19 Strategies To Overcome Avoidant Behaviors With Homework
Task initiation is a critical skill to master. This skill allows us to get started, independently, on tasks even when they are non preferred tasks. Students engage in avoidant behaviors for different reasons. Some students avoid tasks because they have no idea how to get started while others avoid tasks because they have zero motivation or interest in the subject of the task. Being able to work through these avoidant behaviors is essential to achieving success not only in school but in all areas of life.
Here are some practical yet highly effective strategies to help students work through homework avoidance.
5 Steps To The End Goal: Identify a major task you have been avoiding. This could be a research paper, science project, or a history presentation. Once you have identified a task, write down the end goal. With your end goal in mind, think of at least five, actionable steps that will get you there. Once you have a list of actionable steps, you will be able to get started with the task, working one step at a time.
5 Minute Challenge: Set a small goal to achieve within 5 minutes. This could be answering 5 questions, writing 3 sentences, reading 2 pages, or writing three definitions. Then, set a timer for 5 minutes. Challenge yourself to surpass your goal within that 5 minutes. Continue to challenge yourself until your finished with the task at hand.
Identify The First Step: When tasks are abstract or involve a lot steps it can feel overwhelming. You might have study for history test on the to do list but what does that even mean? Rather than approach an abstract task like studying for history all at one, identify the first step and go from there. Applying this approach takes a task like study for history and transforms it to print out the history study guide from google classroom.
Time Yourself: Anyone can work towards completing just about any task for 10 minutes. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Commit to working until the timer goes off. When the timer goes off, stop and acknowledge what you have accomplished. Recognize this is a small victory. Then, do it again. The goal is to work up to 30 minutes. Find your threshold. If 10 minutes worked well for you, set the timer for another 10 minutes. Before you know it, you’ll reach your 30 minute goal.
Visualize the process: When your stuck on a particular task, take a moment to create a vivid mental image on the steps you need to take to complete the task. When you focus on the process involved in achieving the desired outcome which in this case is simply completing the task, you will find it is much easier to begin working. In order to visualize the process, ask yourself: what materials do I need; what resources are available, who can I reach out to for help; how long will it take; where will I work, etc..
Put Your Homework On Your Desk: Many times, the hardest part is getting started. There is not much effort involved in simply taking your homework out of your binder or backpack and placing it on your desk. Once it’s sitting there in front of you, you’ll be much closer to actually getting it done.
Get An Accountability Partner: Ask a friend to be your accountability buddy. At the beginning of each day, tell each other what you plan to work on that afternoon. Then at the end of the day, check in with each other to see if things went according to plan.
Change Your Environment: If your environment is part of your problem, then change it. Bring your work to the kitchen table or head to a coffee shop and get it done there.
Get Organized: When you can’t remember the details of an assignment or when it is due you'll naturally feel stressed. Don’t rely on your memory; write everything down and refer back to it to help make things clear
Self Advocate: Reach out to your teacher or someone who could help. Send them an email and ask for clarification if you are unsure how to complete the assignment.
Replace “I Have To” With “I Choose To”: Take control of your situation and replace I have to with I choose to. When you say I choose to do my homework, you’ll feel empowered and more motivated to get things done.
Reality Testing Questions: Ask yourself, “Is this thought really true?” “Has that happened in the past?” If you say, “I’ll never get this done.” Say, “Is that true of the past or have I got my work done?”
Minimize Distractions: Turn off all sounds/notifications. Let important people know if you need to. Store your phone in a place beyond reach- drawer or better yet the other room.
Complete 2 Minute Tasks: If a task takes 2 minutes or less to complete, do it now. Example: Replying to your group projects email thread; Asking your parents to sign a consent form; Writing a checklist; Sending an email to schedule a meeting; Submitting a paper online
Schedule Homework Appointments: 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.
Break Down Tasks Into Steps: When assignments seem overwhelming, that is likely because they are abstract and require multiple steps. Break down the task into smaller, manageable pieces. Then get started, step by step.
Agree and Move On: Agree with your thought and then say, “And how do I move on.” If you say, “My teacher is so unfair.” Say, “That may be true, my teacher is so unfair. And how do I move on?”
Motivate Yourself: Set a small goal to work towards. Once you achieve your goal, reward yourself. Example: Goal- Complete questions 1-10. Reward- Check my phone and text a friend.
Change The Label To A Description: Example: Change "This homework assignment is going to take forever" to "This homework assignment has a lot of steps involved and I can approach it 1 step at a time.