11 Excuses for Not Doing Homework (And How to Stop Making Them)

July 5, 2022 By Daniel Wong 6 Comments

When you get home from school, do you find yourself making excuses for not doing your homework?

If you’re like many students, you’d rather take a nap, talk to your friends online, or play video games.

As you already know, finding reasons not to do your homework will prevent you from succeeding in school.

I’m sure you want to do well in school, and homework is definitely a part of that process.

In this article, I’ll go over 11 of the most common excuses for not doing homework and offer solutions to ensure that you stay engaged in school.

But first, make sure to download your free quick action guide…

FREE QUICK ACTION GUIDE: Get your copy of 12 Guaranteed Ways for Students to Improve Focus and Reduce Procrastination. The guide has already been downloaded thousands of times, so don't miss out!

Excuse #1: You lack the required knowledge

Let your parents and teacher know if you’re taking a class and feel as if you lack the necessary skills or knowledge to complete the homework.

Ask your teacher for extra guidance so you don’t fall too far behind. See if your parents can find the time to help you, or you can look for a tutor.

Your teachers are there to help you develop the skills you need to do well in their classes.

You’re not alone in feeling that you lack the necessary skills, so don’t be too embarrassed to ask for assistance. You might even find some great study buddies who feel the same way.

Excuse #2: You lack confidence

Many students compare themselves to their peers, which can lead to a lack of confidence. When that happens, it’s easy to make excuses for not doing the homework.

But here’s what you need to know…

Everyone lacks confidence about something.

You might be good at math but need extra help with English. Perhaps you excel at geography but find biology confusing.

Give yourself a break.

If you lack confidence in your ability to learn a particular subject, get the support you need. Your teachers, parents, and even friends will help you out and give you a needed morale boost.

Excuse #3: Your home life is too hectic

The excuses for submitting assignments late are numerous, but one that I hear often is that it’s too busy or noisy at home to focus.

Finding a quiet space and using earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones can help reduce distractions. This will make it easier for you to finish your homework.

If that doesn’t work, try finding an alternative location to do your work, like the library or a friend’s house.

You can also talk to your parents about it. They might not even be aware of all the interruptions that are preventing you from completing your schoolwork.

Excuse #4: You don’t know where to start

Feeling anxious and overwhelmed are often the main reasons that cause students to not know where to start on their homework.

If you ever feel this way, here’s what I suggest you do:

Take a deep breath.
Create a space where you can get organised.
Make a list of all your assignments and deadlines.
Work on one assignment at a time.
Start with an easy assignment to get a quick win, or tackle the most challenging assignment to get it out of the way.

Excuse #5: You have poor study habits

Many students develop bad study habits over their years in school.

Not everyone learns the same way or at the same pace. As such, every student will have different study habits. If what you’re doing isn’t working, try a different approach.

If you’re trying to do your homework as soon as you get home from school but can’t focus, try having a snack and taking a power nap before getting to work instead.

If you’re staying up too late studying, set a rule for yourself that you’ll start doing your homework within one hour of getting home.

Establish a routine where you do your work at roughly the same time each day. Developing routines like this will improve your study habits, which will make you a more effective student.

Excuse #6: School isn’t important to you

A common misconception is that school isn’t important, that what you learn won’t be relevant once you leave school.

This isn’t completely true.

Of course, the education system can be improved. But the knowledge you acquire in school will help you to understand and appreciate the world better.

And the process of becoming a more effective student will lead you to develop traits like self-discipline and responsibility. These are the types of traits you’ll need in order to find success at any stage of life!

Excuse #7: You’re overloaded with after-school activities

I know it can be tough to balance schoolwork and extracurricular activities.

Maybe you’re on a sports team or you spend several hours each week volunteering.

Finding the right balance to ensure you have enough time for homework can be challenging.

When too many afterschool activities get in the way of completing your assignments on time, it’s time to review your schedule. Decide how you can prioritise the activities that are the most important.

You may need to put some activities on hold until you’re consistently staying on top of your schoolwork.

Speak with your coach, teachers, or parents about the ideas they have to help you manage your schedule more effectively.

Excuse #8: Studying is boring for you

If you find that doing your homework is uninteresting, it may be time for you to change your point of view.

I always encourage students to cultivate a growth mindset. This is a mindset where you focus more on the learning process instead of on getting good grades.

Rather than seeing a particular subject as boring, develop a sense of wonder. Decide that you’re going to be intellectually curious, and you’ll discover that we live in a fascinating world.

And while you’re on that journey, remember that the students who succeed in school find ways to get the work done even when they find the subject boring.

For example, if you don’t like math, consider that it isn’t just about numbers – it’s a way of thinking.

Reframing how you think about a subject will enable you to see it as more interesting. In turn, you’ll become a better student over time.

Excuse #9: Your teachers assign too much homework

Sometimes, it may seem like your teachers assign more homework than you can keep up with. You might even believe that what you’re required to do is unreasonable.

If you find yourself in this situation, take a moment to think about everything else you’re doing.

Are you managing your time well?

Are you struggling with a particular class?

Do you use memory techniques to enable you to learn faster?

Instead of allowing homework to overwhelm you, try talking to your teacher, tutor, or parents to figure out the best way forward for you.

Excuse #10: You already have so much overdue homework

Procrastinating on your homework can lead to a significant pile-up of assignments. This will affect your confidence in being able to complete them.

What’s more, once you get a set of new assignments, you probably won’t know how to do them because you didn’t do the previous assignments.

This creates a vicious cycle where you tell yourself that there’s no point in completing your newly assigned homework because you still have the old ones to do.

When this happens, the likelihood of completing any of the work decreases.

If you’re in this situation, set a reasonable goal of keeping up with all the newly assigned homework while completing, say, one overdue assignment a day, or one overdue assignment every two days.

Excuse #11: You don’t believe you can get good grades

If you hate school, there’s a chance that it’s because you feel the pressure to be a straight-A student.

Here’s the good news: You don’t need to be perfect. After all, there’s no such thing as a perfect student.

But you do have to put in the effort and get the work done. The rest will then fall into place.

If you’re doing your best, you’re doing great! Celebrate your progress and keep moving forward.

Take it one step at a time, and don’t worry too much about what grades you’re getting at the moment.

In closing…

There are many possible reasons for you not to finish your homework.

No matter what those reasons are, it’s important to know that the people around you want to help you succeed.

From teachers to parents to coaches, you have a support network to provide solutions to almost any obstacle you face.

Identify the excuses listed in this article that are relevant to your situation, and apply the suggested solutions.

If you do that, you’ll become a better and happier student who makes far fewer excuses related to homework!

When Is the Best Time to Study? Here’s What You Need to Know

Updated on May 24, 2022 By Daniel Wong 4 Comments

Do you ever wonder when is the best time to study?

I’ve spoken to and worked with over 20,000 students, so I’ve often heard some variation of this question:

“Will studying at a specific time help me get better grades?”

Here’s the truth…

How you study is more important than when you study.

Every student is unique. The best time to study depends on your circadian rhythm, schedule, extracurricular activities, and learning preferences.

What matters most is that once you determine your optimal time to study, you stick with that schedule.

Don’t wait until you’re feeling motivated to crack open your textbook. Instead, include study time in your daily and weekly routine.

For example, if you discover that you study best from 4 pm to 6 pm, set a recurring daily alarm at 3:50 pm to remind you of your upcoming work session.

If you do this, you’ll find it easier to stay on track with your study habits — and get better grades in the process, too.

Now, how do you determine the best time of day to study? That’s what the rest of this article is about.

Top benefits of studying in the morning

Most students I’ve worked with find it hard to study before school.

You want to arrive at your classes refreshed and ready to learn — not mentally exhausted from an early morning study session.

That being said, some students function best in the early hours of the day. So you can consider these benefits of getting your work done in the morning:

1. Your mind is fresh

Do you feel most alert and motivated at the start of your day?

Are you refreshed and raring to go after a good night’s sleep?

If so, you might find that the best time to study is in the morning, before daily decisions, chores, and to-do lists cloud your mind.

2. You won’t disrupt your sleep schedule

It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re studying in the evening. Before you know it, the clock reads 11:30 pm — and your alarm is set for 6:00 am the next day!

If you want to do better in school, it’s crucial that you get enough sleep.

Now, you don’t have to follow a morning study routine to become a top student. But you might find it easier to stick to a sleep schedule if you’re not tackling assignments late into the night.

3. Brain-boosting natural light

Studies show that natural light affects our hormones and circadian rhythm while enhancing brain activity. Natural light can improve learning, cognition, mood, and even sleep.

I realise that my own sleep quality is much better when I get natural light in the morning!

If you have a study area where you can get natural light in the morning, you’ll be able to focus and retain new information more effectively.

4. A positive start to your day

When you start the day productively, you’ll often carry that positive energy with you throughout the rest of the day.

Plus, you’ll likely feel more in control and less stressed when you know you’ve completed a challenging task to start the day – before most of your classmates have even rolled out of bed!

Top benefits of studying in the afternoon

Let’s continue exploring the question of when the best time to study is by looking at the benefits of having afternoon study sessions:

1. Easy access to peers and teachers

One study tip that works for most students is to form a homework group.

Everyone has questions from time to time. When you study with a small group of motivated peers, you’ll have someone you can turn to for help.

If you always study alone, you might get discouraged when you’re faced with a hard assignment.

And if it’s early in the morning or late at night, your teachers and peers might not be available to support you.

2. Public spaces and libraries are open

Many of the students I’ve worked with tell me that it isn’t effective to study at home.

Distractions like video games, siblings, and the TV can make it tricky to focus on the task at hand.

If you focus best in a quiet space where there are other students (like a library or study room), the afternoon might be the best time to study for you.

3. Opportunity to integrate new information

I’ve said it before many times in my previous articles, but it bears repeating: cramming doesn’t work.

What approach works better instead?

Studying smarter by periodically reviewing the new material — starting on the day that you learn the new information.

If you choose to study in the afternoon, you’ll have the advantage of reviewing your notes while the information is fresh in your mind. This is because you would have just covered the material in class earlier that same day.

4. Fewer restrictions on your study time

If you get your work done in the afternoon, you’ll have more control over your schedule.

Your study sessions won’t get cut short because you need to go to school or because of late-night fatigue.

Top benefits of studying in the evening

Are you a night owl?

Maybe you realise that you have more energy in the evening and at night, and you can concentrate better during those hours.

Here are a few benefits of doing your schoolwork in the evening:

1. Fewer distractions and noise

Many students excel during the quiet and peaceful nighttime hours because there are fewer distractions.

But be sure to go to bed at a reasonable hour so that you still get sufficient sleep!

2. More conducive to a busy student’s schedule

I’m sure you’re a busy student. Between school, hobbies, chores, and exercise, sometimes the only opportunity to study is in the evening.

That’s fine, so long as you keep track of your homework assignments and prioritise them accordingly.

3. Retention of new information could improve

Some research suggests that students are better able to retain new information when they learn it before going to sleep.

Why?

Because when you’re sleeping, your brain is consolidating the new information so that you can retrieve it later on.

I encourage you to try it out and see if it works for you!

In closing…

Deciding on (and sticking with) a study schedule is a great way to improve your academic performance.

But it’s only one step.

If you want to become a focused and effective student, you need a plan.

That’s why I’ve created The Perfect Study Plan. It’s a proven, step-by-step formula to help you become a straight-A student. Learn more about this exam preparation and study skills course here.

How to Get Your Children to Set Academic Goals They WANT to Pursue

Updated on August 3, 2022 By Daniel Wong Leave a Comment

Are your children excited about their academic goals?

Do they even know what those academic goals are?

Don’t worry, most parents answer with a resounding “No”.

Motivating your children to do well in school is tricky, and distractions like smartphones and social media don’t make it any easier.

And yet, it is possible to get your children to pursue academic success — no exhausting micromanaging required.

Here’s the thing…

Goals matter, but not all goals are created equal.

It all boils down to setting the right educational goals.

Let’s take a closer look at what it means to set smart academic goals. I’ll also walk you through a proven system to help students set achievable goals and build life-long success habits.

FREE E-BOOK: Get your copy of 16 Keys to Motivating Your Teenager. The e-book has already been downloaded by many thousands of parents, so don't miss out!

[Read more…]

How to Get Good Grades: 10 Useful Strategies for Students

Updated on March 3, 2022 By Daniel Wong 13 Comments

Are you struggling with how to get good grades?

Don’t worry — you’re not alone.

I’ve spoken to thousands of students around the world, and many are quick to say:

“I study hard but I still get bad grades.”

Here’s the thing…

Those successful students that you know? They aren’t necessarily any more intelligent than the rest of the class.

They’ve simply developed study strategies that help them perform better in school.

You can get good grades, too. Your academic goals can be achieved by studying more effectively, not by studying “harder”.

In this article, I’ll cover the winning habits I used to be a straight-A student throughout my academic career — no all-nighters required.

Ready to stop stressing about grades and start doing better in school? Then let’s explore the useful strategies that will help you do just that.

Why is it important to get good grades?

The first step to doing better in school isn’t cracking open a textbook — it’s understanding why good grades matter.

Now, let me say this…

Your grades do not define your intelligence or self-worth.

Your academic record is only one part of your education, and you can lead a successful life with or without straight A’s.

That being said, there are real benefits to getting good grades.

For example, a solid academic record provides more opportunities for scholarships, higher education, and employment. Academic excellence may be the bridge to your dream career.

More significant, though, are the life-changing skills you’ll gain as you work toward becoming a top student — traits like focus, determination, discipline, and confidence. These values are crucial to achieving any of your goals, inside or outside the classroom.

A good grade is more than just a letter on a page. Achieving academic success after learning how to focus when studying is a rewarding experience that offers long-lasting benefits. [Read more…]

30 Excuses That Prevent Students From Succeeding in School

Updated on July 6, 2022 By Daniel Wong 11 Comments

When it’s time to do your schoolwork, do you suddenly come up with all kinds of reasons for why you’ll do it later?

If so, you’re not alone.

Every student wants to be successful in school.

And by that, I don’t just mean getting good grades.

Succeeding in school is also about enjoying the learning process, finding ways to contribute, and leading a balanced life.

In this article, I’ll explain the 30 common excuses that students make for not giving their best effort in school.

Excuses can become powerful ways of sabotaging your own success. So make sure that you’re not making any of these excuses!

1. When I get home from school, I just want to relax

It’s natural to feel tired when you get home from school.

There’s nothing wrong with taking a break. I encourage you to do things that are both relaxing and refreshing, e.g. going for a walk, listening to music, reflecting on the day, reading a book.

These activities will allow you to recharge, as compared to doing things that are “passive” in nature, e.g. watching videos or TV, going on social media.

If you do more of the first category of activities instead of the second to relax, you’ll find that you have more energy to get started on your homework.

2. Studying is boring

The writer Raymond Chandler once said: “There are no dull subjects, only dull minds.”

What he meant by this is that to a curious person, all subjects are interesting.

If you ask the right questions and develop the right mindset, any subject can become interesting.

Cultivate the desire to find out how things work, and you’ll find the learning process more interesting. [Read more…]

How to Focus When Studying: 20 Uncommonly Effective Tips

Updated on September 3, 2022 By Daniel Wong 124 Comments

Do you find it hard to focus when you’re studying?

There are so many distractions these days: text messages, videos, email and social media.

Not to mention your own wandering mind.

Over the years, I’ve taught many thousands of students how to study more effectively.

One of the best ways to improve your grades is to learn how to focus better while you study.

I’ve come up with this list of 20 tips and techniques to help you concentrate while studying.

(To get 5 additional tips, download the free PDF below.)

FREE BONUS

Enter your email below to download a PDF summary of this article. The PDF contains all the tips found here, plus 5 exclusive bonus tips that you’ll only find in the PDF.

How to focus on studying

You can learn how to focus better by trying some of these techniques during your next study session.

When you find one that works, make it a part of your routine every time you study.

1. Use your phone camera or webcam to record yourself studying

This tip may sound strange, but it works.

Set up your webcam or your phone camera to record a video of yourself studying.

The idea is to create accountability.

Instead of having a friend check on your progress, you have a camera watching everything you do.

Knowing that you are being watched will remind you of your objective.

Just when you’re about to get distracted, you’ll remember that everything you’re doing is being recorded.

It’s a useful reminder to yourself that you’ve made a commitment to study.

2. Use Focusmate

If you want to take it to the next level, use Focusmate instead.

With Focusmate, you make a pre-commitment to study for a 50-minute period at least one day in advance.

You then get paired with a real-life accountability partner.

You must turn on your webcam during the 50-minute session. This means that you and your study partner can see and hear each other during the study session.

If you leave your desk without giving an explanation, your study partner can report you, and vice versa.

Similarly, if you don’t turn up to your study session or if you are late, your study partner can report you.

Non-compliance results in the system marking you down. If your score falls below a certain level, the system will eventually lock you out.

But if you keep your commitments and complete your study session, the system will reward you with points.

3. If you don’t feel like starting work, take 1 minute to prepare yourself mentally

Sometimes you may not even feel like getting to work.

When this happens, take a minute to prepare yourself mentally.

Set a timer for a minute and tell yourself that you’ll start work when the timer goes off.

By doing this, you’ll be much more likely to get to work at the end of the minute.

This is called an “implementation intention”.

Any time you signal to yourself an intention to do something, it makes it easier to begin that task.

In this case, the implementation intention is to set a timer for a minute before starting a study session, if you feel like procrastinating.

So, if you find it hard to motivate yourself to start studying, take a minute and prepare yourself mentally.

By doing this, you will eliminate the resistance you were experiencing. [Read more…]

22 Study Habits That Guarantee Good Grades

Updated on September 28, 2022 By Daniel Wong 18 Comments

Were you hoping to get an A for your last test or exam, but your study habits got in the way?

Maybe you got a B, or maybe you did worse than that.

It’s annoying, isn’t it…

You put in all those hours of studying. You even gave up time with your friends.

So what if I could show you a way to work smarter and not harder, so you get good grades and have time for the things you enjoy and find meaningful?

Even better, what if I could guarantee it?

Well, I can.

All you have to do is adopt these 22 study habits.

(Throughout my career as a student I got straight A’s, so I can promise you that these study habits work.)

Want to get the grades you’ve always wanted while also leading a balanced life?

Then let’s get started.

FREE BONUS

Enter your email below to download a PDF summary of this article. The PDF contains all the habits found here, plus 5 exclusive bonus habits that you’ll only find in the PDF.

The best study habits

Add these effective study habits to your routine to start getting good grades with a lot less stress.

Habit #1: Create a weekly schedule

When you schedule time for a particular task like studying, you’re saying to yourself, “I’m going to focus on studying at this time, on this date, and it’s going to take this number of hours.”

Once it’s down in writing, it becomes a reality and you’re more likely to stick to it.

This might sound weird, but it’s true.

Do this in your calendar, in a spreadsheet, or download a template – whatever works best for you. [Read more…]