, "but four percentage points against 26% isn't going to get us where we need to go."

Edited by: Nicole Cohen Visual design and development by: LA Johnson and Aly Hurt

GameRant

Fortnite: How to Complete the Time Travel into the Future Slowly Quest

Fortnite is hosting a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles event until February 27. During this time, players have the opportunity to complete a mini, TMNT -inspired Battle Pass. Eight quests are released every three days until the end of the event. As players complete these quests, the Splinter Assignment Quests, they'll unlock Ooze, which is the currency that's used to claim rewards in the Cowabunga event pass.

All Fortnite Sewer Pipes and How to Travel Through Them

Phase Three of the Splinter Assignment Quests, the Cowabunga Clash phase, requires players to time travel into the future slowly. It is certainly an odd request, but this guide will show fans how to complete the quest so they can earn their well-deserved Ooze and unlock some TMNT rewards.

Splinter Assignment Quests: Cowabunga Clash

There is no other way to earn Ooze besides completing TMNT quests in Fortnite . Cowabunga Clash, the third phase of the Splinter Assignment Quests , was released on February 15, about halfway through the event. Many players were happy when eight additional quests became available, allowing them to unlock more Cowabunga event pass rewards at last. Here are the quests that were released and how much Ooze players can earn from them:

  • Reach the Top 25 players remaining (1): 400 Ooze
  • Visit different named locations in a single match (3): 300 Ooze
  • Time travel into the future... slowly (300): 300 Ooze
  • Search Weapon Cases (3): 400 Ooze
  • Assist in eliminating Society henchmen (10): 300 Ooze
  • Crouch, jump, and mantle (200): 300 Ooze
  • Take or eat pizza slices from pizza boxes with your friends (8): 300 Ooze
  • Damage opponents while airborne (100): 400 Ooze

How to Easily Time Travel into the Future Slowly

There is no doubt that the quest requiring players to time travel into the future is worded strangely, but it (sort of) makes sense. As time passes, you are leaving the present and getting farther into the future. To time travel into the future slowly in Fortnite , players simply have to play the game and let the seconds go by until they reach 300, and they can finally complete the quest .

In order to finish this Cowabunga Clash Quest, gamers will need to play a total of 300 seconds of Fortnite Battle Royale, which is exactly five minutes . However, quest progression won't start until players have left the boot camp island and entered the Battle Bus.

To quickly get through this quest without being eliminated, players should stay on the Battle Bus until it reaches the end of its route and forces them off . Then, they should open their glider and stay in the air as long as they can - this makes it easier for players to stay alive longer.

Fortnite is a massively popular game that has several modes, the most famous of which is the online battle royale mode. In this mode, players collect items, build structures, and battle it out to be the ultimate victor.

Platform(s) Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch, PS5, PC, iOS, Android, Mobile, Xbox One

Released July 25, 2017

Developer(s) Epic Games

Genre(s) Survival, Battle Royale

Multiplayer Online Multiplayer

Fortnite: How to Complete the Time Travel into the Future Slowly Quest

CEO excellence: How do leaders assess their own performance?

The CEO role is one of the most challenging and demanding positions in any organization, particularly in the current economic climate. It is also one of the most important. Our research indicates that as much as 45 percent of a company’s performance can be attributed to the CEO’s influence. 1 “ McKinsey Center for CEO Excellence ,” McKinsey, accessed December 14, 2023.

But how are CEOs actually performing? What issues are they struggling with, and what can be done to help them perform at their highest level? These are some of the questions that the McKinsey Center for CEO Excellence (MCCE) seeks to answer. A new addition to the tool kit is our proprietary CEO Excellence Assessment Tool (CEAT), a compact self-assessment centered on the six dimensions of leadership described in the book CEO Excellence , written by McKinsey senior partners Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra (see sidebar, “About CEO Excellence , MCCE, and the CEO Excellence Assessment Tool”). 2 “ CEO Excellence ,” McKinsey, accessed December 18, 2023. This initial article explores preliminary insights emerging from data gathered over the past year, 3 The data included in this article were collected from May 2022 to November 2023. which represent more than 100 CEOs across 17 major industries. The majority of participants represent companies headquartered in Asia, 4 Countries in the sample used in this article include China, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. with subsequent waves expected from other global regions as the tool is scaled.

About CEO Excellence , the McKinsey Center for CEO Excellence, and the CEO Excellence Assessment Tool

The McKinsey Center for CEO Excellence (MCCE) is McKinsey’s dedicated offering focused on CEO development. The flagship MCCE journey involves a unique nine-month CEO Excellence program, tailored to help CEOs elevate their performance and reach their full potential. Each MCCE cohort brings together an exclusive group of CEO peers, carefully curated from diverse industries and regions, and offers an unparalleled opportunity for CEOs to learn from experienced senior CEOs, engage with like-minded CEO peers, and obtain feedback on their leadership style and behaviors.

As part of the CEO Excellence program, we deploy our proprietary CEO Excellence Assessment Tool (CEAT), which is a self-assessment survey designed to capture a CEO’s aspirations and behaviors. The questions in the tool are based on the six dimensions described in the book CEO Excellence , written by McKinsey senior partners Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra. The research underpinning the book is based on more than 20 years’ worth of data on 7,800 CEOs from 3,500 public companies across 70 countries and 24 industries. 1 “ CEO Excellence ,” McKinsey, accessed December 18, 2023.

These six dimensions—setting the direction, engaging with the board, aligning the organization, mobilizing through leaders, connecting with stakeholders, and managing personal effectiveness—are further broken down into 18 behaviors (exhibit).

The CEAT is an online survey that asks CEOs to assess their current performance against gold standard behaviors in each category. The tool offers a quick and simple way for CEOs to get a snapshot of their current strengths and challenges. By taking the survey at regular intervals, leaders can also gain insights into their personal CEO journeys, including areas in which they are making progress and those for which they may need to be more intentional in seeking support. The CEAT also enables McKinsey to build a rich global database of anonymized, self-reported CEO performance from which we will be able to develop industry- and country-specific insights, benchmarks, and solutions.

Even at this preliminary stage, the data set is already yielding rich—and often counterintuitive—insights into the challenges and uncertainties faced by Asian CEOs. We find, for example, that CEOs generally feel confident about their ability to manage their own personal effectiveness but can struggle to manage the board and engage with key stakeholders, although high-quality training opportunities can improve self-assessed performance significantly, especially for early-tenure CEOs. Interestingly, women CEOs appear to be more confident than their male peers in their performance across many key practices, though the number of women in our current sample is small.

The insights in this article are just the beginning. Over the next few years, our vision is that the CEAT will collect data from hundreds or even thousands of CEOs, enabling richer insights and further granularity across geographies and industries. We will complement the findings of the tool with insights on opportunities, challenges, and best practices gleaned from our interactions with CEOs as part of the McKinsey CEO Excellence Program. While the CEO role is undeniably tough, encouraging open conversations about why this is—and what can be done to address some of these issues—can help to ensure that the role is also one of the highlights of any leader’s career.

The most common CEO challenges are engaging the board, allocating resources, and connecting with stakeholders

No two CEOs are alike, and each has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses. Among the 18 behaviors that denote CEO excellence across dimensions, however, provisional results from the CEAT indicate that some generally come more naturally to CEOs than others.

For example, CEOs tend to be least confident in their ability to tap into the wisdom of their board members (average score of 3.2 out of 5.0). They are less comfortable to objectively allocate resources as an outsider would, especially when it comes to removing or shutting down initiatives (average score of 3.3 out of 5.0); and they are tentative in their judgment to prioritize and develop engagement strategies for their priority stakeholders (average score of 3.4 out of 5.0). CEOs are generally most confident in their ability to stay true to their convictions and values, practice gratitude and stay humble when reflecting on their growth, and to set or reframe the vision for their company.

These initial results support many of the findings in CEO Excellence and are consistent with the insights that we are hearing from our interactions with CEOs.

Setting the direction. CEOs generally assess that they set the vision and strategy well but struggle with resource allocation. This finding is in line with the research underpinning CEO Excellence , which found that a third of companies reallocate no more than 1 percent of their capital year to year. 5 Yuval Atsmon, “ How nimble resource allocation can double your company’s value ,” McKinsey, August 30, 2016. Companies that are not dynamically aligning their resources—including money, talent, and management—with evolving corporate strategies may be leaving value on the table. A company that actively reallocates delivers a 10 percent return to shareholders, on average, compared with 6 percent for a sluggish reallocator. 6 Yuval Atsmon, “ How nimble resource allocation can double your company’s value ,” McKinsey, August 30, 2016. This return on proactivity is not unique to the allocation of resources; in our experience, the best CEOs are also judiciously bold across the other two dimensions of direction setting: vision and strategy.

Engaging with the board. This is the dimension in which CEOs judge their own performance most harshly. On average, respondents say they are able to have good relationships with their board but are less confident in their ability to put good behaviors into practice when tapping into the board’s capabilities and focusing board meetings on the future. Board members often agree with this assessment: only 30 percent of respondents to a 2019 McKinsey survey of global boards reported that they serve on boards whose processes are effective. 7 McKinsey Global Board Survey 2019. And board effectiveness is an important determinant of value creation: research shows that it’s strongly correlated with higher market valuation and better performance. 8 “ Navigating the board and CEO relationship ,” McKinsey, July 30, 2023. The best CEOs don’t tolerate an indifferent relationship with their boards. In place of the traditional mindset that their role is to help the board fulfill its fiduciary duties, the best CEOs assess that their role is to help directors help the business.

Aligning the organization. CEOs are generally confident in their ability to create culture and design effective organizations, but they are less positive about behaviors related to talent management. Our research indicates that CEOs looking to improve their performance on talent management need to understand and manage the 40 to 50 roles that are most pivotal in increasing value—which may not necessarily be the most senior roles. 9 Scott Keller and Bill Schaninger, Beyond Performance 2.0: A Proven Approach to Leading Large-Scale Change , Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2019. Those roles should be occupied by top performers, with a robust bench on hand if required.

Mobilizing through leaders. This is one of the dimensions in which CEOs express the most confidence. They are comfortable with their performance related to team composition, teamwork, and operating rhythm. The best CEOs are constantly assessing how their team works together. They display an in-depth understanding of the team’s psychology and talk about the importance of getting their team to understand and make decisions based on what is best for the whole organization, rather than for their own smaller part.

Connecting with stakeholders. CEOs are generally confident about their performance on finding their social purpose, maintaining a long-term perspective, and showing personal resilience during difficult periods, but they struggle with stakeholder interactions. This is another area with significant implications for company performance: research shows that a company’s relationships with external stakeholders can influence as much as 30 percent of corporate earnings. 10 John Browne, Robin Nuttal, and Tommy Stadlen, Connect: How Companies Succeed by Engaging Radically with Society , New York, NY: Public Affairs, 2016. Where there are misalignments with or between stakeholders, the best CEOs start by questioning the reason why. Developing a deep understanding of their stakeholders’ motivations, hopes, and fears can help CEOs create strong bonds and arrive at the best answer.

Managing personal effectiveness. CEOs are generally confident in their performance in this dimension, particularly when it comes to staying humble, modeling leadership, and staying true to one’s values. They are slightly less satisfied with their ability to manage their time and energy, and CEOs looking to improve their performance should be ruthless with their calendar—including by building in time to think and deal with the unexpected—to ensure that they are spending their finite energy on the right things. The best CEOs prioritize their personal time accordingly and have a strong awareness of when others in their team can or cannot undertake individual tasks.

Women CEOs tend to prioritize the ‘software’ of organizations more and rank themselves higher than their male peers on most behaviors

There has long been a stereotype that women are less confident and more self-critical. However, provisional results from the CEAT join a growing body of evidence that suggests that this “confidence gap” may be a myth, at least among CEOs. 11 Laura Guillen, “Is the confidence gap between men and women a myth?,” Harvard Business Review, March 26, 2018. On average, the self-assessed performance of women CEOs tends to be higher than that of men CEOs for most behaviors. The sample size for women CEOs is relatively small (15), but the women in this sample cover a broad range of industries, countries, and tenures.

Looking at the behaviors in which men and women tend to rank themselves more highly, a pattern starts to emerge. Women CEOs generally ranked themselves more highly than their male peers in skills related to engaging with others, including connecting with the board and stakeholders and driving the right culture. 12 Statistically significant at 90 percent confidence level. This finding is supported by previous McKinsey research, which indicates that women in the workplace tend to be more proactive in people management. 13 Women in the Workplace , LeanIn.org and McKinsey, 2022. Men, on the other hand, tend to rank themselves higher on vision, strategy, and mobilizing the team.

Tenure counts; more-experienced CEOs gain confidence by prioritizing different things than early CEOs

Unsurprisingly, CEOs with longer tenures tend to be more confident in their performance, ranking themselves higher on most behaviors. As CEOs gain experience and build their track record, they become more confident in their behaviors relating to engaging the board and connecting with stakeholders. While our CEAT data does not enable us to provide definitive answers for why this difference emerges, it may be, for example, that longer-tenured CEOs start to focus less on themselves and how they are performing and instead begin to prioritize their impact on others—including stakeholders and the board—which enables them to develop a better understanding of their broader ecosystem.

Self-care matters for CEOs; investment in targeted learning and mentorship interventions drives improvements across all behaviors

We know from our interactions with CEOs how consumed they can be by the demands of their role, which can make it difficult to take time off. Our provisional results indicate, however, that taking time to pause, reflect, and invest in their own learning can pay significant dividends. When CEOs invest time and energy in their own learning and growth—including with targeted training and mentorship—they become, on average, more confident across all 18 behaviors. 14 Statistically significant at 90 percent confidence level. The biggest self-reported improvements seem to be related to their ability to make bold strategic moves early and often and deliver social purpose with impact.

Broadly, however, the magnitude of self-reported improvement appears relatively consistent across behaviors, which means that the overall pattern of relative self-reported strengths and weaknesses remains the same. Setting a vision and building an ecosystem for the team remain the behaviors in which CEOs are most confident, while managing resource allocation and tapping into board members’ wisdom remain more challenging.

Early interventions matter; training and mentorship can accelerate growth for early-tenured CEOs

We’ve heard often that being a CEO is a role you can never prepare for. Our provisional results indicate that early-tenure CEOs may be in a learning “sweet spot,” which means that focused investment in their own learning can significantly accelerate performance improvement across many critical CEO behaviors for the remainder of their CEO trajectory. Encouragingly, early-tenure CEOs improve their self-reported performance more than their more-experienced peers do for some of the behaviors that newer CEOs struggled with at the baseline. Newer CEOs that undergo training seem to gain particular benefit in engaging with the board and connecting with stakeholders, for example, which are behaviors that represent a weak spot for many. 15 Statistically significant at 90 percent confidence level.

Developing a better understanding of the challenges facing CEOs and opportunities for progress

While the CEAT is already generating important insights about CEOs’ perceptions and performance, these results also prompt several important questions. To what extent are the patterns observed here rooted in objective measures of individual performance as opposed to factors specific to a particular industry or demographic group? Why do CEOs generally seem to struggle with some of the behaviors discussed in this article, and what can be done to resolve these issues?

While this article has begun to explore some of those issues, more work is needed. As part of the McKinsey CEO Excellence Program, we work closely with a wide range of CEOs. Going forward, we will marry the insights gained from our CEO interviews and interactions with the growing body of data coming from the CEAT, which will also enable us to provide more best practices and tips for improvement along the six dimensions of leadership. Our aim with this work—as with everything we do at the MCCE—will be to continue to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of the vital, demanding role of the CEO and how individuals can best position themselves to lead in today’s uncertain and evolving world.

If you would like to learn more about the McKinsey CEO Excellence Program and the additional data and insights from the CEAT, please email the McKinsey Center for CEO Excellence at [email protected] or visit us online at ceo-excellence.McKinsey.com .

Gautam Kumra

The authors wish to thank Jennifer Chiang, Fabrice Desmarescaux, Blair Epstein, Janice Koh, Alexa Meng, Suchita Prasad, and Anna Wozniak for their contributions to this article.

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COMMENTS

  1. 5 Ways to Do Your Homework on Time if You're a Procrastinator

    1 Organize your notes and files into categories. Procrastinating is easy if your notes are such a mess that you can't find anything you need! Take the time to organize your notes and files. [1] Keep one binder or file folder for each class, and put your notes and assignments in chronological order. [2] 2

  2. How to Do Homework: 15 Expert Tips and Tricks

    Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments, even when you're in a time crunch. #1: Do the Easy Parts First . This is especially true if you're working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems.

  3. 10 Powerful Tips to Complete Your Homework on Time

    1. Start We often put off tasks that seem challenging or tedious at first glance. The hardest part of doing your homework is starting. To overcome this, just take out the assignment and place it on the study table. It will push you one step closer to getting the work done. 2. Have a Dedicated Study Area

  4. 4 Tips To Help You Complete Online Assignments On Time

    1. Create A Time Table At least a week before the official commencement of class, a course outline is usually posted in the course area. This course outline gives the assignments for each week. Get a head start by reviewing the eLearning course outline, a day or two prior, instead of waiting until class begins.

  5. How To Get Your College Assignments Done On Time

    Try the Pomodoro technique: decide which task are you going to work on and set the timer to 25 minutes; after this period of time, you are allowed to take a short break (3-5 minutes). Repeat this four times and you'll get 1 hour of pure productive work. Afterward, take a larger break of 15-30 minutes and then repeat the whole cycle.

  6. How to Focus on Homework to Get It Done on Time

    Tip #2: Divide a Homework Assignment into Manageable Tasks. Break your school assignment down into smaller tasks. Make a list of what needs to be done for that particular assignment, set priorities to focus on, and start at the top of your list. Many times, a written project will require some library research.

  7. 10 Useful Tips for Students to Submit Assignments on Time

    1. Create a schedule The first step in submitting assignments on time is to create a schedule. This can prove to be a useful step in the entire process. A schedule will help you keep track of your deadlines and plan your time accordingly. You can use a physical planner or a digital calendar, whichever works best for you.

  8. How to Submit Assignments on Time

    Below we will go over some of the ways you learn how to submit assignments on time. 1. Create a Calendar. Once you start a semester or recognize your struggle to stay on schedule, you should create a calendar of all of the assignments and due dates. Your professor will either provide a schedule or you can find one in the syllabus.

  9. Study Skills & Learning Strategies: Assignment Planning

    If you feel unsure about where to start or completing your assignments on time, having a personalized plan in place can alleviate the anxiety and provide you with a road map to tackle even the toughest tasks. Complete this short survey to gain a better understanding of the steps involved in assignment planning.

  10. How to Meet Deadlines and Finish Tasks on Time: 8 Tips

    Using anti-distraction apps is also useful to keep you focused during working hours. 6. Use an Efficient Calendar Tool. If you have too many things on your plate, losing sight of the deadlines and pending tasks can happen. The best way to be aware of your tasks and deadlines is to use a calendar tool.

  11. 14 Proven Tips For Completing Assignments

    Tips for completing assignments 1. Read the assignment instructions carefully 2. Identify why the assignment is necessary 3. Start early to complete assignments on time 4. Set goals for assignment completion 5. Create a schedule to finish assignments 6. Identify the resources required for the assignment 7. Track your references when researching 8.

  12. 4 Tips for Completing Your Homework On Time

    Tip 1: Rely On a Planning System Most of you by now are well acquainted with a homework planner. It has the dates, the school subjects you are taking, and a whole lot of blank space to write down your homework assignments. Use these planners if you have them.

  13. Turning Assignments in On Time

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  19. Understanding Assignments

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    3. Gather all your gear. Collect EVERYTHING you will need for the homework you are working on (like your laptop for writing assignments and pencils for problem sets). Getting up for supplies takes you off course and makes it that much harder to get back to your homework. 4.

  21. Time on Task in Online Courses

    In sum, regardless of course mode or type of learning activities assigned, the total amount of student time on task for any RIT course (on-campus, online, independent study, capstone, etc.) should total 45 hours per credit/contact hour. To get the total number of time-on-task hours, multiply 45 times the number of credits.

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