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10 Tips To Quit Watching TV And Stop Procrastinating

April 11, 2013 By Sydney 28 Comments

Here are 10 easy tips to get you off the couch so you can get busy living and doing more things you love.

1. Don’t upgrade your TV or DVD player.

I went over to one of my friend’s apartments about a month back and her husband was super excited to show me the 55 inch Samsung Smart LED TV they had just bought. I wasn’t even sure what a Smart TV was at the time, so he happily showed me how he could surf the Internet, log into his Facebook account, and play videos he’d recently uploaded to the web. The picture quality and features were quite impressive, and I could tell this type of technology would be trouble for TV addicts.

So if you’re trying to quit watching tv and videos, save yourself some money and don’t upgrade your TV, dvd player, or internet package. The newer technology will only tempt you to watch more! I have an older TV but I don’t plan to upgrade it to a SMART TV anytime soon. I’m trying to hit my goal of saving 30% of my income  this year and don’t want any more temptation to watch TV and stream shows.

2. Reduce the number of devices in your house and avoid having a TV in your bedroom.

I used to have a TV in the kitchen, living room, and bedroom. Yes, I realize that sounds pretty ridiculous. I used to enjoy watching TV in the kitchen when I was washing dishes or making dinner, until one day about 2 months ago the audio stopped coming through. A few days after that I lost picture. Comcast had finally pulled the plug on the analog channels in my neighborhood. Left with a useless TV, I started searching around for a digital converter box, until I decided “why bother?!”

So I packed up that TV and donated it to Goodwill. I missed having it for a few days but I quickly got over it. Now I’m thinking about donating my second TV in my bedroom. I don’t use it much anymore, and I’d be able to save $10 a month by having one less cable box. I’d also be making my chiropractor happy because he said watching TV from bed has been hurting my neck.

3. Stop paying for cable all together.

A lof of my online friends have happily cut cable out of their budgets entirely, especially those in the personal finance space. They like saving money, use the funds that would have gone to the cable bill to pay down debt, and put their freed up time towards building new income streams and being with their families.

If you’re struggling with debt you should seriously consider going cable free until you get your finances in shape. Cable isn’t a necessity and should be one of the first things to go if you’re in a money crunch.

4. Get a library card.

I love my library card so much that I’ve memorized the 14 digit account number, lol. That is part of the reason why I consider myself a bit of a nerd. I encourage you to quit watching TV and go check out your local public libraries. There are so many incredible resources and best of all they’re FREE!

You can learn a language, teach yourself how to program, read about business law and accounting, browse the Internet, etc. Some of my favorite collections at the library are the travel books, magazines, and colorful reference guides. Staying interested in reading and learning new things has really helped me stop procrastinating. If you decide to ditch your cable you could also take advantage of the wide range of DVDs at the library, and watch the occasional show for free in your downtime.

5. Replace your least favorite shows with an activity.

We all have favorite shows, which are the hardest to cut out. But if you came across this article doing a search on “how to quit watching TV,” chances are you have plenty of so-so shows you could easily cut out from your watch list.

Come up with a fun or productive activity to replace the time that you used to spend watching those shows. This will help you appreciate your time more and will provide more motivation to quit watching TV. And if you’re not already getting regular exercise, go for a jog, do some yoga stretches, or get out and walk the dog in your newly freed up time. You’ll be happy that you did.

6. Go to bed earlier and wake up sooner.

One sign you have a TV addiction is if you’re watching shows until 1 or 2 am until you fall asleep with the TV still on. I used to do this many times before I got my watching habits under control. It was bad. If you get more sleep at night however, you’ll be more motivated to get things done the next day when you wake up refreshed.

Plus if you wake up sooner you’ll have more time to get ready in the morning and can even throw in a 20 minute exercise routine while you’re at it. We’ve all heard our doctors say, “Take better care of your health. Get more sleep, eat healthy, and regular exercise.” Being healthy means you’ll have more energy each day and won’t feel tired all the time. The more energy you have, the more living you can do! So work harder at taking care of yourself. I know I definitely feel better when I get in a good work out and go to bed early.

7. Use a timer and stick to it.

A lot of people who have TV addictions and problems with procrastination don’t recognize when they’ve had enough. They’ll often say to themselves “I’ll do xyz after I watch 1 more episode” or “I’ll rest some more today and start on my to do list tomorrow.” The trouble is they end up saying these same things over and over again and never get started on anything.

I’ve been there. And I know how hard it can be! So try disciplining yourself with a timer. Set it for a reasonable time such as 30 min or an hour, and put the timer across the room so you’ll have to get up off the couch to turn it off when it rings. You can use one of those traditional kitchen timers or a digital one in your smart phone. As soon as the timer goes off, make sure to cut the power on the TV at the same time.

8. Keep a list of your accomplishments.

One thing you want to get addicted to is the thrill of reaching goals and the incredible sense of reward that comes with completing tasks. I keep a regular log of all the things I finish at work and in my personal life. Whenever I’m feeling lazy, I pull it out and remind myself of all the things I’ve done.

If it’s been a while since I added something to the list, it helps me realize I need to get out of my funk and gives me a boost to get some new achievements on there. You can also set goals like “I’m going to do xyz today first, before I even turn on the TV.” You’re the only one you can blame for the things you do and don’t do. Remember that your competition is always out there and it’s up to you whether or not you can stay ahead of them or not.

9. Team up with a friend or family member.

Overcoming any addiction or bad habit is hard to do alone. Reach out and team up with a friend or family member that you’re close to for support. Set goals together and let them know how much their help means to you. Some friendly competition can also get you motivated to push yourself harder and break out of your bad habits.

10. Donate your DVDs or sell them for cash.

If you have a TV addiction, chances are you have a large DVD collection as well. I used to have close to 100 DVDs but I’ve cut that down to 50 which I still think is way too many. Before I started blogging I used to watch 2 or 3 DVDs each weekend, but I haven’t touched most of mine in two years now. So I’m giving away a bunch of the DVDs I have left to free up more space on my bookshelf and have fewer things to dust!

If you have the patience you can also try to sell your DVDs for cash at a garage sale or online. You probably won’t get that much but it always feels good getting paid to declutter!

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About Sydney

Hi there, I’m Sydney! After ten crazy years, I left a grueling six-figure job in 2015 for a better life. Now I spend my days with my family, writing, freelancing in various capacities, and finding new ways to stretch my brain. I’m crazy about my husband and two kids, gardening, photography, hiking, and stopping to smell the roses. Untemplater is where I share my insights and adventures with the world. I'm continually motivated to write and evolve in hopes that I can help others improve their lifestyles, careers, wealth and happiness. Every day is a gift! Be sure to check out my how to start a blog and Untemplater recommendations pages. You can also sign up here to get email alerts every time I write a new post. Thanks for reading!

April 21, 2013 at 10:55 pm

Great article and great comments. I too have struggled with procrastination. I just recently read a great book titled, “Stop Playing Safe: Rethink Risk. Unlock the Power of Courage. Achieve Outstanding Success” by Margie Warrell. It has made me want to work harder at being more productive and to stop procrastinating to make the changes and take the chances I’ve always wanted in my life. I appreciate the tips offered here! Thanks everyone!

April 22, 2013 at 12:14 pm

Thanks Betty. Sounds like an interesting read. Courage really does have a lot of power to it and enables us to grow in ways we never thought possible before.

April 20, 2013 at 3:54 am

I have personally cut out tv recently, and so far I haven’t missed it one bit. I would have to wholeheartedly agree with your using a library card and going to bed sooner and waking up sooner parts. I have been getting up at 5:30 or so every morning and it feels great to be able to get so much accomplished before most people even get up.

April 22, 2013 at 12:27 pm

Nice job Bobby! You’re an early riser at 5:30. I’ve been getting up around 6 this week and it’s really nice having more time in the morning to get things done and out of the way.

April 17, 2013 at 12:20 pm

Another way is to do TV night. One time a night you watch TV similar to movie night. I am a fan of certain TV but not the garbage that you find nightly. Plus the quality is pretty amazing so it’s good to pick and choose wisely so you can appreciate all the accomplishments.

April 22, 2013 at 12:48 pm

There certainly are a lot of bad shows and so many new series get cancelled before they’ve even completed half a season. I never watched Hannibal but I heard that show just got cut within just a couple weeks.

April 13, 2013 at 7:49 am

The one thing I love about TV is the quality now. Almost like being on set w/ the latest LED TVs! I do a lot of multi-tasking, which kinda ruins the watching experience.

I’d rather be producing and interacting online than watching TV. But, I’d rather watch a great moving at home than pay $10+ for a movie ticket in a crowded theatre!

April 13, 2013 at 10:06 am

Multitasking is good to try when watching TV but not everything works that well. I gave up trying to write and watch TV at the same time because I couldn’t concentrate on either one, and I’d only end up writing about 25 words an hour lol. Working on my photo library, cleaning, and folding laundry have been the most efficient types of multi tasking I’ve found. But ultimately I can do all of those faster without the TV on all together!

April 12, 2013 at 9:19 am

I implemented this a month or so ago and was surprised by how much more productive I was when I didn’t watch tv. It’s crazy! Now to be clear I am a tv addict and will not be giving my addiction up anytime soon. But there are set dates where we don’t watch tv, that’s the best thing about having a DVR.

April 13, 2013 at 10:01 am

It is crazy I know! I don’t think I could ever give up TV completely either because I do love it as a fun, cheap, and simple form of entertainment. Cutting out the “junk” shows and only watching movies that have great reviews has helped me a lot. I used to watch almost every new release regardless of the review and that wasted a lot of time.

April 12, 2013 at 6:53 am

It’s definitely nice to reward yourself after a large section of work, etc. Great points about going “cold turkey”.

April 13, 2013 at 9:59 am

Thanks Mike. I used to turn on the TV as soon as I got home and then I never ended up turning it off until I went to bed. Now I get through a few errands first, do some blogging, and then turn it on if I have something I really want to watch. I also cut back a lot on the weekends which has helped me stay more active and get outside a lot more. It’ll be refreshing when the summer comes because I plan to watch even less than I am now and the weather will be better too!

April 11, 2013 at 11:20 am

Really great points Sydney. I got rid of cable (It was $140/month saving for so much gain!), got a library card and not only do I watch less TV but it is also much more enjoyable TV when I do. Quinn

April 13, 2013 at 9:55 am

Yep it is crazy how expensive cable can get! That must feel great saving $140 a month. And it’s nice to hear there are more library fans out there. If I ever leave SF I will definitely miss the public library system here because the resources are fantastic and there are so many branches all over the city.

April 11, 2013 at 9:54 am

I am trying to cut back by not replacing the old shows by new ones. Never watched Walking Dead or Downtown Abbey so I don’t miss watching it.

April 13, 2013 at 9:53 am

That’s a good strategy. It’s also smart because so many new shows end up getting cancelled in the first year. I had this happen to me with a lot of shows I really started to get into, and then would just get so disappointed and frustrated when the network cancelled them. Without getting any type of closure on those stories really feels like I wasted my time.

April 11, 2013 at 8:41 am

I used to watch a lot of TV when I was younger. Eventually TV just got more dull over time as it felt that I was just watching different versions of the same thing.

I would recommend cutting back TV consumption slowly over time by removing those shows you just don’t find very interesting any more. The trick is to have something more engaging to replace them with. Like a hobby or a book.

April 13, 2013 at 9:50 am

You’re right that there is a lot of repetition across channels and shows. Especially when it comes to reality, hospital, and crime shows. The themes and story lines are so similar that there aren’t many surprises any more.

April 11, 2013 at 8:07 am

We bought a 42″ smart tv last year. However, we hardly ever use the smart tv features and if I could go back, I would have bought the 45″ dumb tv for the same price.

I don’t actually watch a huge amount of TV. I have a half dozen or so prime-time shows that I usually DVR and watch on the weekend, plus sometimes I just want to veg out or have something other than music to listen to while doing housework. I probably watch about 10 hours per week when I’m working and 15 during the off season.

For me procrastination is so deeply internalized that it isn’t even about distractions. The TV is upstairs and the computer is downstairs. You could put me in a bare room with just a word processor but if I don’t have some sort of external deadline to work against, I’ll just sit there and daydream instead of write.

April 13, 2013 at 9:41 am

Yeah I’m not into the Smart TV thing. I don’t use Netflix for streaming and I almost always have my laptop with me when the TV is on so there’s nothing I’d need a smart TV to do.

10-15 hours a week is a reasonable amount. I can’t believe at one point I was watching 38 hours a week, wow what a time sink. It really took me adding up all the hours I was watching to realize I really needed to kick my watching habit.

April 11, 2013 at 7:49 am

I do Hulu and Netflix almost exclusively, but I wouldn’t want to give either up! I mostly use them when I’m doing housework, carrying my laptop from room to room. It slows down cleaning, but it does make it more tolerable!

April 13, 2013 at 9:32 am

It is nice to have something on when cleaning. I like to turn on the radio with some type of fast beat song to get me moving. I’ll also fold laundry and watch Modern Family sometimes which takes the chore out of it but definitely slows down the process. 🙂

April 11, 2013 at 6:38 am

I have never watched much TV except for sports. There are two kinds of people in the world: content creators and content consumers. I have two websites, which means I need to spend my time creating content for the enjoyment of those who prefer to consume.

April 13, 2013 at 9:07 am

That’s a neat way to look at it. I used to be only a content consumer and it was fun but I never felt that fulfilled. Now that I’m blogging I get a nice blend of both and I feel more balanced.

April 11, 2013 at 6:14 am

We had allowed our girls to have TVs in their rooms, but then we took those away. It was hard to explain that it wasn’t for punishment, we just think it’s better this way! Watchign less TV is really a way, also, to not even be more productive, but just to be “there” more. When we flip off the TV, suddenly we have to talk with eachother. So we’re not doing anything more productive exactly, we’re just talking more with eachother, helping eachother with dinner and all that stuff. So not really productive, but just good in a different way.

April 13, 2013 at 9:04 am

I think that was a really good move. I remember wanting a TV in my room so bad when I was living with my parents but thank goodness they didn’t let me have one. I would have probably watched sitcoms 7 days a week late into the night “in secret” instead of doing homework or sleeping.

Being away from the tube does make for much better conversations and interactions. I find my attention drifting unintentionally if I’m having a conversation and the TV is on. Even boring commercials can make my eyes wander because there’s images flashing on the screen.

April 11, 2013 at 5:36 am

I have a running list of things I do around the house, little things to reduce clutter, grime, and the like. Many times if I’m tempted to plop down in front of the TV, I’ll grab my list and see if there’s anything I can get done instead. That keeps me motivated and probably saves me a bunch of time.

We cancelled Netflix a couple of years back and that has helped, because if I had access to all the movies they offer, chances are I’d watch more of them.

April 13, 2013 at 8:56 am

That’s a smart method to stay motivated and away from the TV! I tried Netflix’s streaming in a free trial a while ago but cancelled it because I wasn’t impressed with the offerings they had. It’s convenient for watching older movies and TV shows on the fly, but none of the new releases are available right away.

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5 Things That Happened When I Stopped Watching TV

The book I remember my mother reading to me the most as a child is The Boy with Square Eyes , a cautionary tale about the dangers of watching too much television. Nice try, Mom. Despite her best efforts, I've always loved TV.

Until recently, I considered my TV-watching habits to be pretty normal. But after seeing my coworkers' shocked faces when I told them I had watched 11 seasons of Grey's Anatomy in less than 3 months—to be clear, that's more than 10,000 minutes of medical drama—I realized my fun pastime may have morphed into an unhealthy obsession. (Boost your memory and age-proof your mind with these natural solutions .)

So I proclaimed in a recent meeting that I would give up TV for a week. Here's what happened when I did.

1. There were suddenly more than 24 hours in a day. There's a popular meme on the Internet that says, "You have the same number of hours in a day as Beyoncé." It's true, but that quote forgets to mention that Beyoncé must not watch TV.

It may seem obvious that I felt like I had more time after eliminating a time-consuming habit from my life , but here's the thing: I never just watch TV. I am an expert-level multitasker and I live alone, which means the TV is like a constant soundtrack in my home. I watch it while I unload groceries, while I cook dinner, while I eat dinner , while I respond to e-mails, while I do pretty much everything that needs to get done post-work and pre-bed. I assumed all that multitasking meant my TV habit wasn't actually keeping me from getting things done. Wrong.

I used this "extra" time in myriad productive ways, including exercising and cooking more, but I was most excited about reading two books in just 7 TV-free days. I have a goal of reading 15 books in 2016, a goal that had seemed like a stretch when I set it back in January and now seems, frankly, pitiful. My brief TV hiatus has given me the confidence to increase that goal to 30.

2. I can see clearly now, the TV is gone. Without the distraction of TV, not only was I able to get basic chores like putting groceries away and washing dishes done more quickly, but I was also able to really focus on tasks I'd been putting off for months. Turns out, it's much easier to send thoughtful responses to your friends' e-mails when you're not stopping every 30 seconds to see what new life-or-death situation Meredith Grey is facing (fans of Grey's Anatomy will understand that this is a constant issue for Meredith, who has survived a plane crash, a hospital shooting, a bomb explosion, a near-drowning, and so much more). At one point during this experiment, I even got to—what I once believed to be mythical—inbox zero; it may have been on my personal account and short-lived, but I will never forget the feeling of satisfaction I had after responding to every single e-mail I'd been avoiding.

MORE: 10 Silent Signals You're Way Too Stressed

3. Things got interesting. When I started this experiment, I set some ground rules for myself, including that I couldn't replace my usual TV time with other kinds of screen time: no movies and no increased use of the Internet. But because I live alone, there were some eerily quiet nights when I wanted some "company." So I turned to talk radio. 

I had been listening to NPR for a few days in place of TV when my boyfriend came over for dinner. That night, we had a spirited discussion about the former one-child policy in China and about Britain possibly leaving the European Union. "Am I more interesting since giving up TV?" I blurted out while washing dishes. My boyfriend looked at me, that there-is-no-right-answer-to-this-question look spreading across his face, and slyly said, "I think you should write a story like this every week." Apparently, he enjoyed discussing what I had heard on the BBC Newshour more than the latest love triangle on Grey's Anatomy (something I'm ashamed to admit I've forced him to listen to in the past). The radio provided a similarly comforting soundtrack as the TV once had, but it was less distracting and more informational.

4. Oh, hello there, anxiety, where have you been hiding? There was only one part of this experiment that I was truly dreading: not being able to watch TV while falling asleep. Two years ago, Prevention.com—yes, the very site I work for and read every single day—published a sleep story that included a section on what it means if you rely on TV to snooze . John Winkelman, MD, a sleep researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, said, "A dark and quiet room may bring psychological problems to the fore. The television helps deflect feelings and compensates for worries."

When I first read Winkelman's comments, I had an epiphany: That is exactly why I like to fall asleep while watching TV! And then I willingly chose to continue using TV as a coping mechanism for my anxiety for 2 years—not my proudest moment.

On the first night of this experiment, I lay in bed obsessing about everything: mistakes I made at work that day, all the things I needed to get done the next day, how obscenely loud my fan was—a fan I had been using every night for literally the past 9 years. My FitBit sleep data from that night shows that I tossed and turned for 30 minutes before finally dozing off, which is much longer than usual.

So how did I get through the week without my security blanket? Well…

MORE: 7 Reasons You're Tired All The Time

5. Bring on the tears. Without TV to silence my anxious thoughts, I was forced to deal with them. So I spent most of the nights of my TV-free week crying before falling asleep. While that may sound terribly depressing , it was something I absolutely needed.

In addition to my standard anxious thoughts about work, there was another thought I had been blocking out: I recently had a friend pass away unexpectedly. She was young and healthy, and her death was a complete shock. Every time I thought about her, I started to become upset—until I turned on the TV. As callous as it sounds, focusing on McDreamy allowed me to avoid dealing with the pain of her death.

But, as this experiment helped me realize, I needed to deal with her death. Yes, I cried thinking of her, and yes, it was upsetting; however, she deserved to be remembered. And once I was all cried out, and I thought about all of the wonderful memories I will always have of this friend, I started to breathe easier. I no longer feared that seeing a random memento that reminded me of her would bring me to tears. Of course, I'm not "over" her death—that's not something I want or think will ever happen. I have started grieving , though, which is a process I wasn't able to begin until I switched the TV off.

I'm not swearing off TV forever; in fact, I've already begun watching again since this experiment ended. But I do watch differently now. I don't let myself get sucked into hours of endless fictional drama. I don't eat while watching , which has been significant in my personal battle against mindless eating . And even though it's been difficult, I am slowly weaning myself off of using TV as a coping mechanism. Now when I watch Grey's Anatomy , I do it because I want to enjoy Meredith Grey's drama, not avoid my own.

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INSPIRATION AND TIPS FOR A SIMPLER, MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE

How to ditch Netflix, stop watching TV and reclaim your life

January 14, 2019

Have you ever considered to stop watching TV?

As I walked around my neighborhood a few weeks ago, I couldn’t help but notice how many TV screens were on. It must have been around 7pm and most people were already glued to their screens, probably just getting ready for a long evening of binge watching.

Now, who was I to judge? I had been the one glued to my screen just weeks prior.

See, my husband and I had recently made the ‘life-changing’ decision to cancel our Netflix subscription and sell our TV.

And no, it wasn’t a spur of the moment kind of decision. We had talked about it for months never quite believing we would ever do it.

I mean, who in their right mind would give away their TV in the middle of the Dutch winter?

Well, we did.

And here is why and how we did it:

The Biggest Time Thief

Ever wonder where the time has gone? Are you rushing against the clock, often complaining that you never have time to read or have a hobby?

I have the solution for you. Ditch the TV.

Your TV (or Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu…) is your biggest time drainer. The average American watches 5 hours and 4 minutes of TV per day while the European average is 3.9 hours.

If we extrapolate that number for the US, that’s a total of 35 hours a week and 77 days per year.

Over two months a year spent in front of TV! Imagine the amount of things you can do instead if you stop watching TV.

Robbed Creativity

Studies show that boredom is essential to develop a creative mind .

If a child is left in a room with no toys  he will start building a ‘train’ out of cardboard boxes or a ‘castle’ with a chair, placemats and a lamp. My son did that just last week 🙂

And that’s because a bored mind is hungry for stimulation . The hunger stimulates our brain to search, strategize and set the creative wheels in motion.

In other words, the more bored…the more creative.

The problem is that we don’t allow ourselves to be bored anymore.

As a child, I turned to writing, drawing or some sort of DIY activity to relieve my boredom. But as I grew older, I replaced creative endeavors with TV watching.

I replaced creation with consumption. Activity with passivity.

An experiment led by Researcher and Professor Herbert Krugman in the 60’s, shows that when we watch TV, our brain activity switches from beta waves – associated with focus and logical thinking – to alpha waves – associated with wakeful relaxation.

These findings suggest that:

1 – we tune out from our critical thinking abilities (beta waves) leaving us no way to reflect or process what we see intelligently.

2 – the TV puts us into a light hypnotic state which makes our brain suggestible and ready to absorb anything we watch .

Yeah, scary…

Escaping reality

Do you ever ‘escape’ your problems by watching TV?

I know I have done it. Countless times.

The truth is that there is nothing that a little bit of entertainment can’t take your mind off, at least for the time that you are busy watching.

We repeatedly turn to our screens whenever something we are not ready to address comes up, be it problems at work, at home, financial or health issues.

We spend so many hours numbing ourselves that we have neither the time nor the mental space to process our feelings / frustrations which in turn prevents us from moving forward.

Health issues

This is probably one of the main reasons why I chose to stop watching TV.

My health was suffering and it was showing in many ways:

• Feeling lazy : the more I watched, the less I felt like doing anything making me more inactive with each day passing.
• Sleeping worse : there is only so much that the brain can process. Too much TV in the evening made it hard for me to properly ‘switch off’ and meant that I slept worse.
• Sleeping less : if you are addicted to a certain show, it’s hard to stop watching when the next episode is just a click away.
• Eating more : watching TV is linked to mindless eating which makes it hard to control what goes through your mouth and can quickly lead to overeating.

How to kick the addiction

1/ find your why.

Very much like sugar or cocaine, tv is a real addiction. If you want to increase your chances of successfully staying away from it, it’s important to understand the reasons why you want to stop watching TV . Is it to reclaim your time? To be more active and alert? To improve your sleep? All of the above? Find out your why and you will have higher chances at sticking with it when the going gets tough.

2/ Go cold turkey

On the same day that we put our screen away, we cancelled our Netflix subscription and decided to stop watching TV altogether. Out of sight, out of mind. The first few days may feel a little strange and you may (or may not) find yourself walking around the house wondering what to do but you will adjust quickly. If you find this too extreme an approach and you’d rather take it slow, you could start monitoring your usage; slowly decreasing it as time passes until you watch a ‘reasonable’ amount of TV or until you don’t feel the need to even own one anymore – up to you.

3/ Re-invent yourself

This is the reason that makes quitting worth it : so you can re-invent yourself. For me, it means re-structuring my days so that I can live a more mindful, deliberate life. It means having the time and mental space to:

• process and reflect
• figure out where I am and where I want to go
• put my goals into action
• work on myself
• And even to take up some long lost hobbies

So ask yourself (and write down):

• What excites you?
• Do you have big goals for this year?
• What are your favourite hobbies?

With the mental freedom and time you will free up by ditching your screen habit, you will have time to go after all of the above.

Stop watching TV was the best decision I’ve made in a long time. Since then, I started running again, I have read countless books, I have taken two Udemy classes and I have had a lot more time to work on my blog, all the while getting deeper and more sleep.

I have one shot at this life and I plan on making it count!

How about you? What would you if you could claim back two whole months per year?

Join the List

January 30, 2020 at 6:02 am

I love this Fred! It’s such a valid point and my husband and I are almost on the same page. We just have an antenna that picks up like 6 channels and when nothing “good” is on (think inappropriate garbage I don’t want my children watching) we keep it off. Lately it’s off more and I love how creative my children are. They go from building forts to playing hide and seek while my husband and I make dinner together and reconnect after a long day. I’m sure it won’t be long before we just stop altogether. Blessings to you and your family!

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Daniel Wong

30 Tips to Stop Procrastinating and Find Motivation to Do Homework

Updated on June 6, 2023 By Daniel Wong 44 Comments

To stop procrastinating on homework, you need to find motivation to do the homework in the first place.

But first, you have to overcome feeling too overwhelmed to even start.

You know what it feels like when everything hits you at once, right?

You have three tests to study for and a math assignment due tomorrow.

And you’ve got a history report due the day after.

You tell yourself to get down to work. But with so much to do, you feel overwhelmed.

So you procrastinate.

You check your social media feed, watch a few videos, and get yourself a drink. But you know that none of this is bringing you closer to getting the work done.

Does this sound familiar?

Don’t worry – you are not alone. Procrastination is a problem that everyone faces, but there are ways around it.

By following the tips in this article, you’ll be able to overcome procrastination and consistently find the motivation to do the homework .

So read on to discover 30 powerful tips to help you stop procrastinating on your homework.

Enter your email below to download a PDF summary of this article. The PDF contains all the tips found here, plus  3 exclusive bonus tips that you’ll only find in the PDF.

How to stop procrastinating and motivate yourself to do your homework.

Procrastination when it comes to homework isn’t just an issue of laziness or a lack of motivation .

The following tips will help you to first address the root cause of your procrastination and then implement strategies to keep your motivation levels high.

1. Take a quiz to see how much you procrastinate.

The first step to changing your behavior is to become more self-aware.

How often do you procrastinate? What kinds of tasks do you tend to put off? Is procrastination a small or big problem for you?

To answer these questions, I suggest that you take this online quiz designed by Psychology Today .

2. Figure out why you’re procrastinating.

Procrastination is a complex issue that involves multiple factors.

Stop thinking of excuses for not doing your homework , and figure out what’s keeping you from getting started.

Are you procrastinating because:

• You’re not sure you’ll be able to solve all the homework problems?
• You’re subconsciously rebelling against your teachers or parents?
• You’re not interested in the subject or topic?
• You’re physically or mentally tired?
• You’re waiting for the perfect time to start?
• You don’t know where to start?

Once you’ve identified exactly why you’re procrastinating, you can pick out the tips in this article that will get to the root of the problem.

3. Write down what you’re procrastinating on.

Students tend to procrastinate when they’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

But you might be surprised to discover that simply by writing down the specific tasks you’re putting off, the situation will feel more manageable.

It’s a quick solution, and it makes a real difference.

Give it a try and you’ll be less likely to procrastinate.

4. Put your homework on your desk.

Here’s an even simpler idea.

Many times, the hardest part of getting your homework done is getting started.

It doesn’t require a lot of willpower to take out your homework and put it on your desk.

But once it’s sitting there in front of you, you’ll be much closer to actually getting down to work.

5. Break down the task into smaller steps.

This one trick will make any task seem more manageable.

For example, if you have a history report to write, you could break it down into the following steps:

• Read the history textbook
• Do online research
• Organize the information
• Create an outline
• Write the introduction
• Write the body paragraphs
• Write the conclusion
• Edit and proofread the report

Focus on just one step at a time. This way, you won’t need to motivate yourself to write the whole report at one go.

This is an important technique to use if you want to study smart and get more done .

6. Create a detailed timeline with specific deadlines.

As a follow-up to Point #5, you can further combat procrastination by creating a timeline with specific deadlines.

Using the same example above, I’ve added deadlines to each of the steps:

• Jan 30 th : Read the history textbook
• Feb 2 nd : Do online research
• Feb 3 rd : Organize the information
• Feb 5 th : Create an outline
• Feb 8 th : Write the introduction
• Feb 12 th : Write the body paragraphs
• Feb 14 th : Write the conclusion
• Feb 16 th : Edit and proofread the report

Assigning specific dates creates a sense of urgency, which makes it more likely that you’ll keep to the deadlines.

7. Spend time with people who are focused and hardworking.

Jim Rohn famously said that you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.

If you hang out with people who are motivated and hardworking, you’ll become more like them.

Likewise, if you hang out with people who continually procrastinate, you’ll become more like them too.

Motivation to do homework naturally increases when you surround yourself with the right people.

So choose your friends wisely. Find homework buddies who will influence you positively to become a straight-A student who leads a balanced life.

That doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun! It just means that you and your friends know when it’s time to get down to work and when it’s time to enjoy yourselves.

8. Tell at least two or three people about the tasks you plan to complete.

When you tell others about the tasks you intend to finish, you’ll be more likely to follow through with your plans.

This is called “accountability,” and it kicks in because you want to be seen as someone who keeps your word.

So if you know about this principle, why not use it to your advantage?

You could even ask a friend to be your accountability buddy. At the beginning of each day, you could text each other what you plan to work on that day.

Then at the end of the day, you could check in with each other to see if things went according to plan.

9. Change your environment .

Maybe it’s your environment that’s making you feel sluggish.

When you’re doing your homework, is your super-comfortable bed just two steps away? Or is your distracting computer within easy reach?

If your environment is part of your procrastination problem, then change it.

Sometimes all you need is a simple change of scenery. Bring your work to the dining room table and get it done there. Or head to a nearby café to complete your report.

10. Talk to people who have overcome their procrastination problem.

If you have friends who consistently win the battle with procrastination, learn from their experience.

What was the turning point for them? What tips and strategies do they use? What keeps them motivated?

Find all this out, and then apply the information to your own situation.

11. Decide on a reward to give yourself after you complete your task.

“Planned” rewards are a great way to motivate yourself to do your homework.

The reward doesn’t have to be something huge.

For instance, you might decide that after you finish 10 questions of your math homework, you get to watch your favorite TV show.

Or you might decide that after reading one chapter of your history textbook, you get to spend 10 minutes on Facebook.

By giving yourself a reward, you’ll feel more motivated to get through the task at hand.

12. Decide on a consequence you’ll impose on yourself if you don’t meet the deadline.

It’s important that you decide on what the consequence will be before you start working toward your goal.

As an example, you could tell your younger brother that you’ll give him $1 for every deadline you don’t meet (see Point #6).

Or you could decide that you’ll delete one game from your phone for every late homework submission.

Those consequences would probably be painful enough to help you get down to work, right?

13. Visualize success.

Take 30 seconds and imagine how you’ll feel when you finish your work.

What positive emotions will you experience?

Will you feel a sense of satisfaction from getting all your work done?

Will you relish the extra time on your hands when you get your homework done fast and ahead of time?

This simple exercise of visualizing success may be enough to inspire you to start doing your assignment.

14. Visualize the process it will take to achieve that success.

Even more important than visualizing the outcome is visualizing the process it will take to achieve that outcome.

Research shows that focusing on the process is critical to success. If you’re procrastinating on a task, take a few moments to think about what you’ll need to do to complete it.

Visualize the following:

• What resources you’ll need
• Who you can turn to for help
• How long the task will take
• Where you’ll work on the task
• The joy you’ll experience as you make progress

This kind of visualization is like practice for your mind.

Once you understand what’s necessary to achieve your goal, you’ll find that it’s much easier to get down to work with real focus. This is key to doing well in school .

15. Write down why you want to complete the task.

You’ll be more motivated when you’re clear about why you want to accomplish something.

To motivate yourself to do your homework, think about all the ways in which it’s a meaningful task.

So take a couple of minutes to write down the reasons. Here are some possible ones:

• Learn useful information
• Master the topic
• Enjoy a sense of accomplishment when you’ve completed the task
• Become a more focused student
• Learn to embrace challenges
• Fulfill your responsibility as a student
• Get a good grade on the assignment

16. Write down the negative feelings you’ll have if you don’t complete the task.

If you don’t complete the assignment, you might feel disappointed or discouraged. You might even feel as if you’ve let your parents or your teacher – or even yourself – down.

It isn’t wise to dwell on these negative emotions for too long. But by imagining how you’ll feel if you don’t finish the task, you’ll realize how important it is that you get to work.

17. Do the hardest task first.

Most students will choose to do the easiest task first, rather than the hardest one. But this approach isn’t effective because it leaves the worst for last.

It’s more difficult to find motivation to do homework in less enjoyable subjects.

As Brian Tracy says , “Eat that frog!” By this, he means that you should always get your most difficult task out of the way at the beginning of the day.

If math is your least favorite subject, force yourself to complete your math homework first.

After doing so, you’ll feel a surge of motivation from knowing it’s finished. And you won’t procrastinate on your other homework because it will seem easier in comparison.

(On a separate note, check out these tips on how to get better at math if you’re struggling.)

18. Set a timer when doing your homework.

I recommend that you use a stopwatch for every homework session. (If you prefer, you could also use this online stopwatch or the Tomato Timer .)

Start the timer at the beginning of the session, and work in 30- to 45-minute blocks.

Using a timer creates a sense of urgency, which will help you fight off your urge to procrastinate.

When you know you only have to work for a short session, it will be easier to find motivation to complete your homework.

Tell yourself that you need to work hard until the timer goes off, and then you can take a break. (And then be sure to take that break!)

19. Eliminate distractions.

Here are some suggestions on how you can do this:

• Delete all the games and social media apps on your phone
• Turn off all notifications on your phone
• Mute your group chats
• Archive your inactive chats
• Turn off your phone, or put it on airplane mode
• Put your phone at least 10 feet away from you
• Turn off the Internet access on your computer
• Use an app like Freedom to restrict your Internet usage
• Put any other distractions (like food, magazines and books unrelated to your homework) at the other end of the room
• Unplug the TV
• Use earplugs if your surroundings are noisy

20. At the start of each day, write down the two to three Most Important Tasks (MITs) you want to accomplish.

This will enable you to prioritize your tasks. As Josh Kaufman explains , a Most Important Task (MIT) is a critical task that will help you to get significant results down the road.

Not all tasks are equally important. That’s why it’s vital that you identify your MITs, so that you can complete those as early in the day as possible.

What do you most need to get done today? That’s an MIT.

Get to work on it, then feel the satisfaction that comes from knowing it’s out of the way.

21. Focus on progress instead of perfection.

Perfectionism can destroy your motivation to do homework and keep you from starting important assignments.

Some students procrastinate because they’re waiting for the perfect time to start.

Others do so because they want to get their homework done perfectly. But they know this isn’t really possible – so they put off even getting started.

What’s the solution?

To focus on progress instead of perfection.

There’s never a perfect time for anything. Nor will you ever be able to complete your homework perfectly. But you can do your best, and that’s enough.

So concentrate on learning and improving, and turn this into a habit that you implement whenever you study .

22. Get organized.

Procrastination is common among students who are disorganized.

When you can’t remember which assignment is due when or which tests you have coming up, you’ll naturally feel confused. You’ll experience school- and test-related stress .

This, in turn, will lead to procrastination.

That’s why it’s crucial that you get organized. Here are some tips for doing this:

• Don’t rely on your memory ; write everything down
• Keep a to-do list
• Use a student planner
• Use a calendar and take note of important dates like exams, project due dates, school holidays , birthdays, and family events
• At the end of each day, plan for the following day
• Use one binder or folder for each subject or course
• Do weekly filing of your loose papers, notes, and old homework
• Throw away all the papers and notes you no longer need

23. Stop saying “I have to” and start saying “I choose to.”

When you say things like “I have to write my essay” or “I have to finish my science assignment,” you’ll probably feel annoyed. You might be tempted to complain about your teachers or your school .

What’s the alternative?

To use the phrase “I choose to.”

The truth is, you don’t “have” to do anything.

You can choose not to write your essay; you’ll just run the risk of failing the class.

You can choose not to do your science assignment; you’ll just need to deal with your angry teacher.

When you say “I choose to do my homework,” you’ll feel empowered. This means you’ll be more motivated to study and to do what you ought to.

24. Clear your desk once a week.

Clutter can be demotivating. It also causes stress , which is often at the root of procrastination.

Hard to believe? Give it a try and see for yourself.

By clearing your desk, you’ll reduce stress and make your workspace more organized.

So set a recurring appointment to organize your workspace once a week for just 10 minutes. You’ll receive huge benefits in the long run!

25. If a task takes two minutes or less to complete, do it now.

This is a principle from David Allen’s bestselling book, Getting Things Done .

You may notice that you tend to procrastinate when many tasks pile up. The way to prevent this from happening is to take care of the small but important tasks as soon as you have time.

Here are some examples of small two-minute tasks that you should do once you have a chance:

• Replying to your project group member’s email
• Picking up anything on the floor that doesn’t belong there
• Asking your parents to sign a consent form
• Filing a graded assignment
• Making a quick phone call
• Writing a checklist
• Sending a text to schedule a meeting
• Making an online purchase that doesn’t require further research

26. Finish one task before starting on the next.

You aren’t being productive when you switch between working on your literature essay, social studies report, and physics problem set – while also intermittently checking your phone.

Research shows that multitasking is less effective than doing one thing at a time. Multitasking may even damage your brain !

When it comes to overcoming procrastination, it’s better to stick with one task all the way through before starting on the next one.

You’ll get a sense of accomplishment when you finish the first assignment, which will give you a boost of inspiration as you move on to the next one.

27. Build your focus gradually.

You can’t win the battle against procrastination overnight; it takes time. This means that you need to build your focus progressively.

If you can only focus for 10 minutes at once, that’s fine. Start with three sessions of 10 minutes a day. After a week, increase it to three sessions of 15 minutes a day, and so on.

As the weeks go by, you’ll become far more focused than when you first started. And you’ll soon see how great that makes you feel.

28. Before you start work, write down three things you’re thankful for.

Gratitude improves your psychological health and increases your mental strength .

These factors are linked to motivation. The more you practice gratitude, the easier it will be to find motivation to do your homework. As such, it’s less likely that you’ll be a serial procrastinator.

Before you get down to work for the day, write down three things you’re thankful for. These could be simple things like good health, fine weather, or a loving family.

You could even do this in a “gratitude journal,” which you can then look back on whenever you need a shot of fresh appreciation for the good things in your life.

Either way, this short exercise will get you in the right mindset to be productive.

29. Get enough sleep.

For most people, this means getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. And teenagers need 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night to function optimally.

What does sleep have to do with procrastination?

More than you might realize.

It’s almost impossible to feel motivated when you’re tired. And when you’re low on energy, your willpower is depleted too.

That’s why you give in to the temptation of Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube videos more easily when you’re sleep-deprived.

Here are ways to get more sleep , and sleep better too:

• Create a bedtime routine
• Go to sleep at around the same time every night
• Set a daily alarm as a reminder to go to bed
• Exercise regularly (but not within a few hours of bedtime)
• Make your bedroom as dark as possible
• Remove or switch off all electronic devices before bedtime
• Avoid caffeine at least six hours before bedtime
• Use an eye mask and earplugs

30. Schedule appointments with yourself to complete your homework.

These appointments are specific blocks of time reserved for working on a report, assignment, or project. Scheduling appointments is effective because it makes the task more “official,” so you’re more likely to keep the appointment.

For example, you could schedule appointments such as:

• Jan 25 th , 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Math assignment
• Jan 27 th , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Online research for social studies project
• Jan 28 th , 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Write introduction for English essay

Transform homework procrastination into homework motivation

Procrastination is a problem we all face.

But given that you’ve read all the way to here, I know you’re committed to overcoming this problem.

And now that you’re armed with these tips, you have all the tools you need to become more disciplined and focused .

By the way, please don’t feel as if you need to implement all the tips at once, because that would be too overwhelming.

Instead, I recommend that you focus on just a couple of tips a week, and make gradual progress. No rush!

Over time, you’ll realize that your habit of procrastination has been replaced by the habit of getting things done.

Now’s the time to get started on that process of transformation. 🙂

Like this article? Please share it with your friends.

Images: Student and books , Homework , Group of students , Consequences , Why , Writing a list , Organized desk , Gratitude

January 19, 2016 at 11:53 am

Ur tips are rlly helpful. Thnkyou ! 🙂

January 19, 2016 at 1:43 pm

You’re welcome 🙂

August 29, 2018 at 11:21 am

Thanks very much

February 19, 2019 at 1:38 pm

The funny thing is while I was reading the first few steps of this article I was procrastinating on my homework….

November 12, 2019 at 12:44 pm

same here! but now I actually want to get my stuff done… huh

December 4, 2022 at 11:35 pm

May 30, 2023 at 6:26 am

October 25, 2023 at 11:35 am

fr tho i totally was but now I’m actually going to get started haha

June 6, 2020 at 6:04 am

I love your articles

January 21, 2016 at 7:07 pm

Thanks soo much. It’s almost like you could read my mind- when I felt so overwhelmed with the workload heap I had created for myself by procrastination, I know feel very motivated to tackle it out completely and replace that bad habit with the wonderful tips mentioned here! 🙂

January 21, 2016 at 8:04 pm

I’m glad to help 🙂

January 25, 2016 at 3:09 pm

You have shared great tips here. I especially like the point “Write down why you want to complete the task” because it is helpful to make us more motivated when we are clear about our goals

January 25, 2016 at 4:51 pm

Glad that you found the tips useful, John!

January 29, 2016 at 1:22 am

Thank you very much for your wonderful tips!!! ☺☺☺

January 29, 2016 at 10:41 am

It’s my joy to help, Kabir 🙂

February 3, 2016 at 12:57 pm

Always love your articles. Keep them up 🙂

February 3, 2016 at 1:21 pm

Thanks, Matthew 🙂

February 4, 2016 at 1:40 pm

There are quite a lot of things that you need to do in order to come out with flying colors while studying in a university away from your homeland. Procrastinating on homework is one of the major mistakes committed by students and these tips will help you to avoid them all and make yourself more efficient during your student life.

February 4, 2016 at 1:58 pm

Completely agreed, Leong Siew.

October 5, 2018 at 12:52 am

Wow! thank you very much, I love it .

November 2, 2018 at 10:45 am

You are helping me a lot.. thank you very much….😊

November 6, 2018 at 5:19 pm

I’m procrastinating by reading this

November 29, 2018 at 10:21 am

January 8, 2021 at 3:38 am

March 3, 2019 at 9:12 am

Daniel, your amazing information and advice, has been very useful! Please keep up your excellent work!

April 12, 2019 at 11:12 am

We should stop procrastinating.

September 28, 2019 at 5:19 pm

Thank you so much for the tips:) i’ve been procrastinating since i started high schools and my grades were really bad “F” but the tips have made me a straight A student again.

January 23, 2020 at 7:43 pm

Thanks for the tips, Daniel! They’re really useful! 😁

April 10, 2020 at 2:15 pm

I have always stood first in my class. But procrastination has always been a very bad habit of mine which is why I lost marks for late submission .As an excuse for finding motivation for studying I would spend hours on the phone and I would eventually procrastinate. So I tried your tips and tricks today and they really worked.i am so glad and thankful for your help. 🇮🇳Love from India🇮🇳

April 15, 2020 at 11:16 am

Well I’m gonna give this a shot it looks and sounds very helpful thank you guys I really needed this

April 16, 2020 at 9:48 pm

Daniel, your amazing information and advice, has been very useful! keep up your excellent work! May you give more useful content to us.

May 6, 2020 at 5:03 pm

nice article thanks for your sharing.

May 20, 2020 at 4:49 am

Thank you so much this helped me so much but I was wondering about like what if you just like being lazy and stuff and don’t feel like doing anything and you don’t want to tell anyone because you might annoy them and you just don’t want to add your problems and put another burden on theirs

July 12, 2020 at 1:55 am

I’ve read many short procrastination tip articles and always thought they were stupid or overlooking the actual problem. ‘do this and this’ or that and that, and I sit there thinking I CAN’T. This article had some nice original tips that I actually followed and really did make me feel a bit better. Cheers, diving into what will probably be a 3 hour case study.

August 22, 2020 at 10:14 pm

Nicely explain each tips and those are practical thanks for sharing. Dr.Achyut More

November 11, 2020 at 12:34 pm

Thanks a lot! It was very helpful!

November 15, 2020 at 9:11 am

I keep catching myself procrastinating today. I started reading this yesterday, but then I realized I was procrastinating, so I stopped to finish it today. Thank you for all the great tips.

November 30, 2020 at 5:15 pm

Woow this is so great. Thanks so much Daniel

December 3, 2020 at 3:13 am

These tips were very helpful!

December 18, 2020 at 11:54 am

Procrastination is a major problem of mine, and this, this is very helpful. It is very motivational, now I think I can complete my work.

December 28, 2020 at 2:44 pm

Daniel Wong: When you’re doing your homework, is your super-comfortable bed just two steps away? Me: Nope, my super-comfortable bed is one step away. (But I seriously can’t study anywhere else. If I go to the dining table, my mum would be right in front of me talking loudly on the phone with colleagues and other rooms is an absolute no. My mum doesn’t allow me to go outside. Please give me some suggestions. )

September 19, 2022 at 12:14 pm

I would try and find some noise cancelling headphones to play some classical music or get some earbuds to ignore you mum lol

March 1, 2021 at 5:46 pm

Thank you very much. I highly appreciate it.

May 12, 2023 at 3:38 am

This is great advice. My little niece is now six years old and I like to use those nice cheap child friendly workbooks with her. This is done in order to help her to learn things completely on her own. I however prefer to test her on her own knowledge however. After a rather quick demonstration in the lesson I then tend to give her two simple questions to start off with. And it works a treat. Seriously. I love it. She loves it. The exam questions are for her to answer on her own on a notepad. If she can, she will receive a gold medal and a box of sweets. If not she only gets a plastic toy. We do this all the time to help her understand. Once a week we spend up to thirty minutes in a math lesson on this technique for recalling the basic facts. I have had a lot of great success with this new age technique. So I’m going to carry on with it for now.

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3 Methods to Stop Watching So Much TV

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​ Watching TV has become a normal part of everyday life. Although not everyone around the world can enjoy this technology, those who do seem to be enjoying it too much.

According to data released by Nielsen in 2016 , American adults watch an average of 5 hours and 4 minutes of television per day.

The habit of watching TV starts at a young age. And unfortunately, in some households, the TV has become the unofficial nanny, keeping young kids glued to it while parents do chores and work.

If you’re ready to use your time better, we will cover three common approaches to stop watching TV. But first, let’s talk about seven good reasons you should cut the cord (or at least minimize your TV time.)

Let's get to it…

Table of Contents

7 Reasons to Stop Watching TV

By choosing to stop (or reduce) watching TV, you can…

1. Increase productivity.

Once you stop wasting time watching TV, you can focus on your work and/or business. You'll instantly gain back several hours each day to work on tasks that will help you move closer to your final goal, whatever that may be.

By freeing up an average of 5 hours and 4 minutes per day, think of everything that you could get done. You could write an entire book in a month, or become a better version of yourself by learning new skills. Time spent watching TV is equivalent to being asleep, and no one is productive in their sleep.

2. Strengthen social relationships.

If you're not wasting so much time sitting in front of the television, you can instead spend that time with your family and friends, and actually talk. You can build more meaningful relationships by communicating about what is going on in each other's lives or what is going on in the world.​

You can learn about other people's opinions on things, and have beneficial discussions. Connection is a basic human need that everyone has, and it will never be satisfied by your television.

3. Think clearer and sharper.

Watching TV slows down your brain activity because of poor content, subliminal programming, and advertising. It fills your head with negative messages, creates unrealistic expectations, and makes you think that your life is inadequate.

Once you stop participating in this passive activity, you will start using your brain more and build the neural pathways you need to continue to progress in life through learning.

4. Develop a healthier self-esteem.

Many TV shows send the wrong message about self-love, happiness, and success , and create unrealistic expectations. Television shows are filled with very attractive people going on amazing adventures or doing exciting things.

It is not always easy to remind yourself that these images and situations are staged, and that they are not actual real life. Watching TV can make people feel disillusioned with their real lives, which may feel empty when compared to those on television.

TV can also put false beliefs in people's minds regarding what is actually possible to accomplish. When these lavish accomplishments aren't met, people become disappointed.

5. Live healthier.

Watching TV gets you stuck in a sedentary lifestyle because it’s often done while sitting. Our society already lives a more sedentary life than generations that came before us due to the fact that many people work while sitting at desks all day.

Going home from work and watching television only makes this problem worse. Sitting all day has been linked to a decline in mental health, an increase in weight gain, and a higher risk of dying from heart disease or other chronic illnesses.

You’re also more likely to overeat while you’re sitting in front of the television, mindlessly snacking on junk food. And, because you’re burning fewer calories since you are getting no physical activity, this is even more risky for your health.

6. Save money.

Canceling cable subscriptions can save you money, and lower your electricity bill too. Cable subscriptions certainly aren't cheap, and if you can cut that one bill every month, you will have that much more money in your pocket to spend on more meaningful activities.

Also, television is constantly exposing you to advertisements that make you feel like you need to make unnecessary purchases to either improve yourself or better your life. Television is designed to make you feel poorly about yourself so you will buy whatever they are selling to fix the problem that advertisers are leading you to believe that you have.

The truth is, you probably don't have the problem in the first place. Even if you’re not watching TV with shopping in mind, what you see can still negatively influence your spending. We are visual beings, and are easily influenced by TV even without realizing it.

7. Become better role models to children.

Kids learn from their parents, and they are now being trained to live sedentary lives by spending their time in front of the television. If they grow up seeing you addicted to TV, they’ll emulate you.

Research has shown the negative effects that television has on children, both because of its influence and because it prevents them from being active.

In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children who are under two years old watch absolutely no TV, and those children older than two watch under two hours of high-quality programming per day.

From birth to two years old is a critical time for children's brains to develop, and television can hinder children from exploring, playing, and having important social interactions that encourage learning and healthy development.

1. Wean yourself off of TV.

By decreasing the amount of time you spend watching TV instead of going cold turkey, you're giving yourself time to adjust. You can start this by being very selective about what you choose to watch.

One of the reasons that you may want to stop watching television is that the programs that come on aren't any good in the first place. If this is the case, don't replace what is airing on TV with other videos like reruns of shows you have seen before or programs that you don't truly enjoy.

Instead, when you do choose to watch TV, try to find something that is worth your time . Watch a show that will teach you something, or watch some classic movies. Increase your standards.

As you do watch these more purposeful shows, keep a record of how much time you are spending in front of the TV . Commit to reducing the number of hours each week, and use a timer if you need to so you can keep track of how long you have been watching.

If you know you only have a set amount of time to watch TV, you will be more likely to enjoy it and watch something that is actually worth your time.

Another part of watching TV with good intentions is to not start watching new shows . When you're trapped in a world of television, everything may start to seem like something you need to watch. Friends may breathlessly tell you how great a new series is and invite you over to start watching it with them.

You can get hooked on the “next best show” out there that everyone is talking about in the office, but if you don't even watch the first episode, you will have no interest in the conversation.

As time goes by, you’ll notice that you either stop watching TV completely, or only watch very specific things that don’t eat up a lot of your time.

Weaning off of TV may also involve dedicating a place and a time for it, and sticking to your rules . Designate “screen-free” areas of your house, such as the kitchen, dining room, and bedroom.

Applying a complete screen ban to these areas will prevent you from watching TV on your smartphone, DVD player, etc. as a substitute. Additionally, you can designate a specific day for TV watching.

If you don’t want to completely stop watching TV, choose a day and specify the number of hours that you can watch TV. You can even use it as a reward for yourself if you stick to the rules.

2. Completely stop watching TV.

Quitting cold turkey is not for everybody, but if you’re dedicated to making a positive change, this might be the right way for you. This will be difficult at first, especially if you tend to turn the television on out of habit and keep it running in the background. But it will get easier as time goes on.

Start by cutting off your access to TV. Cancel your cable TV subscription and your online streaming subscriptions. Remove the TVs from your home and the apps on your phone that you usually watch videos on.

Sell, donate, or give anything away that you can. Get rid of any temptations to watch TV or any reminders that television is an option for a pastime.

Replace this activity with spending time with like-minded people who don’t watch TV either, and socialize with them. This will help take away the temptation to watch television, and it will also help you get accustomed to living like other people who avoid watching television.

It won't take long for you to pick up on the more positive hobbies they enjoy and start adopting this new lifestyle.

To keep your mind off of television shows, make sure to unfollow social media accounts and other online platforms that are dedicated to TV shows .

Since you are no longer watching TV, you don't need to keep up with the latest gossip or news about the characters on the show—whether it is the real life of the actor or actress playing the character or their storyline in the plot of the show. In fact, you need to stop watching the news .

3. Substitute with a healthy habit.

Another approach is to replace watching TV with other healthier activities . It’s not that difficult to find other things to do instead of watching TV. ( Like check out the Morning Brew newsletter .)

Instead of wasting your time in front of the television, start a side project —something not related to your work.

This can help you stay productive while you are not working, but still get your mind off of the subject of your career. Think about things you enjoy doing, whether that is writing a book or building a shed in your backyard.

If you want to do something on a smaller scale, find a new hobby . Spending time on hobbies can help you truly relax and explore your talents.

The good thing about hobbies is that if one doesn't stick, you can easily move on to another. You don't have to put a huge investment of time or money into a hobby until you are ready.

You can also use your free time to learn something new . There are many skills that you can learn by yourself that will give you lasting benefits.

Learning something new will give you something to talk about with your friends who also avoid watching TV. It will also expose you to new things and help expand your mind, set a positive example for your children, and give you some power in your life.

If you want to master a new skill or topic quickly, then the key is to only focus on the information that can be immediately applied. Watch the video below to understand the concept of just-in-time learning.

In addition to teaching yourself new skills, you can also attend a class that interests you . This will help you learn alongside other people who share your interests. Attending a class will help you overcome boredom, cultivate substantial conversations, and impact the lives of other people in a positive way.

Volunteering is another productive way to spend your free time that will positively impact the lives of others. Oftentimes, organizations will value your volunteered time even more than your money, so offering your help can be a priceless way to pitch in to the community.

Look into local nursing homes, soup kitchens, or children's hospitals to see what kind of volunteer opportunities are available. Doing any kind of volunteer work will be much more rewarding than spending a day in front of the television.

Final Thoughts on How to Stop Watching So Much TV

TV isn’t bad, per se, but if you spend too much of your time watching it, you’re not living at all.

Give yourself the chance to enjoy other things and actually experience them yourself rather than just watching other people experience them on TV. Choose which one of the approaches mentioned above best fits your situation and commit to trying to stop watching too much TV.

Once you find yourself with a little more extra time, we can use it to create positive habits that add value to your daily existence. If you're really serious about changing your habits, this article explores if successful people watch TV might interest you .

Finally, if you want to level up your productivity and time management skills, then watch this free video about the 9 productivity habits you can build at work .

2 thoughts on “3 Methods to Stop Watching So Much TV”

I come from a long line of TV watchers. My dad watches TV from afternoon to bedtime, and my husband and I had developed the habit of doing the same thing, which was so frustrating.

We got rid of our cable, but we just found a way to borrow cable online from family. We tried taking the TV out of the bedroom (where we watched a lot of Supernatural before bed), but we just watched in the living room instead.

We found it really imperative to get in the mindsets of ‘We have much better things to do than watch TV’ and ‘We don’t need TV in our lives’. Once we adopted the right mindset it was so much easier to back away from the TV and do other things.

It is not an easy thing to do these days, with so much good programming on places like Netflix. But this also makes it more important from the productivity point of view -since there is always something “great” to watch.

Comments are closed.

Does Watching TV Before Studying Affect Study Habits?

In today’s age of technology, TV’s are everywhere. They are mounted on the wall in doctor’s waiting rooms, are located in every room of the home, and even carried around in our pockets in the form of smartphones. There is no doubt about it, TV’s are inescapable and can be quite distracting. This is especially true at homework time. TV’s can have adverse implications on study habits. They can also affect the study habits of children who watch TV before studying. Here are some tips to improve your child’s study habits and help set them up for success.

Children Should Not have a 65  Inch TV in Their Bedroom

If your child studies in their bedroom, they should not have a TV in their room. It sounds crazy, but they should especially not have a huge TV in their room. There are folks who have large TVs in their kids room and that is a mega distraction. There have been documented research studies that suggest children have lower standardized test scores when they have a television in their bedroom versus those who do not.

A 2005 Stanford University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University study reported that children scored between seven and nine points lower on standardized reading and math scores. Considering this study was done before the tablet and smartphone invasion, an argument could be made that the test scores are affected more than ever before. 

These children in the study also were found to study for longer lengths of time when they had a television in their room than children who did not have a TV. The fact that televisions are distracting is the main factor for this anomaly. 

In 2018 approximately 71 percent of American kids , ages 8 to 18, had a TV in their bedroom. Further, in 2013, 75 percent of children eight years old and younger had access to a smartphone or a tablet. This poses some serious questions as to the long term implications and the successful study habits of our children. 

The simple solution: don’t let your child have a television in their bedroom. 

Is Watching TV Before Studying Poor Timing?

The short answer is yes. It is recommended that you should use television as a reward after you get a certain amount of studying done. The reason for allowing TV time after studying is so that your child has ample time to study and doesn’t run out of time to complete their homework if they spend too much of it watching TV before doing homework. 

As children get older, they tend to have more homework at night. With extra-curricular activities, some students only have an hour or so to get homework done from the time they get home from sports practices, tutoring, dance, scouts, etc. If they waste that time watching television, with the excuse that they need to decompress, they won’t get their homework done, and their grades will suffer. 

If you find that your child is chronically running out of time at night to get their homework done, you may need to reevaluate the number of extracurricular activities that they participate in or work out a better schedule for them to get their schoolwork done in a timely manner.

Learn Time Management 

Part of homework is learning how to correctly budget time. If your child wants to do sports, wants to watch television, wants to be able to play outside after school, and needs to eat dinner, they need to be good at managing their time. 

If you start instilling sound time management systems early in their education, as your child gets older, they will be better at organizing their time on their own. Once they are in college, your child will thank you for setting them up to face schoolwork on their own. 

If you are horrible with time management, perhaps sit down and put together a schedule with your child. Aim for it to be something that can easily be accomplished and not a system that can be busted open and thrown out the window if you get stuck in traffic or if the team bus is running late returning from a game.

Be sure to remember that watching television within a half-hour of bedtime can make it hard to fall asleep. The lighting from a TV can stimulate the brain, rather than help it to settle down. So, if you build TV time into your child’s schedule, make sure that it won’t hinder their ability to get a good night’s sleep.

Dad, Cyber Safety Influencer, Product Evangelist, Avid Cyclist, Hobbyist Musician. Battling the constant love/hate with tech.

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Thank you so much for valuable information…

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8 Crucial Things You Will Learn After You Stop Watching Television

I stopped watching Television approximately 8+ years ago. It wasn’t really a conscious decision, but something that just happened naturally over the last few years as I began looking at the things I needed to do in order to make progress.

I suppose personal development has been a major influence, but what seems to be obvious to me is that it’s a major problem for all of us when it comes to breaking away from it and doing what makes you truly happy.

I’m seeing a huge disconnect with the people I tend to meet on a daily basis and fail to form meaningful discussions because I didn’t watch an episode of ‘Breaking Bad’ or ‘Coronation Street’.

I also see a bunch of people dedicate their whole lives to things that aren’t important in the grand scheme of what their lives are truly about. We fail to see it due to the effects television does over years of consumption and entertainment.

Since stopping it, I’ve realised why I became different to most people in terms of mindset and beliefs, which I honestly believe is a more healthy attitude.

Here are the things I’ve personally learned the minute I stopped watching television and what you will also see if you decide to stop:

1) You stop thinking like a consumer.

Television is simply an advertising tool to make people buy something. When you look at television in this way, you begin to understand why things are the way they are when watching it.

According to the PWC Payback Study , “TV has delivered the highest sales return of any medium; £4.5m per £1m spent. TV also creates emotion better than other media and was far more effective in driving the bottom line (sales, market share, profit and loyalty)”

They broadcast shows in order to stir your emotions in a certain direction and help entertain you long enough so that you’re shown advertisements to condition you to make a purchase.

In psychology, we tend to buy based on how we feel, and television is simply a vehicle to help guide our emotions in a specific direction in order to achieve it.

Is it any wonder why so many of us are so insecure?

Over time, this conditioning leaks over into your everyday life and becomes who you are.

2) You realise you don’t need things in life to be happy.

When you limit television in your life, you begin to look at things differently and are forced to do other things that don’t require sitting on the sofa.

You begin taking part in activities and doing things that provide you with joy and fulfilment.

You begin to see the main cause as to why we buy in the first place , which could otherwise be replaced with something that doesn’t require a monetary investment.

The world begins to open up in front of you as you start to see a wealth of opportunities to try new things and get on the path of self-improvement.

Perhaps there was a new hobby you always wanted to start but always made an excuse because of a TV show holding you back.

Or maybe you felt like you had no time due to lounging on the sofa after a hard day’s work.

3) You become more active and passionate about life.

Life suddenly feels a lot more fruitful and abundant the minute you turn off your television and get out into the world. The opportunity to live a fulfilling life suddenly becomes possible.

Opportunities that you otherwise could not have seen spending it on the sofa and watching TV shows.

Granted, some of you reading this might argue that you can do both. But I challenge you to spend 4 hours in front of the television and to then go out afterwards and do physical activity.

You would be too mentally engrossed and exhausted to have the energy to do it.

And this is especially true after a full day in the office. The last thing you would want to do is head back out when the prospect of staying indoors in front of the television is an easier option.

4) Your self-esteem increases.

Advertising is meant to make you feel like you need something in order to feel better about yourself. It’s the biggest driving force to make people buy.

Advertisements that depict imagery of Male/Female models wearing expensive suits or dresses, in perfect shape living in plush houses or driving nice cars.

No one wants to feel limited or insecure and is conditioned to feel that way in order to prevent this from happening. You must buy, be or do something so that you no longer feel that way.

It’s simply not true. The fact is, you are enough. You can decide to be anything you want from today and don’t require any resources besides your own free will to make things happen.

This becomes clear the moment you turn off your television

5) You begin to develop independent thoughts and beliefs.

Television is a very powerful tool. I never quite realised how powerful it really was until I stopped watching it.

It has the capability to condition people to believe in things that are simply not true. It is able to distort actual reality from fantasy and is able to do so without people realising it.

You become fearful of life and start looking at things based on what you’ve been conditioned by television. What if things aren’t what you’ve seen on television?

It reminds me of the famous quote Obi-Wan Kenobi tells Luke Skywalker in the movie Star Wars – “Your eyes can deceive you, don’t trust them.”

Your eyes are powerful enough to take in the things you’re conditioned to believe are true. If you see life in a negative way (Which television often depicts), you will see more of and attract negative things into your life.

Likewise, if you decide to only accept the positive things, your life will begin to be more positive.

6) You become more connected with the people around you.

The more you focus on television and digital media in general, the less connected you become with the outside world.

This epidemic has gotten worse in today’s modern culture with the use of television, digital smartphones and the internet where people seem to have a better relationship with others through social media and TV shows than they do with real face-to-face interactions.

Never before have I seen a bunch of people in a nightclub scanning through their smartphones on social media sites like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, when actual live people are right in front of them, ready to be interacted with.

7) Your overall lifestyle improves.

When you stop consuming your life with entertainment, you’re left with a major question that you have to ask yourself – “What can I now do in my life to make it worth living?”

This is a great opportunity to reflect because you’re often left with an answer that provides you with a harsh truth of just how boring and unfulfilling your life actually is.

You’re given the chance to finally rediscover your life’s purpose and what it should be about.

Perhaps it’s hiking in the mountains, or going on bike rides with friends. Or maybe it’s rock climbing or backpacking across the globe.

Your life suddenly becomes more free-flowing and left with opportunities that you otherwise could not have seen due to watching television.

8) You become less materialistic

It’s no surprise that television has encouraged buying behaviour. With companies spending thousands on TV advertising, there’s a reason why this is the case.

It’s one of the most effective forms of communication due to the sheer number of viewers tuning in to watch their favourite television shows.

In a Nielson study, the average American watches an average of 5.1 hours of television a day or 153 hours per month (Q1 of 2009).

So removing television completely as a source of entertainment simply removes exposure, which lowers your need for wanting things that you simply do not need in the grand scheme of things.

You suddenly have no reason to shop unless it’s absolutely necessary and find you’re able to save a lot more money in the process.

So What Next…

Taking away the choice to watch television or remove it completely will no doubt free up a lot of time that you otherwise felt you didn’t have. This is a great place to be as it will allow you to finally think about what else to do.

You will feel compelled and inspired to begin looking at productive things to do to enrich your life further.

Here are a list of ideas to get started:

• Exercising and going to the gym.
• Starting Martial Arts.
• Reading a book.
• Spending more time with friends and family.
• More time for prayer and mindfulness.
• Planning future goals.
• Travelling & exploring.
• Spending more time doing the things you love.

You’re now left with a choice to construct your life how you want. Will you use this information to better it, or stick with doing the same thing that you’ve done in the past?

The choice is yours…

Onder is the founder of Dawn of Change. He spends most of his time in the discovery of his own potential, building his self-confidence and using his experiences to share and teach others how to do the same.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to do homework: 15 expert tips and tricks.

Coursework/GPA

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! 

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. 

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! 

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. 

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. 

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, you 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!)

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. 

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!

Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs.

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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How to Avoid Distractions While Studying

Last Updated: November 14, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Ashley Pritchard, MA . Ashley Pritchard is an Academic and School Counselor at Delaware Valley Regional High School in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Ashley has over 3 years of high school, college, and career counseling experience. She has an MA in School Counseling with a specialization in Mental Health from Caldwell University and is certified as an Independent Education Consultant through the University of California, Irvine. 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 818,142 times.

You know you really want to get good grades. Your parents have put the pressure on, or you promised yourself you would do better. But you keep getting distracted! If you work to find a focused mindset, establish a study schedule, and choose the right place to study, you can cut out the distractions you have control over and minimize the ones you can't stop completely.

Easy Tips for Better Focus

• For example, if you have a biology exam coming up that covers three chapters, you don't have to cram everything into one study session. Try focusing first on the parts that give you trouble, like that subsection on the Krebs cycle. Also try making notes and flashcards as it helps.

• Turn off notifications on your devices. (If your device has the “Do not disturb” mode, try using that.) Better still, turn them off completely.
• Don't take calls or texts. Turn off your phone if you are able, or at least keep it on silent and away.
• If you can't stop this distraction, look into apps or browser plugins that can block social media, certain websites, or any other specific outlets that pull you away from studying. [4] X Research source

• Moving around a bit, such as by taking a brief walk, will be most beneficial.

• If you do this consistently, you should find that you gradually spend less and less time being distracted.

Hacking Your Study Schedule

• For example, you might decide to study biology for an hour on Monday night, followed by an hour of English. Then, on Tuesday afternoons, you study Math for two hours.
• If you are studying around other people, post your schedule so they will know when it's not ok to distract you.

Creating the Perfect Study Space

• Most people like a place that is neither too cold nor too warm.
• A study space shouldn't be loud. Some people prefer a place that is absolutely quiet, others like a little background noise.
• If you are often distracted by studying, choose a seat that faces a wall rather than a window, hallway, or other seats.

• You can also message your friends, tell them when you're studying, and ask them not to disturb you during that time.
• If your home environment is always too noisy and you can't study anywhere else, a pair of earplugs, ear defenders or noise-cancelling headphones should block most (if not all) of the noise out. Playing a calm "white noise" background track through headphones can help you to focus on your studies while also masking even more noise around you if you find music too distracting.

• The music should be fairly quiet.
• Choose music that has no lyrics so you'll be less likely to become distracted.
• Consider listening to “white noise” tracks for background noise instead of music.

Study Schedule Template

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You Might Also Like

• If you study at home and are constantly bothered by parents, pets, and siblings, move to a place that's away from them, but where you're still motivated to study. Thanks Helpful 21 Not Helpful 3
• If you mostly get online distractions, consider using a site blocker Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 1

• ↑ Ashley Pritchard, MA. School Counselor. Expert Interview. 4 November 2019.
• ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/take-charge-of-distractions/
• ↑ https://carrington.edu/blog/how-to-avoid-distractions/
• ↑ https://success.oregonstate.edu/learning/concentration

About This Article

To avoid distractions while studying, start by prioritizing your to-do list and making a plan for your study session. Then, turn off your phone, close your emails, and use a browser extension to block websites that you frequently use to procrastinate. If you have a lot of studying to do, create a study schedule and stick to it. However, remember to switch between subjects every 2 hours, and take study breaks every 45-60 minutes to stay focused and energized. Try studying somewhere away from home, like a quiet library or a nearby coffee shop, which can help you stay on task. For tips on getting into and staying in a focused mindset, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Too Much Television? How to Curb Your Kids’ TV Time

Maybe it’s the Paw Patrol theme song on constant repeat in your head or the fact that your  daughter knows every word, song, and dance move to Descendents 1, 2 and 3 .

It could be your teenager’s infatuation with all million Marvel movies (they’re still making more ?) or encyclopedic knowledge of all 800+ characters from the Pokémon shows and films. 

In any of these cases, your kids may be watching too much TV. 

In today’s technological and entertainment-focused world, the variety of television programming and instant streaming (Netflix, Amazon, Hulu) is basically limitless. In the past two decades, shows have become a quick download away and are ever-focused on a growing target audience–our kids.

Instantly streamable kid movies and shows are prolific and lucrative. Some may be solely entertaining, while others aim to be moral and educational. 

Some even captivate and amuse the parents (while others, no doubt, annoy). 

Marvel movies, as mentioned above, aren’t even family movies per se–but kids love them. In any genre, the goal of television programming is to be wildly entertaining and addictive to audiences.

For our children, it is undeniably both.

It may start small, with your kindergartener watching an extra episode of Fancy Nancy or your teenager negotiating an extra 15 minutes of Spider-Man Homecoming . But then, all of a sudden, your kids are spending multiple hours a day glued to the screen. 

Whether it’s too much television throughout the year or just during certain times, most parents are conscientious enough to know that children shouldn’t spend an exorbitant amount of time in front of the TV. 

But do you feel powerless to curb the habit? Is the thought of enforcing stricter limits overwhelming to both you and your kids?

The good news is that there is hope. It will take some dedication, but with a few simple strategies, you can guide your kids back to a reasonable amount of screen time. 

First of All, How Much Is Too Much TV?

I get it. Television is a great way for kids to zone out and relax after school, in the evenings, or on lazy weekend mornings. 

And let’s be honest, it also provides parents a much-needed break. After all, there are only so many crafts you can come up with or board games you can play when the weather’s extreme and you’re entertaining stir-crazy kids . 

Sometimes, we just need to occupy children so we can finish those long-put-off chores or work from home. 

Honestly, it’s no wonder many of us give in to looser television limits–we need to get stuff done and stay sane! 

The point is, without limits, television usage can be a slippery slope. 

It’s hard to quantify exactly what constitutes too much television for children. It depends on a variety of factors, including a child’s personality and age. What is certain is that kids are watching more television than ever before and excessive usage can invite a host of negative effects . 

Just like you, your kids need to live well-balanced lives. Setting television limits and parental controls is a great starting point. It’s also important to remain aware of what your kids are watching and how shows might be affecting them. 

The best way to tell if television (and technology in general) has become problematic for your child is to look for troublesome warning signs. 

 Note: For Positive Parenting Solutions Members, please visit/review the Specialty Module, “Family Technology Survival Plan.”

Signs of Television Addiction 

Television addiction can exhibit the same signs as any other kind of addiction:

• If you are setting limits on screen time and find that your children are concealing usage or regularly breaking the rules, they are probably addicted. 
• If children throw tantrums , become irritable, or act uncontrollably when you remove the television, this is a clear indication of an unhealthy dependence. 
• If children are suffering in school, consider whether or not television might have something to do with it. 
• If your child is consistently staying up late and losing sleep due to television, this is a clear sign of addiction. Irregular sleep patterns and consistent loss of sleep can affect a child’s learning and cognitive abilities and needs to be addressed immediately. 
• If your child always chooses television over other traditionally fun and social activities, he or she has probably reached an unhealthy level of screen-time dependence. 

If you notice any of the signs above, it is time for a television intervention . So, roll up your sleeves and get ready to regain control of the tube. 

Setting Healthy Limits on Television

If you’re like most families, taking television away altogether isn’t realistic or desirable. I can also tell you, that as long as you maintain healthy control over it, it isn’t necessary. 

The main objective is to help your kids refrain from binge-watching and not let television detract from either their responsibilities or their mental, physical, and social well-being. 

Implementing When-Then Routines Before TV Time

If your kids are used to watching television and not getting their rudimentary tasks done first (like family contributions , homework, music practice, etc.), consider using When-Then terminology with them. 

When-Then is one of the 37 tools you’ll learn through our online course at Positive Parenting Solutions. Join me for a free class and learn one of our other wildly popular tools–the 5Rs to fair and effective consequences.

“ When you are done emptying the dishwasher and taking out the trash, Kyle, then you can watch your show.”

“ When you are done with all of your homework, Jasmine, then you can download that new movie on iTunes.”

When-Then is a great way to put the responsibility in your kids’ laps. They know what they need to do to watch the television. They can control when that happens by deciding to accomplish the less-than-desirable task first, on their terms. 

When-Then becomes even more powerful when you establish it as part of a routine. If Kyle knows he has to empty the dishwasher every day, there will be a point when you no longer even have to say “When-Then.” He’ll just do it. The routine becomes the boss, you get your dishes put away, and Kyle gets to watch his television after being a more productive member of the family. 

Please Note: Make sure you don’t present television usage as a special reward . This will make tasks feel more like unbearable chores. When-Then Routines work best if the goal is an already-established privilege that can only be enjoyed after necessary tasks are completed. 

Nixing the Nagging/Negotiating

When-Then Routines also eliminate the need for you to nag and negotiate with your kids. 

Nagging your children to stop or start doing something usually turns into a power struggle. They feel belittled because they don’t think you believe they can accomplish things without your reminders (and maybe you really do think this!). This will make them feel annoyed, defensive, and less likely to cooperate. 

Also, if in a moment of weakness you give in when your child tries to bargain with you, you send the message that everything is up for negotiation . You might think that allowing a few more minutes of television isn’t a big deal, but a few months down the road you could have a child glued to a screen all day. 

Avoid getting dragged into a negotiation, listening to whining, or being sucked into a power struggle by simply stating When-Then, and walking away . After all, if you stick around, you provide an audience for the badgering and you may find yourself giving in! 

Stay strong, and your kids will learn that no amount of whining will change your mind. Case closed.

Leading by Example

If we place a lot of value in our own TV viewing, our kids will learn the same. It’s certainly fine to have our adult TV time (after all, we deserve to relax AND need to stay relevant for the next adult dinner party), but it’s best not to consistently “veg” in front of the television while our children are watching. 

If we enjoy the great outdoors, like to read, cook fun meals, or play an instrument or sport, our kids will catch on and be influenced by these healthy hobbies. The earlier we can introduce our kids to these non-electronic alternatives, the better. 

It’s so easy to become hypocritical and allow our personal actions to fall contrary to the expectations we have of our children. Just stay vigilant and try to “practice what you preach.”

Offering One-on-One Parent/Child Time

You can always encourage less television viewing by suggesting one-on-one time with your child, doing something she chooses.

Spending undistracted, quality time with our children is incredibly empowering for kids. It gives them a sense of importance and value that they crave. It’s personal attention, a chance for connection, and a FUN activity. Used routinely and correctly, your kids will become addicted to it–perhaps even more so than television.

You can suggest kicking a soccer ball back and forth, playing a game of Uno, taking a walk to the park, or even going on a mini scavenger hunt around the house. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or well planned-out (unless you’d like it to be)–it just needs to be at least 10-15 minutes of daily, child-directed, personal time with your kids.

This may seem unrealistic to those of you with withdrawn teenagers . But believe me–they need this one-on-one time just as much as the toddlers in your life. Don’t stop encouraging it or finding the time and means to implement it. 

Please Note: If your child wants to use television as your one-on-one activity, this is okay every once in a while within the following limits: make sure you are watching the television together ; make sure you are discussing what you’re watching; and try to keep it educational for little tykes. 

Limiting Instantaneous Downloads (in an Age of Entitlement)

Have you tried introducing some of your favorite older movies to your kids, only to hear them say, “This is so boring.” “Why is this so slow?” “ Is this seriously in black and white?” 

Our current era of instant gratification can make viewing older movies with slower plot lines and less special effects a real drag for kids. We know how fun and action-packed television and movies are these days.

Even playing a DVD seems archaic to today’s kids. Despite quickly finding the DVD and fast-forwarding through the pre-programmed previews to the menu screen, a (mere) minute later, your kids are wondering what took so long. 

A lack of patience and inability to be bored are just smaller signs of the entitlement epidemic facing kids today. 

(In my book, The “Me Me Me” Epidemic , I discuss at length not only why many of today’s children believe in inherently special treatment–but also how we can combat it.)

Working and waiting for desired outcomes is something our youngsters still need to learn. Maybe now more than ever. 

If you’re worried about creating entitled kids , implementing control over the television can make a difference.

Try making them wait until the weekend for a special movie night–a movie that you all take turns choosing. Since they’ve had to wait all week it may make them more receptive to watching something they didn’t pick out (or something from your youth that is now apparently ancient ).

Final Thoughts

Television, my friend, is here to stay. Maybe futuristic TVs will fly around the house for special effect, morph into IMAX screens, or automatically lower the volume during commercials (you never know). But beyond bigger and better entertainment value, the presence of television is most likely permanent.  

Instead, we need to focus on managing television’s addictive qualities and not let it affect our children’s health, progress, and goals. 

I realize it’s easier said than done. After all, I raised two kids in the digital age. But I also know from experience that you can reset your television rules for the benefit of all. 

So there you have it. Now’s the time to get you and your kids on track for manageable, guiltless, and worry-free screen time. And we’re here to guide you every step of the way. 

For more tools, I encourage you to check out my FREE ONLINE CLASS . You’ll learn the 5Rs for implementing effective consequences for misbehaviors –including the excessive or inappropriate use of technology.

Title Image: Alena Ozerova / Shutterstock www.shutterstock.com/photos

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21 Ways to Reduce Digital Distractions During Online Classes and Homework Time

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This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

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Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

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This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

Staying productive and reducing digital distractions during online classes and homework time can pose a challenge to students. Many families have students who complete some or all of their education online, and from home.

We reached out to 21 experts to get their best tips to successfully manage remote learning and homework time without letting social media, games, and apps get in the way.

1. Schedule breaks for every block of homework time

‍ Eric Kim, Co-owner and Program Director, LA Tutors

Even before we instituted remote schooling, many students struggled with online distractions. With all their classwork moving online, students may find it even easier to be on social media or play games during school hours. Students are going to be spending a lot of time in front of screens by necessity. However, if there are any homework assignments that can be done off the computer, such as math worksheets that can be printed out, or studying vocabulary off flashcards, parents should encourage students to do so to prevent screen time burnout.

For assignments that do have to be completed online, parents should recognize that it may be impossible for students to completely resist checking their social media or playing a quick game. Here, the flexible schedules of remote learning can actually be a benefit. Parents should encourage their child to take short, regular breaks where they are allowed to do non-learning activities or leisure activities as long as they then get back to work once they are done. Something like 25 minutes of studying followed by 5-10 minutes of TikTok is perfectly reasonable and may get better results out of your child than attempting to ban social media entirely.

During Zoom classes, when students really need to be dedicating their full attention, then parents can be stricter about forbidding social media. Confiscating phones during class time is probably a good idea, and in extreme cases parents may want to discuss disabling apps for younger students. In every case, parents should keep in mind that many students are stressed and missing their classmates so a little more leeway regarding student’s attempts to digitally keep in touch with their friends is perfectly reasonable.

2. Have everyone in your family sign a screen time agreement to help reduce digital distractions

‍ Josh Ochs, Founder of SmartSocial.com

Parents ask me all the time how to know if their child is paying attention to their online class and doing their online assignment- or if they’re actually playing Fortnite or scrolling through TikTok. Unless you’re always in the same room as your child, it can be difficult to know exactly what your student is up to online. I always recommend having everyone in your family sign a smartphone and social media agreement and keeping the dialogue open about digital expectations and consequences.

The agreement can serve as an icebreaker for parents to cover key safety issues like screen time limits, sexting, cyberbullying, and more. It gives kids a glance at their own responsibilities as internet users and reminds them that using social media in a negative way or when they’re not supposed to can lead to consequences. Make sure the agreement is kept somewhere visible, like on the fridge or on their desk. Regularly referring back to the agreement will remind students of the commitments they made while they are taking remote classes or doing their online homework.

3. All school rules should be followed at home as well

‍ Alice Anderson, Founder and Creator, Mommy to Mom

My kids have been fully remote learning for over a year now. I have a son in 1st grade and a daughter in 7th grade. Digital distractions aren’t really an issue for my son. His tablet for school is very limited as far as the amount of apps and websites he can access. The apps he uses for school are mostly considered play-based learning, so he doesn’t try to go on anything else anyway since he’s already playing.

It’s a little more tricky with my daughter since she has access to different apps and websites for school work. Basically, any rules that the school has, we keep the same at home. For example, she’s not allowed to have her cell phone in her room during school hours because she wouldn’t be allowed to have it at school.

She admitted to me one day that she was chatting during class a few times over Google Meets, which she knew she shouldn’t do. Not being in school has been difficult for her from a social aspect, so I try to be understanding and fair about the situation. The solution we decided on was to compromise by allowing her to chat during breaks, lunch, and study hall.

Sometimes she’ll finish her work early and ask if she can chat during class, which in that case I will agree to. I try to be lenient because she is an honor roll student and has adjusted really well considering the circumstances. She’s going to be a teenager next month and we want to keep the lines of communication open. Our daughter knows that as long as she is open and honest with us, we can talk about her mistakes and it won’t always end in a punishment. This approach has worked well for us so far.

4. Design a space conducive to school work

‍ Thomas Vibe, Founder, Stone Wizards

One of the effective ways to remove digital distractions during remote learning and homework time is by carefully designing your child’s room to be conducive to studying. It should mimic or be better than classroom ambiance. If possible, provide your children separate space for studying and recreation. Set timers and reminders on their gadgets so that they will be urged to follow their schedule. If you can, give them small rewards to appreciate their consistency in following your ground rules in studying.

5. Turn phones on airplane mode and consider noise-canceling headphones for ultimate focus

‍ Evan Weinberger and Wendy Weinberger, Co-founders, Illuminos Academic Coaching & Tutoring

Following decades of his own struggles with learning differences, Evan started an academic coaching company with the goal to equip students with the executive functioning skills, habits, and tools they need to manage stress and achieve greater success.

• Turn your phone on airplane mode so you can use it as a timer as needed
• Turn off your phone notifications
• Have a computer that is ONLY for school
• Find a place to do your homework where you ONLY do school work – no gaming, no talking to friends, no social media
• Use noise-canceling headphones to allow for better focus
• Allow for failure – if your child sneaks a peek at his phone, it is OK. It is not the end of the world for him – or you. Take a moment to relax and then try again

That’s a good time to gently encourage reflection and ask your child what was his motivation level? Did other things take priority over homework? How would success look in this circumstance, and what steps would they need to take to get there next time?

6. Gamify learning

‍ Greg Freebury, Founder, Think & Evolve

Kids are obsessed with games these days, so if you are going to try to limit distractions with remote learning, you might as well make it fun by turning it into a game!

You can create quests, such as limiting the usage of specific apps to a set amount of time per day or restricting visiting certain websites during specified time periods. Completing each task earns points. Then, those points can be used to buy rewards like a chores pass, an extra hour of video games, the latest Fortnite skin, or whatever would be appealing to your kid.

If you want to take it even further, you could put up a scoreboard on the wall to keep track of all the quests, earned points, and possible rewards. You could also have your kids create their own avatars with a unique name and appearance to gamify it further and make it even more fun.

Apps such as StayFree and Offtime can be used to track app usage on smartphones and tablets, and Google Chrome extensions such as Webtime Tracker can be used for laptops.

Taking a rather mundane, but necessary, task like limiting distractions and turning it into a game can really help entice your kids to participate more enthusiastically and transform a dull task into something fun and engaging.

7. Set time limits and goals before rewarding yourself with an activity

‍ Mike Thompson, CEO, Hyperlend

The internet has good and bad effects, but presents a high possibility of disrupting learning. Here are some factors to consider:

• Set up the desired time limit for studying and other Internet interactions respectively. Make a chain of starting to study for some time and then awarding a 10-minute break to use other stuff and then back to studying.
• Accomplish your targets before taking steps towards fun activities. Try to complete work before treating yourself with other activities as it would not lead to distraction.
• Make use of applications that allow you to use selected apps for a specified period. After the limit usage, the app will close and will not open for the next 24 hours.

8. Set yourself up for success by planning your entire schoolwork day

‍ Adam Shlomi, Founder, SoFlo SAT Tutoring

It is undeniable that students across the globe suffer from a common issue in regards to their education: lack of productivity. One of the most significant reasons for the lack of productivity amongst students is distractions caused by social media.

Here’s what students can do to balance homework and their devices:

• Turn off notifications so there isn’t any temptation while studying
• Figure out what works for you
• Create a plan for study and homework
• Put the phone away during study times
• Take breaks every half hour
• Set up specific hours where no technology will be used

9. Schedule breaks and set rules on no phones during working time

‍ Adam Garcia, CEO, The Stock Dork

Remote learning challenges students with a number of different distractions around them. Electronic devices that allow access to social media and chatting apps lead the way in distractions. One minute, you could be studying, and the next minute you could be spending 20 minutes scrolling through your social media newsfeed without even realizing it.

An excellent solution is to take scheduled breaks for this purpose. For example, a 15-minute break after every hour can allow you to study and spend time using social media as well. Make sure that when not on break, you put your device to “do not disturb” mode and block social media websites on your laptop. Not getting notifications will keep you from hopping on to social media unnecessarily.

10. It’s up to you to learn self-control

‍ Carla Diaz, Broadband Search

Having run a remote business for some time now, and working remotely myself, I’ve learned a lot about dealing with digital distractions (especially when many of these distractions come from the very devices you need in order to do your work). You need to teach yourself self-control. If you catch yourself going over to social media on your phone/computer, take note of that and try to stop it. It’s only a matter of time before you realize you’ve been scrolling for hours.

If you don’t get the hang of stopping yourself from becoming distracted, you need to put limitations in place that’ll do it for you. Put certain devices that you might not need away from you or download an app that restricts your access to certain apps while you’re working. Even if you know the password to these applications, those extra steps of needing to use more passwords and change your preferences to access those apps might help deter you and keep your focus on work. As you do this for longer, it should become easier and you should see your productivity improve.

11. Create a workspace at home for your teen

‍ Vicky Cano, Chef & Recipe Developer, Meal Fam

Create a separate classroom space. Exactly as we talk about a separate and designated workspace at home for workers, students also need a separate space where they can study in peace without digital distractions. Parents should create a space that is quiet and peaceful, and make sure it only has the necessary furniture like a chair and a table, and equipment such as a computer on which their child can do the homework. There shouldn’t be any digital devices except for the one on which the kid is studying, to minimize distractions. Also, use parental locks on that device so that the kid can’t access social media on it. If the student has to work on their tablet or PC that they use for entertainment as well, make sure it has a parental lock until they complete their homework, and that all the notifications are turned off.

12. Align your work from home schedule with your teen’s school schedule

‍ Pavel Ladziak, Founder, The Beard Struggle

For me, the best way to manage remote learning and homework time is to provide a supportive environment. Since I also work from home, I limit my use of gadgets at home outside working hours. I align my working hours with my son’s class schedule. Then, we spend our weekends playing video games for two hours only. After that, I help him do his homework. In that way, he will see how gadgets are used for studying and for leisure properly. Above all, this leads him to create a good study habit.

13. Create positive habits in your teens and add entertainment breaks into homework time

‍ Jessica Robinson, The Speaking Polymath

A habit cannot be reversed in a single day. It takes some time and effort to do so. This means that if a child is habitual of spending most of his time with their smartphone, then, parents will have to help them get rid of this habit slowly. One of the best things parents can do is to set up a no digital time during the day for the entire family and reward the child for their success in abiding by the rule. Further, the rewards should be such that they can actually motivate the child to stay away from his smartphone during the decided time. Yummy snacks, a new comic book, and some extra pocket money are some examples of alluring rewards that can inspire kids to abide by the no digital device time.

14. Consider writing notes old school style with pen and paper

‍ Elizabeth Hicks, Co-founder, Parenting Nerd LLC

Here are two tips to be successful with remote learning:

Get Organized:

Make yourself as organized as you do for your physical classes on campus. Before the school season begins, ensure that you have enough technical equipment to access the required course material. Furthermore, you need to have enough writing material, like a pe and writing pad for making quick reliable notes for the class.

Set Up Your Workspace:

Set up a dedicated learning environment for studying. When choosing a workplace try to limit distraction as much as possible both psychologically and online. If you’re at home, resist the urge to turn on the television or finish that last load of laundry. Ensure that your internet connection is strong enough as to not cause a hurdle while you are studying.

15. Set up a designated school space in your home

‍ Melissa Scatena, CEO of Scattered Solutions

I suggest setting up a homework/homeschool space in your home. Things to keep in mind:

• Try to choose a quiet space in a less busy part of the house , an environment that will naturally minimize distractions. It’s important to choose this area and stick with it
• Choose functional furniture and stock up on supplies. We suggest avoiding couches or lap desks and instead opt for a traditional desk or a small table and chair. Consider adding a soft cushion on the chair — when kids feel uncomfortable, they’re more prone to stirring and squirming, leading to distraction and disorganization. With regard to supplies, be sure to stock up on pens, pencils, and markers. We also suggest including a timer on your supplies list, which you can use to give your child a brain break for intervals of uninterrupted work
• Reserve space for a calendar and to-do list. Important, visible anchors like these will make your child’s in-house homeschool/homework space an area that encourages building on small tasks to reach larger goals ‍

Melissa came on the SmartSocial.com Podcast to share her tips to reduce digital distractions during online classes:

16. Help your students keep their senses activated

‍ Karen Gross, Author and Educator

Parents need to recognize that many children cannot concentrate for long periods of time in an online class learning setting. So, distractions are not necessarily all bad. They may give a student a needed breathing space to refocus and settle their minds before they re-engage.

• Offer food to students that they can snack on between classes or while online learning (if the teacher allows). This helps them concentrate more effectively and adds comfort to the experience
• Give students fidget toys to keep their hands busy while they are learning online. This will allow them to get some of their excess energy out
• Let them access online in different physical positions: a chair, a bed, standing, a countertop. Switch up where they learn and see which setting is best for concentration
• Let students do something constructive if they are going to be distracted. That is one reason I wrote a word play book . A riddle book or joke book works too
• Provide students with paper and amazing colored pencils or unique crayons or cray-pas and let them doodle while learning online ‍

The key is to keep their senses activated and to enable them to use distractions constructively.

17. Allow teens to take scheduled social media breaks to communicate with friends

‍ Arash Fayz, Executive Director of LA TUTORS 123

Doing as much homework off the computer as possible will help minimize distractions and prevent burnout from too much screen time. For assignments that do have to be completed online, parents should recognize that it may be impossible for students to completely resist checking their social media or playing a quick game. Here, the flexible schedules of remote learning can actually be a benefit.

Parents should encourage their child to take short, regular breaks where they are allowed to do whatever they’d like on the computer as long as they then get back to work once they are done. Something like 25 minutes of studying followed by 5-10 minutes of TikTok is perfectly reasonable for teens, and may get better results out of your child than attempting to ban social media entirely.

During Zoom classes, when students really need to be dedicating their full attention, then parents can be stricter about forbidding social media. Confiscating phones during class time is probably a good idea, and in extreme cases, parents may want to discuss disabling apps for younger students.

In every case, parents should keep in mind that many students are stressed and missing their classmates, so a little more leeway regarding student’s attempts to digitally keep in touch with their friends is perfectly reasonable.

18. Create new study habits to embrace a new normal during remote learning

‍ Laura Adams, Analyst at Aceable

Use these tips to minimize distractions, maintain focus, and create new study habits to make the most of digital learning during the pandemic.

• Turn off unnecessary alerts: Getting incoming notifications and alerts can derail a student’s ability to concentrate. Make sure computer and phone apps, such as social media, weather, package delivery, and email, are set to be silent during class and study times
• Keep reminders handy: Get your student in the habit of writing down one to three goals or tasks they need to accomplish each day on a sticky note. Keeping these goals as a note on their computer or nearby can be an easy way to refocus when distractions arise
• Use a study partner: If your student would enjoy social interaction with another good student, having a dedicated partner may help them achieve more. Consider putting a time limit on their communication to make sure the lessons get completed
• Consider getting a tutor: At some point, your student is likely to have trouble with a subject. Make sure you communicate the importance of asking for help. If a teacher can’t spend enough time with your child, consider hiring an online or in-person tutor, such as an older student
• Match tasks with energy: If your student finds it difficult to concentrate on studies during a particular time of day, encourage them to work at a different time. For instance, if they have more focus at night, consider allowing them to study later
• Use study blocks: It can be challenging for young people to maintain focus for long periods. Consider setting a timer for study blocks, such as 30 minutes, and then a 10-minute break. This structure gives students a quick reward for putting in some hard work

19. Create structure with a daily plan

‍ Dylan Howard, 21stCentEd Virtual STEM Academy

One approach to help students focus and to reduce digital distractions is parents helping their kids create structure at home. You do this by creating a plan for the following day at the end of every day. What assignments need to get accomplished? What order do they want to do them in? And by what time do they want to have them done?

For many students, learning remotely gives them the freedom to do their work when, and how they want. Schools not only provide social interaction, but structure to their life. By creating an at-home structure for school, remote students can be more productive by knowing what they need to do and by what time they would like to be done with it. This allows time for breaks, lunch, relaxing, etc.

20. Gradually build up restricted device time to reduce digital distractions

Quincy Smith, Founder of ESL Authority

All students will eventually need the self-discipline to manage this issue themselves, but I have some suggestions for parents who are starting from scratch with kids who have never had any kind of device restrictions before.

Our first tip is to slightly limit something outside of school work. For example, a parent of one of my students started by limiting their kids to one hour of video games per day. This was a big adjustment for this student, but eventually, they came to really value this one hour.

Once the student is familiar with the idea of being restricted, apply the same tactic to another device. Our suggestion is to first deny access to their phone for a certain time in the evening, maybe during dinner. Reinforce that it is not permanent and make sure to give the device back on time in order to build trust.

From there, either increase the time period, add an additional hour somewhere in the day, and move into homework time if it’s going well. We suggest establishing a set time for homework and limiting phone access during that time.

This process can continue to scale as needed, but the trick is not to go too far in the beginning. Parents and teachers need to make it doable for students just starting out and then build up trust and consistency , so it simply becomes part of the routine.

21. Help your student understand the importance of the schoolwork and homework

Zoie Hoffman, Hoffman Tutoring Group

As a certified elementary teacher and tutor, Zoie Hoffman has dedicated herself to spending time helping individual students reach their educational goals.

On this episode of the SmartSocial.com Podcast, Zoie shares her best tips parents can use to prevent screens from turning into homework distractions:

Hoffman says to have a mindset shift about what homework and school work is all about. Some kids think that homework is something they have to get through because their parents and teachers say so. Parents can help by placing the responsibility for getting those things done with their kids and help them understand why they need to do it.

Have discussions with your child about why homework is important. Here are some talking points:

• Homework allows students to move towards mastery
• The more they practice, the more results they’ll see in what they can do academically
• Routinely doing homework will help increase grades and help students better reach their goals

Parents should show students, in some way, that they can also prevent digital distractions when they are working or concentrating on a task. For example, put your phone away when you sit down to write work emails, pay the bills, or make a grocery list. If your kid sees you without your phone during those times, it will speak louder than you simply telling them. Model what you want your child to do.

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Should you let your teen watch tv while doing homework.

by Caroline Knorr

Caroline Knorr

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Many teens multitask with media while doing their homework, and most of them think this has no effect on the quality of their work.

Consider the stats:

• 51 percent of teens say that they often or sometimes watch TV during homework.
• 50 percent often or sometimes use social media while doing homework.
• 60 percent often or sometimes text during homework.
• 76 percent often or sometimes listen to music during homework. (In fact, 50 percent of teens think listening to music helps their work versus 6 percent who think it hurts.)

Most of the research on multitasking has been done with adults and isn’t definitive. Some say human brains aren’t wired for multitasking and that constant switching among tasks leads to reduced attention spans, an impatient need for instant gratification and the inability to sustain focus. On the other hand, some researchers believe the human brain adapts to its environment and can grow to become efficient at multitasking.

The challenge for parents is figuring out what’s normal — but frustrating — teen behavior and what are truly unhealthy study habits. Listening to music while doing homework seems harmless, but many studies have shown that listening to popular music with lyrics can hurt reading comprehension and the ability to do complex tasks — but more zen-like and classical music does not.

If your teens’ academics are slipping, that’s a red flag. Discuss your concerns and talk about ways to structure homework time, such as turning off cell phones and TV for a certain amount of time or allowing kids to check their texts only after they complete each assignment. Consider asking your kids to write down assignments and have them check each off as they finish them. Maybe offer rewards for finishing in a timely manner, since multitasking tends to make homework time drag on.

If your kid is really having a tough time blocking out distractions and staying focused, you might need some technical assistance. If your kid’s school uses a one-to-one device program, ask the teacher if it comes with some time-management software or other controls that allow you to restrict access to non-homework-related sites. If your kid is using your home computer to do work, you might consider a parental-control program , such as OpenDNS or KidsWatch, that lets you separate homework from playtime.

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"If I didn’t finish my homework, I wasn’t allowed to watch TV." He said

• Thread starter DominikPL00
• Start date Apr 2, 2021

DominikPL00

Senior member.

• Apr 2, 2021

"If I didn’t finish my homework, I wasn’t allowed to watch TV." He said. How this sentence would look in indirect speech? I'm not sure if I have to backshift the main clause. Any ideas?  

Direct speech: He said "If you don't finish your homework, you are not allowed to watch TV." Indirect speech: He told me that if I didn't finish my homework, I wouldn't be allowed to watch TV.  

I mean. The main sentence is in past, because it says about past habits, so I'm not sure if this is correct. Direct speech is: " If I didn’t finish my homework, I wasn’t allowed to watch TV " Indirect speech (my guess): He said that If he didn't finish his homework, He hadn't been allowed to watch TV  

Ah, I think I now see what you meant. The indirect version would be: 'He said that if he didn't finish his homework, he wasn't allowed to watch TV.'  

I agree with heypresto that the tenses wouldn't change: He said that if he didn’t finish his homework, he wasn’t allowed to watch TV. You might backshift the first verb - but then you could do that in the direct speech too: He said that if he hadn't finished his homework, he wasn't allowed to watch TV. He said "If I hadn't finished my homework, I wasn't allowed to watch TV."  

Loob said: I agree with heypresto that the tenses wouldn't change: He said that if he didn’t finish his homework, he wasn’t allowed to watch TV. You might backshift the first verb - but then you could do that in the direct speech too: He said that if he hadn't finished his homework, he wasn't allowed to watch TV. He said "If I hadn't finished my homework, I wasn't allowed to watch TV." Click to expand...

I'm sorry if I confused things. All I meant was that you could also use "hadn't finished" in the original direct speech sentence. And if you did, you would then keep "hadn't finished" when you converted the sentence to indirect speech.