Process/Analysis - How to stay focused in homework

Focus, Focus, Focus Whether we like it or not, homework has virtually taken over teens’ lives. Although it’s so important, many teens don’t complete it to their full potential simply because they can’t stay focused. Staying focused is a real problem. It’s not something they teach in school; students have to learn it on their own. They could be doing a whole lot better in school if only they could stay focused. The most important thing that young people need to do is put the technology down! Turn the T.V. off, turn the computer off, and turn the cell phone off; not just on silent or vibrate, but completely off. If it’s still too tempting, put it in a drawer, or put it in a different room. The urge to check social media sites is going to be strong, but fight through it. Don’t give in. By eliminating the technology trap, we allow our minds to slow down and focus on only the matter at hand. Much more will be accomplished by excluding distracting technology from daily homework sessions. Homework shouldn’t be worked on just anywhere. There should be a specific spot that’s dedicated to doing homework. Pick somewhere that’s free of commotion. The living room floor, the dining room table, or the kitchen counter are usually not the best places to focus. Those places are the gathering center for many families. There are going to be way too many distractions that take the focus off homework. Another lousy spot to do homework is in bed; both lying down and sitting are going to decrease productivity. It’s preset in our minds that our bed is a place to sleep. It’s where we go to relax and wind down for the day. If homework is done in bed, the natural tendency is for our brains to slow down. Although it may be comfortable, doing homework in bed is only going to promote fatigue, not concentration. No award winning book will be written in bed, or in a distracting area for that matter. The best place to do homework is in a secluded room, like a