share this!

August 16, 2021

Is it time to get rid of homework? Mental health experts weigh in

by Sara M Moniuszko

homework

It's no secret that kids hate homework. And as students grapple with an ongoing pandemic that has had a wide-range of mental health impacts, is it time schools start listening to their pleas over workloads?

Some teachers are turning to social media to take a stand against homework .

Tiktok user @misguided.teacher says he doesn't assign it because the "whole premise of homework is flawed."

For starters, he says he can't grade work on "even playing fields" when students' home environments can be vastly different.

"Even students who go home to a peaceful house, do they really want to spend their time on busy work? Because typically that's what a lot of homework is, it's busy work," he says in the video that has garnered 1.6 million likes. "You only get one year to be 7, you only got one year to be 10, you only get one year to be 16, 18."

Mental health experts agree heavy work loads have the potential do more harm than good for students, especially when taking into account the impacts of the pandemic. But they also say the answer may not be to eliminate homework altogether.

Emmy Kang, mental health counselor at Humantold, says studies have shown heavy workloads can be "detrimental" for students and cause a "big impact on their mental, physical and emotional health."

"More than half of students say that homework is their primary source of stress, and we know what stress can do on our bodies," she says, adding that staying up late to finish assignments also leads to disrupted sleep and exhaustion.

Cynthia Catchings, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist at Talkspace, says heavy workloads can also cause serious mental health problems in the long run, like anxiety and depression.

And for all the distress homework causes, it's not as useful as many may think, says Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, a psychologist and CEO of Omega Recovery treatment center.

"The research shows that there's really limited benefit of homework for elementary age students, that really the school work should be contained in the classroom," he says.

For older students, Kang says homework benefits plateau at about two hours per night.

"Most students, especially at these high-achieving schools, they're doing a minimum of three hours, and it's taking away time from their friends from their families, their extracurricular activities. And these are all very important things for a person's mental and emotional health."

Catchings, who also taught third to 12th graders for 12 years, says she's seen the positive effects of a no homework policy while working with students abroad.

"Not having homework was something that I always admired from the French students (and) the French schools, because that was helping the students to really have the time off and really disconnect from school ," she says.

The answer may not be to eliminate homework completely, but to be more mindful of the type of work students go home with, suggests Kang, who was a high-school teacher for 10 years.

"I don't think (we) should scrap homework, I think we should scrap meaningless, purposeless busy work-type homework. That's something that needs to be scrapped entirely," she says, encouraging teachers to be thoughtful and consider the amount of time it would take for students to complete assignments.

The pandemic made the conversation around homework more crucial

Mindfulness surrounding homework is especially important in the context of the last two years. Many students will be struggling with mental health issues that were brought on or worsened by the pandemic, making heavy workloads even harder to balance.

"COVID was just a disaster in terms of the lack of structure. Everything just deteriorated," Kardaras says, pointing to an increase in cognitive issues and decrease in attention spans among students. "School acts as an anchor for a lot of children, as a stabilizing force, and that disappeared."

But even if students transition back to the structure of in-person classes, Kardaras suspects students may still struggle after two school years of shifted schedules and disrupted sleeping habits.

"We've seen adults struggling to go back to in-person work environments from remote work environments. That effect is amplified with children because children have less resources to be able to cope with those transitions than adults do," he explains.

'Get organized' ahead of back-to-school

In order to make the transition back to in-person school easier, Kang encourages students to "get good sleep, exercise regularly (and) eat a healthy diet."

To help manage workloads, she suggests students "get organized."

"There's so much mental clutter up there when you're disorganized... sitting down and planning out their study schedules can really help manage their time," she says.

Breaking assignments up can also make things easier to tackle.

"I know that heavy workloads can be stressful, but if you sit down and you break down that studying into smaller chunks, they're much more manageable."

If workloads are still too much, Kang encourages students to advocate for themselves.

"They should tell their teachers when a homework assignment just took too much time or if it was too difficult for them to do on their own," she says. "It's good to speak up and ask those questions. Respectfully, of course, because these are your teachers. But still, I think sometimes teachers themselves need this feedback from their students."

©2021 USA Today Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Explore further

Feedback to editors

stress deal with homework

Potassium depletion in soil threatens global crop yields

stress deal with homework

Widely used machine learning models reproduce dataset bias: Study

20 hours ago

stress deal with homework

Targeting 'undruggable' proteins promises new approach for treating neurodegenerative diseases

stress deal with homework

Examining viruses that can help 'dial up' carbon capture in the sea

Feb 17, 2024

stress deal with homework

New research helps create new antibiotic that evades bacterial resistance

stress deal with homework

From crop to cup: A new genetic map could make your morning coffee more climate resilient

stress deal with homework

Saturday Citations: Einstein revisited (again); Atlantic geological predictions; how the brain handles echoes

stress deal with homework

CERN researchers measure speed of sound in the quark–gluon plasma more precisely than ever before

Feb 16, 2024

stress deal with homework

NASA's final tally shows spacecraft returned double the amount of asteroid rubble

stress deal with homework

Harnessing light with hemispherical shells for improved photovoltaics

Relevant physicsforums posts, opinion: when pro scientists explain using pop science.

Feb 15, 2024

The changing physics curriculum in 1961

Feb 8, 2024

Rant about working in the tutoring lab: How should I deal with this?

Feb 4, 2024

Circuit calculation practice: voltage dividers, series, parallel

Jan 22, 2024

The New California Math Framework: Another Step Backwards?

Jan 16, 2024

Feedback on video I created on (Galilean) Relative Velocity?

Jan 15, 2024

More from STEM Educators and Teaching

Related Stories

stress deal with homework

Smartphones are lowering student's grades, study finds

Aug 18, 2020

stress deal with homework

Doing homework is associated with change in students' personality

Oct 6, 2017

stress deal with homework

Scholar suggests ways to craft more effective homework assignments

Oct 1, 2015

stress deal with homework

Should parents help their kids with homework?

Aug 29, 2019

stress deal with homework

How much math, science homework is too much?

Mar 23, 2015

stress deal with homework

Anxiety, depression, burnout rising as college students prepare to return to campus

Jul 26, 2021

Recommended for you

stress deal with homework

Reading on screens instead of paper is a less effective way to absorb and retain information, suggests research

Feb 6, 2024

stress deal with homework

Certain personality traits linked to college students' sense of belonging

Jan 17, 2024

stress deal with homework

Ukraine has lost almost 20% of its scientists due to the war, study finds

Dec 11, 2023

stress deal with homework

New high school curriculum teaches color chemistry and AI simultaneously

Dec 7, 2023

stress deal with homework

Remote collaborations deliver fewer scientific breakthroughs, co-led research finds

Nov 29, 2023

stress deal with homework

New study analyzes how people choose friendships at school

Nov 27, 2023

Let us know if there is a problem with our content

Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form . For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines ).

Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request

Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors.

Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages.

E-mail the story

Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form.

Newsletter sign up

Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties.

More information Privacy policy

Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience

We keep our content available to everyone. Consider supporting Science X's mission by getting a premium account.

E-mail newsletter

Find A Therapist logo.

The Truth About Homework Stress: What Parents & Students Need to Know

Written by:

Updated on:

  • January 9, 2024

Fact Checked

Looking for a therapist?

Homework is generally given out to ensure that students take time to review and remember the days lessons. It can help improve on a student’s general performance and enhance traits like self-discipline and independent problem solving.

Parents are able to see what their children are doing in school, while also helping teachers determine how well the lesson material is being learned. Homework is quite beneficial when used the right way and can improve student  performance.

This well intentioned practice can turn sour if it’s not handled the right way. Studies show that if a student is inundated with too much homework, not only do they get lower scores, but they are more likely to get stressed.

The age at which homework stress is affecting students is getting lower, some even as low as kindergarten. Makes you wonder what could a five year old possibly need to review as homework?

One of the speculated reasons for this stress is that the complexity of what a student is expected to learn is increasing, while the breaks for working out excess energy are reduced. Students are getting significantly more homework than recommended by the education leaders, some even nearly three times more.

To make matters worse, teachers may give homework that is both time consuming and will keep students busy while being totally non-productive.

Remedial work like telling students to copy notes word for word from their text books will  do nothing to improve their grades or help them progress. It just adds unnecessary stress.

Explore emotional well-being with BetterHelp – your partner in affordable online therapy. With 30,000+ licensed therapists and plans starting from only $60 per week, BetterHelp makes self-care accessible to all. Complete the questionnaire to match with the right therapist.

Effects of homework stress at home

Both parents and students tend to get stressed out at the beginning of a new school year due to the impending arrival of homework.

Nightly battles centered on finishing assignments are a household routine in houses with students.

Research has found that too much homework can negatively affect children. In creating a lack of balance between play time and time spent doing homework, a child can get headaches, sleep deprivation or even ulcers.

And homework stress doesn’t just impact grade schoolers. College students are also affected, and the stress is affecting their academic performance.

homework stress college students statistics

Even the parent’s confidence in their abilities to help their children with homework suffers due increasing stress levels in the household.

Fights and conflict over homework are more likely in families where parents do not have at least a college degree. When the child needs assistance, they have to turn to their older siblings who might already be bombarded with their own homework.

Parents who have a college degree feel more confident in approaching the school and discussing the appropriate amount of school work.

“It seems that homework being assigned discriminates against parents who don’t have college degree, parents who have English as their second language and against parents who are poor.” Said Stephanie Donaldson Pressman, the contributing editor of the study and clinical director of the New England Center for Pediatric Psychology.

With all the stress associated with homework, it’s not surprising that some parents have opted not to let their children do homework. Parents that have instituted a no-homework policy have stated that it has taken a lot of the stress out of their evenings.

The recommended amount homework

The standard endorsed by the National Education Association is called the “10 minute rule”; 10 minutes per grade level per night. This recommendation was made after a number of studies were done on the effects of too much homework on families.

The 10 minute rule basically means 10 minutes of homework in the first grade, 20 minute for the second grade all the way up to 120 minutes for senior year in high school. Note that no homework is endorsed in classes under the first grade.

Parents reported first graders were spending around half an hour on homework each night, and kindergarteners spent 25 minutes a night on assignments according to a study carried out by Brown University.

Making a five year old sit still for half an hour is very difficult as they are at the age where they just want to move around and play.

A child who is exposed to 4-5 hours of homework after school is less likely to find the time to go out and play with their friends, which leads to accumulation of stress energy in the body.

Their social life also suffers because between the time spent at school and doing homework, a child will hardly have the time to pursue hobbies. They may also develop a negative attitude towards learning.

The research highlighted that 56% of students consider homework a primary source of stress.

And if you’re curious how the U.S stacks up against other countries in regards to how much time children spend on homework, it’s pretty high on the list .

countries where kids do the most homework

Signs to look out for on a student that has homework stress

Since not every student is affected by homework stress in the same way, it’s important to be aware of some of the signs your child might be mentally drained from too much homework.

Here are some common signs of homework stress:

  • Sleep disturbances
  • Frequent stomachaches and headaches
  • Decreased appetite or changed eating habits
  • New or recurring fears
  • Not able to relax
  • Regressing to behavior they had when younger
  • Bursts of anger crying or whining
  • Becoming withdrawn while others may become clingy
  • Drastic changes in academic performance
  • Having trouble concentrating or completing homework
  • Constantly complains about their ability to do homework

If you’re a parent and notice any of these signs in your child, step in to find out what’s going on and if homework is the source of their stress.

If you’re a student, pay attention if you start experiencing any of these symptoms as a result of your homework load. Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher or parents for help if the stress of homework becomes too much for you.

What parents do wrong when it comes to homework stress

Most parents push their children to do more and be more, without considering the damage being done by this kind of pressure.

Some think that homework brought home is always something the children can deal with on their own. If the child cannot handle their homework then these parents get angry and make the child feel stupid.

This may lead to more arguing and increased dislike of homework in the household. Ultimately the child develops an even worse attitude towards homework.

Another common mistake parents make is never questioning the amount of homework their children get, or how much time they spend on it. It’s easy to just assume whatever the teacher assigned is adequate, but as we mentioned earlier, that’s not always the case.

Be proactive and involved with your child’s homework. If you notice they’re spending hours every night on homework, ask them about it. Just because they don’t complain doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem.

How can parents help?

  • While every parent wants their child to become successful and achieve the very best, it’s important to pull back on the mounting pressure and remember that they’re still just kids. They need time out to release their stress and connect with other children.
  • Many children may be afraid to admit that they’re overwhelmed by homework because they might be misconstrued as failures. The best thing a parent can do is make home a safe place for children to express themselves freely. You can do this by lending a listening ear and not judging your kids.
  • Parents can also take the initiative to let the school know that they’re unhappy with the amount of homework being given. Even if you don’t feel comfortable complaining, you can approach the school through the parent-teacher association available and request your representative to plead your case.
  • It may not be all the subjects that are causing your child to get stressed. Parents should find out if there is a specific subject of homework that is causing stress. You could also consult with other parents to see what they can do to fix the situation. It may be the amount or the content that causes stress, so the first step is identifying the problem.
  • Work with your child to create a schedule for getting homework done on time. You can set a specific period of time for homework, and schedule time for other activities too. Strike a balance between work and play.
  • Understanding that your child is stressed about homework doesn’t mean you have to allow them not to try. Let them sit down and work on it as much as they’re able to, and recruit help from the older siblings or a neighbor if possible.
  • Check out these resources to help your child with their homework .

The main idea here is to not abolish homework completely, but to review the amount and quality of homework being given out. Stress, depression and lower grades are the last things parents want for their children.

The schools and parents need to work together to find a solution to this obvious problem.

Take the stress test!

Join the Find-a-therapist community and get access to our free stress assessment!

Additional Resources

Online therapy.

Discover a path to emotional well-being with BetterHelp – your partner in convenient and affordable online therapy. With a vast network of 30,000+ licensed therapists, they’re committed to helping you find the one to support your needs. Take advantage of their Free Online Assessment, and connect with a therapist who truly understands you. Begin your journey today.

Relationship Counceling

Whether you’re facing communication challenges, trust issues, or simply seeking to strengthen your connection, ReGain’ s experienced therapists are here to guide you and your partner toward a healthier, happier connection from the comfort of your own space. Get started.

Therapist Directory

Discover the perfect therapist who aligns with your goals and preferences, allowing you to take charge of your mental health. Whether you’re searching for a specialist based on your unique needs, experience level, insurance coverage, budget, or location, our user-friendly platform has you covered. Search here.

About the author

You might also be interested in

Children's divorce counseling

Children’s Divorce Counseling: Navigating Family Changes

stress deal with homework

How to Create the Ultimate Stress Relief Kit

stress deal with homework

Mindful Minutes: 8 Ways to Fit Mindfulness Into a Busy Schedule

Disclaimers

stress deal with homework

Online Therapy, Your Way

Follow us on social media

We may receive a commission if you click on and become a paying customer of a therapy service that we mention.

The information contained in Find A Therapist is general in nature and is not medical advice. Please seek immediate in-person help if you are in a crisis situation.

ssl secured

Therapy Categories

More information

If you are in a life threatening situation – don’t use this site. Call +1 (800) 273-8255 or check these resources to get immediate help.

Candida Fink M.D.

Homework Struggles May Not Be a Behavior Problem

Exploring some options to understand and help..

Posted August 2, 2022 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

  • Mental health challenges and neurodevelopmental differences directly affect children's ability to do homework.
  • Understanding what difficulties are getting in the way—beyond the usual explanation of a behavior problem—is key.
  • Sleep and mental health needs can take priority over homework completion.

Chelsea was in 10th grade the first time I told her directly to stop doing her homework and get some sleep. I had been working with her since she was in middle school, treating her anxiety disorder. She deeply feared disappointing anyone—especially her teachers—and spent hours trying to finish homework perfectly. The more tired and anxious she got, the harder it got for her to finish the assignments.

Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock

One night Chelsea called me in despair, feeling hopeless. She was exhausted and couldn’t think straight. She felt like a failure and that she was a burden to everyone because she couldn’t finish her homework.

She was shocked when I told her that my prescription for her was to go to sleep now—not to figure out how to finish her work. I told her to leave her homework incomplete and go to sleep. We briefly discussed how we would figure it out the next day, with her mom and her teachers. At that moment, it clicked for her that it was futile to keep working—because nothing was getting done.

This was an inflection point for her awareness of when she was emotionally over-cooked and when she needed to stop and take a break or get some sleep. We repeated versions of this phone call several times over the course of her high school and college years, but she got much better at being able to do this for herself most of the time.

When Mental Health Symptoms Interfere with Homework

Kids with mental health or neurodevelopmental challenges often struggle mightily with homework. Challenges can come up in every step of the homework process, including, but not limited to:

  • Remembering and tracking assignments and materials
  • Getting the mental energy/organization to start homework
  • Filtering distractions enough to persist with assignments
  • Understanding unspoken or implied parts of the homework
  • Remembering to bring finished homework to class
  • Being in class long enough to know the material
  • Tolerating the fear of not knowing or failing
  • Not giving up the assignment because of a panic attack
  • Tolerating frustration—such as not understanding—without emotional dysregulation
  • Being able to ask for help—from a peer or a teacher and not being afraid to reach out

This list is hardly comprehensive. ADHD , autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety , generalized anxiety, panic disorder, depression , dysregulation, and a range of other neurodevelopmental and mental health challenges cause numerous learning differences and symptoms that can specifically and frequently interfere with getting homework done.

Saharak Wuttitham/Shutterstock

The Usual Diagnosis for Homework Problems is "Not Trying Hard Enough"

Unfortunately, when kids frequently struggle to meet homework demands, teachers and parents typically default to one explanation of the problem: The child is making a choice not to do their homework. That is the default “diagnosis” in classrooms and living rooms. And once this framework is drawn, the student is often seen as not trying hard enough, disrespectful, manipulative, or just plain lazy.

The fundamental disconnect here is that the diagnosis of homework struggles as a behavioral choice is, in fact, only one explanation, while there are so many other diagnoses and differences that impair children's ability to consistently do their homework. If we are trying to create solutions based on only one understanding of the problem, the solutions will not work. More devastatingly, the wrong solutions can worsen the child’s mental health and their long-term engagement with school and learning.

To be clear, we aren’t talking about children who sometimes struggle with or skip homework—kids who can change and adapt their behaviors and patterns in response to the outcomes of that struggle. For this discussion, we are talking about children with mental health and/or neurodevelopmental symptoms and challenges that create chronic difficulties with meeting homework demands.

How Can You Help a Child Who Struggles with Homework?

How can you help your child who is struggling to meet homework demands because of their ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD , school avoidance, or any other neurodevelopmental or mental health differences? Let’s break this down into two broad areas—things you can do at home, and things you can do in communication with the school.

stress deal with homework

Helping at Home

The following suggestions for managing school demands at home can feel counterintuitive to parents—because we usually focus on helping our kids to complete their tasks. But mental health needs jump the line ahead of task completion. And starting at home will be key to developing an idea of what needs to change at school.

  • Set an end time in the evening after which no more homework will be attempted. Kids need time to decompress and they need sleep—and pushing homework too close to or past bedtime doesn’t serve their educational needs. Even if your child hasn’t been able to approach the homework at all, even if they have avoided and argued the whole evening, it is still important for everyone to have a predictable time to shut down the whole process.
  • If there are arguments almost every night about homework, if your child isn’t starting homework or finishing it, reframe it from failure into information. It’s data to put into problem-solving. We need to consider other possible explanations besides “behavioral choice” when trying to understand the problem and create effective solutions. What problems are getting in the way of our child’s meeting homework demands that their peers are meeting most of the time?
  • Try not to argue about homework. If you can check your own anxiety and frustration, it can be more productive to ally with your child and be curious with them. Kids usually can’t tell you a clear “why” but maybe they can tell you how they are feeling and what they are thinking. And if your child can’t talk about it or just keeps saying “I don't know,” try not to push. Come back another time. Rushing, forcing, yelling, and threatening will predictably not help kids do homework.

Lapina/Shutterstock

Helping at School

The second area to explore when your neurodiverse child struggles frequently with homework is building communication and connections with school and teachers. Some places to focus on include the following.

  • Label your child’s diagnoses and break down specific symptoms for the teachers and school team. Nonjudgmental, but specific language is essential for teachers to understand your child’s struggles. Breaking their challenges down into the problems specific to homework can help with building solutions. As your child gets older, help them identify their difficulties and communicate them to teachers.
  • Let teachers and the school team know that your child’s mental health needs—including sleep—take priority over finishing homework. If your child is always struggling to complete homework and get enough sleep, or if completing homework is leading to emotional meltdowns every night, adjusting their homework demands will be more successful than continuing to push them into sleep deprivation or meltdowns.
  • Request a child study team evaluation to determine if your child qualifies for services under special education law such as an IEP, or accommodations through section 504—and be sure that homework adjustments are included in any plan. Or if such a plan is already in place, be clear that modification of homework expectations needs to be part of it.

The Long-Term Story

I still work with Chelsea and she recently mentioned how those conversations so many years ago are still part of how she approaches work tasks or other demands that are spiking her anxiety when she finds herself in a vortex of distress. She stops what she is doing and prioritizes reducing her anxiety—whether it’s a break during her day or an ending to the task for the evening. She sees that this is crucial to managing her anxiety in her life and still succeeding at what she is doing.

Task completion at all costs is not a solution for kids with emotional needs. Her story (and the story of many of my patients) make this crystal clear.

Candida Fink M.D.

Candida Fink, M.D. , is board certified in child/adolescent and general psychiatry. She practices in New York and has co-authored two books— The Ups and Downs of Raising a Bipolar Child and Bipolar Disorder for Dummies.

  • Find a Therapist
  • Find a Treatment Center
  • Find a Psychiatrist
  • Find a Support Group
  • Find Teletherapy
  • United States
  • Brooklyn, NY
  • Chicago, IL
  • Houston, TX
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • New York, NY
  • Portland, OR
  • San Diego, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Seattle, WA
  • Washington, DC
  • Asperger's
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Chronic Pain
  • Eating Disorders
  • Passive Aggression
  • Personality
  • Goal Setting
  • Positive Psychology
  • Stopping Smoking
  • Low Sexual Desire
  • Relationships
  • Child Development
  • Therapy Center NEW
  • Diagnosis Dictionary
  • Types of Therapy

January 2024 magazine cover

Overcome burnout, your burdens, and that endless to-do list.

  • Coronavirus Disease 2019
  • Affective Forecasting
  • Neuroscience

CollegeBasics

How to Deal With Homework Stress

student looking stressed while doing homework

For some, stress is an inevitable part of homework, and the education system in general. Sometimes, this stress can even transfer to the parent or adult tasked with assisting the child with their schoolwork. This particular type of stress may be more evident to some parents and students, as they might be more prone to developing it. It is important to deal not only the stress symptoms, but with the problem as well.

Homework stress can be harmful too, making students depressed, tired, and building negative feelings towards the whole concept of studying. This can, unfortunately, lead to tragic consequences, such as suicidal thoughts. Homework can stress students out for many reasons, the most prominent being the amount of assigned work, the degree of difficulty, and the expectations placed on them. These students are told that homework is incredibly important for not only their success in the school yea r, but in their eventual careers as well. The truth is that studying is essential, but it is only one of the factors that determine your success in school, and your pursuits thereafter. Generally, homework is not worth skipping sleep or meals, as doing this can have an effect on your physical and mental health.

Sometimes, stress due to homework can transfer to the adult family life of people who have not opened textbooks for years, whose new duty in life is to help their children with their own homework, and that can get stressful as well. Parents can become outraged because homework from their kids’ math class makes no sense, or a science project just can’t be put together, no matter how hard they try. Some parents can become more devastated than their kids when it comes to homework. The amount of stress a twelfth-grade student trying to write a 600-word essay on the book he or she never read can be overwhelming. Especially if the due day is tomorrow, and there are only 10 hours before the class.

Though there is no guaranteed way to completely rid yourself of stress, there are ways of overcoming some aspects of homework induced stress. Read on for some tips on stress management, and find a solution that works for you.

Time Management

Good time management may not solve all of your problems, but it can go a long way when dealing with homework related stress. Scheduling homework might sound minor, but it can help those who have trouble remembering their assignments and due dates. Most homework induced stress starts from missing deadlines and feeling rushed while working on assignments. Keeping track of the time spent on individual tasks, as well as keeping a timeline of when assignments are due may help ease your stress.

Use a Clean Workspace

Before you begin working on an assignment, ensure there are no potential distractions in your workspace. It could be a phone, clutter on the desk, toys, or anything else that could take your time and mind away from the task to hand. It is proven that loud noise, splashes of color, and cluttered space causes more stress, therefore decluttering table may help you to concentrate.

Ask for Help

Don’t hesitate to ask professor question about assignments. Sometimes stress is caused by the fact that the task is too difficult, and hard for you to understand. Getting some extra assistance from your professor may help you better understand the topic and further your ability to complete the project. Most professors are willing to help – it’s their job, after all – and they can explain the parts of the assignment that are difficult for you.

Don’t forget to rest when you start to feel overwhelmed. Mental and physical exhaustion is a common side effect of stress, and it is important to deal with it when it comes up. Great ways of resting include taking a nap, going on a walk, dancing, cooking a nice and nutritious meal, exercising, and spending some time on a hobby. While resting from homework, avoid spending all the time on your phone or computer, it is best to do something active and interactive.

Talk it Out

Talk to someone you trust about the stress you’re feeling. Sometimes, you just need a little bit of support to feel better, and discussing homework stress with your parents, relatives, or friends could be very therapeutic and helpful. Talking about your feelings is an excellent way of dealing with any kind of stress, not just homework induced.

In the face of all this stress, it is important to remember to stay calm. Stressing about each individual assignment is not healthy, and can be harmful to your mental health. Though achieving perfect grades through college is indeed possible, it may not be worth it if you are putting your mental and physical health in danger. Focus on creating realistic and tangible goals for yourself, and remember that one grade does not define your future.

These are just some of the many ways of how you can deal with  homework stress . The fact is that for some, stress still will always be a part of the studying process. All that can be done is to find tactics to deal with this stress that work for you. If you can manage this, you may find your workload less stressful, and you may actually enjoy your work!

For more great topics related to all things college, check out the other blogs at College Basics.

You may also like

Australian and American flag blended together

8 Differences Between Aussie and American Schools

stress deal with homework

Top 5 Most Difficult IB (International Baccalaureate) Subjects

hand of accounting student touching tablet

8 Reasons Why You Should Study Accounting Degrees

stress deal with homework

8 Best Essay Writing Services According to Reddit and Quora

5 unique tips to writing a brilliant motivational essay

6 Unique Tips for Writing a Brilliant Motivational Essay

two male college roommates smiling on white background

6 Qualities You Should Always Watch Out For in a Good Roommate

About the author.

stress deal with homework

CB Community

Passionate members of the College Basics community that include students, essay writers, consultants and beyond. Please note, while community content has passed our editorial guidelines, we do not endorse any product or service contained in these articles which may also include links for which College Basics is compensated.

Studiosity - Home

  • Services for education institutions
  • Academic subject areas
  • Peer connection
  • Evidence of Studiosity impact
  • Case studies from our partners
  • Surveys and public policy
  • The Tracey Bretag Integrity Prize
  • The Studiosity Symposium
  • Studiosity for English learners
  • Video case studies
  • Meet the online team

Academic Advisory Board

Meet the board.

  • Social responsibility
  • Meet the team
  • Join the team

Student Sign In

10 Ways To Avoid A Homework Meltdown

Sophia Gardner

Apr 11, 2016

Homework can often feel like an overwhelming, never-ending pile of stress. Homework stress can cause frustration and anxiety and ultimately prevent you from achieving your best results.

However, this feeling of not being in control can be avoided by simply adjusting your study habits. Homework and study can actually be a rewarding, satisfying experience if done in an organised and efficient way. Here are some tips on how to achieve that. 

1. Practise good time management

Time management is key to avoiding homework stress. Plotting out the time you need to complete your homework or assignment can quickly make what seems like an overwhelming task much less stressful to approach.

  • Set aside a certain amount of time each day to work on your homework, and choose a time that sits you. You may prefer early in the morning before school, or maybe you’re fresher when you get home from school in the afternoon.
  • Use a calendar or school planner to plot out your work. List important dates, when things are due and when you have exams. This will help you have a good visual of things you need to work towards.
  • Allow enough time to complete your work . Making sure you give yourself enough time to complete your work is crucial in avoiding a meltdown. Be realistic. Estimate how long you think it will take each day to complete your homework, and allow plenty of time for bigger projects and assignments.

2. Ask questions

One of the biggest causes of homework stress is not understanding the question, or how to solve the problem at hand. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and clarify what you need to do. Whether it be a question on how to solve a tricky trigonometry problem or how to structure your essay, no question is a silly question. Try asking your teachers, your parents, a friend or an online Subject Specialist for help.

GET HELP HERE

3. Listen to your teacher and take notes

It sounds simple, but it’s something that many students struggle with. Pay attention and write down important terms and ideas in the classroom. You will find this helps organise your thoughts and remember key information, which will make homework time much more of a breeze.

4. Allow more time for areas you find difficult

Take a practice test or write a practice essay and focus on the areas you find the hardest. The more you practise, the less stressful it will be when the time comes to sit the exam or hand in your assignment.

5. Refresh your memory regularly

Every afternoon, or at least every couple of days, go over what you’ve learnt from previous lessons. If you find that you don’t have the basic knowledge to tackle more difficult subjects go over this more frequently -  this will help you build up your confidence in those areas.

6. Get a good night’s sleep

It may sound obvious, but it’s easy to suffer from sleep deprivation when you are feeling stressed about homework. Research suggests that kids and teens need around 9-10 hours sleep a night.  This will significantly help focus, memory, decision making and creativity, all of which are important inside and outside of the classroom.

7. Avoid procrastination

Procrastination could well be the biggest factor responsible for homework stress. You’d be surprised at how much time you can waste by putting off what you need to do until you’ve checked out your Facebook page or listened to your favourite song! Let these be rewards for once your work is actually done.

8. Have a healthy snack

There is a proven link between what we eat and how well our brain functions. Memory, learning ability and emotional states are affected by what we put into our bodies, and to perform our best we need a healthy diet. (Check out some  delicious and healthy snack recipes here )

9. Remember to breathe

If you’re starting to feel anxious or overwhelmed by your work, take five deep breaths and give yourself a moment of calm. Deep breathing will help control your nervous system and encourage your body to relax, bringing you into a better state to concentrate on your study.

10. Give yourself some ‘me’ time

While it’s important that you manage your time and work efficiently, you are going to be much more productive if you are feeling fresh and have had some time to do things you enjoy doing. It might be going for a walk or a swim, hanging out with some friends on the weekend, or perhaps it’s playing sport? Whatever it may be, make sure you have that balance. A healthy, happy mind equals better study time.

If you'd like to run any questions or ideas by one of our expert Subject Specialists, we're always here to help.

Find my Studiosity account

Topics: Students , Homework , Study , Assignment Help

About Studiosity

Asking for feedback on your work is an essential part of learning. So when you want to better understand a concept or check you're on the right track, we're here for you. 

Find out if you have free access through your institution here .

Recent Posts

Posts by topic.

  • Students (96)
  • Higher education (60)
  • Student Experience (46)
  • University (45)
  • Education (42)
  • online study (34)
  • Learning (28)
  • Tertiary education (28)
  • Educators (27)
  • Parents (24)
  • Research (24)
  • Interview (22)
  • English (19)
  • High School (19)
  • Technology (18)
  • Writing (16)
  • students first (16)
  • Homework (13)
  • Literacy (13)
  • Student stories (13)
  • Assignment Help (12)
  • Education policy (12)
  • Formative feedback (12)
  • student wellbeing (12)
  • Events (11)
  • Learning trends (11)
  • Podcast (11)
  • academic integrity (11)
  • Studiosity (10)
  • covid19 (10)
  • international student (10)
  • Academic Advisory Board (9)
  • Health and Wellbeing (9)
  • Teaching (9)
  • Australia (8)
  • Secondary education (8)
  • Student satisfaction (8)
  • Equality (7)
  • Science (7)
  • Student retention (7)
  • staff wellbeing (7)
  • Online Tutoring (6)
  • UK students (6)
  • online learning (6)
  • CanHigherEd (5)
  • UK Higher Education (5)
  • Workload (5)
  • academic services (5)
  • CVs and cover letters (4)
  • Internet (4)
  • Mathematics (4)
  • Partnerships (4)
  • School holidays (4)
  • Student performance (4)
  • Student support (4)
  • Widening Participation (4)
  • belonging (4)
  • #InthisTogether (3)
  • Grammar (3)
  • University of Exeter (3)
  • Charity (2)
  • Government (2)
  • Mentors (2)
  • Primary education (2)
  • Subject Specialists (2)
  • accessibility (2)
  • community (2)
  • diversity (2)
  • plagiarism prevention (2)
  • student stress (2)
  • student success (2)
  • teaching & learning (2)
  • webinar (2)
  • Biology (1)
  • Careers (1)
  • Chemistry (1)
  • EU students (1)
  • First years (1)
  • Indigenous Strategy (1)
  • Nutrition (1)
  • Teacher (1)
  • business schools (1)
  • choice of language (1)
  • dyslexia (1)
  • job help (1)
  • library services (1)
  • podcasts (1)
  • reflection (1)
  • university of west of england (1)
  • July 2015 (13)
  • March 2020 (11)
  • June 2020 (10)
  • April 2020 (8)
  • July 2020 (8)
  • September 2020 (8)
  • March 2015 (7)
  • April 2015 (7)
  • October 2019 (7)
  • May 2018 (6)
  • April 2019 (6)
  • May 2020 (6)
  • September 2022 (6)
  • June 2015 (5)
  • August 2015 (5)
  • December 2017 (5)
  • March 2018 (5)
  • February 2020 (5)
  • March 2021 (5)
  • June 2021 (5)
  • May 2015 (4)
  • September 2015 (4)
  • January 2016 (4)
  • July 2016 (4)
  • August 2016 (4)
  • March 2017 (4)
  • October 2017 (4)
  • February 2018 (4)
  • August 2018 (4)
  • May 2019 (4)
  • July 2019 (4)
  • August 2019 (4)
  • October 2020 (4)
  • February 2015 (3)
  • December 2015 (3)
  • April 2016 (3)
  • October 2016 (3)
  • December 2016 (3)
  • April 2017 (3)
  • September 2017 (3)
  • April 2018 (3)
  • October 2018 (3)
  • March 2019 (3)
  • January 2020 (3)
  • November 2020 (3)
  • June 2022 (3)
  • October 2022 (3)
  • November 2022 (3)
  • August 2023 (3)
  • November 2023 (3)
  • March 2016 (2)
  • May 2016 (2)
  • July 2017 (2)
  • January 2018 (2)
  • November 2018 (2)
  • December 2018 (2)
  • January 2019 (2)
  • February 2019 (2)
  • June 2019 (2)
  • September 2019 (2)
  • January 2021 (2)
  • February 2021 (2)
  • April 2021 (2)
  • August 2021 (2)
  • September 2021 (2)
  • December 2021 (2)
  • August 2022 (2)
  • February 2023 (2)
  • March 2023 (2)
  • May 2023 (2)
  • December 2023 (2)
  • October 2008 (1)
  • January 2009 (1)
  • June 2011 (1)
  • October 2011 (1)
  • August 2013 (1)
  • October 2015 (1)
  • February 2016 (1)
  • June 2016 (1)
  • September 2016 (1)
  • November 2016 (1)
  • January 2017 (1)
  • May 2017 (1)
  • June 2017 (1)
  • August 2017 (1)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • June 2018 (1)
  • September 2018 (1)
  • November 2019 (1)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • August 2020 (1)
  • December 2020 (1)
  • May 2021 (1)
  • February 2022 (1)
  • March 2022 (1)
  • July 2022 (1)
  • December 2022 (1)
  • January 2023 (1)
  • June 2023 (1)
  • July 2023 (1)
  • September 2023 (1)
  • October 2023 (1)
  • February 2024 (1)

Studiosity: Anytime, Anywhere

    ABN 41 114 279 668

Student zone, assignment calculator, calendars and organisers, study survival guides, free practice tests, student faqs, download our mobile app, student sign in, success stories.

Student Reviews & Testimonials

Teacher Hub

Specialist Sign In

Meet our specialists

Meet the team, media and research, student reviews.

Read more on Google

Google-Review-Studiosity-Rochelle

Studiosity acknowledges the Traditional Indigenous Custodians of country throughout Australia, and all lands where we work, and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Contact  •  (02) 9906 2700  •  FAQ  •  Privacy  • Accessibility •  Acceptable Use  •  Terms of Use Education Policies  • Academic Integrity Policy

stress deal with homework

NIMH Logo

Transforming the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses.

Información en español

Celebrating 75 Years! Learn More >>

  • Health Topics
  • Brochures and Fact Sheets
  • Help for Mental Illnesses
  • Clinical Trials

I’m So Stressed Out! Fact Sheet

cover image of NIMH fact sheet I’m So Stressed Out

  • Download PDF
  • Order a free hardcopy

Feeling overwhelmed? Read this fact sheet to learn whether it’s stress or anxiety, and what you can do to cope.

Is it stress or anxiety?

Life can be stressful—you may feel stressed about performance at school, traumatic events (such as a pandemic, a natural disaster, or an act of violence), or a life change. Everyone feels stress from time to time.

What is stress? Stress is the physical or mental response to an external cause, such as having a lot of homework or having an illness. A stressor may be a one-time or short-term occurrence, or it can happen repeatedly over a long time.

What is anxiety? Anxiety is your body's reaction to stress and can occur even if there is no current threat.

If that anxiety doesn’t go away and begins to interfere with your life, it could affect your health. You could experience problems with sleeping, or with your immune, digestive, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems. You also may be at higher risk for developing a mental illness such as an anxiety disorder or depression. Read more about anxiety disorders .

So, how do you know when to seek help?

Stress vs. Anxiety

It’s important to manage your stress..

Everyone experiences stress, and sometimes that stress can feel overwhelming. You may be at risk for an anxiety disorder if it feels like you can’t manage the stress and if the symptoms of your stress:

  • Interfere with your everyday life.
  • Cause you to avoid doing things.
  • Seem to be always present.

Coping With Stress and Anxiety

Learning what causes or triggers your stress and what coping techniques work for you can help reduce your anxiety and improve your daily life. It may take trial and error to discover what works best for you. Here are some activities you can try when you start to feel overwhelmed:

  • Keep a journal.
  • Download an app that provides relaxation exercises (such as deep breathing or visualization) or tips for practicing mindfulness, which is a psychological process of actively paying attention to the present moment.
  • Exercise, and make sure you are eating healthy, regular meals.
  • Stick to a sleep routine, and make sure you are getting enough sleep.
  • Avoid drinking excess caffeine such as soft drinks or coffee.
  • Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts.
  • Reach out to your friends or family members who help you cope in a positive way.

Recognize When You Need More Help

If you are struggling to cope, or the symptoms of your stress or anxiety won’t go away, it may be time to talk to a professional. Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) and medication are the two main treatments for anxiety, and many people benefit from a combination of the two.

If you are in immediate distress or are thinking about hurting yourself, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline   at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org   .

If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Read more about getting help .

More Resources

  • NIMH: Anxiety Disorders
  • NIMH: Caring for Your Mental Health
  • NIMH: Child and Adolescent Mental Health
  • NIMH: Tips for Talking With a Health Care Provider About Your Mental Health
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Anxiety and Depression in Children 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health NIH Publication No. 20-MH-8125

The information in this publication is in the public domain and may be reused or copied without permission. However, you may not reuse or copy images. Please cite the National Institute of Mental Health as the source. Read our copyright policy to learn more about our guidelines for reusing NIMH content.

IMAGES

  1. 😊 How to deal with homework stress. 10 Tips to Reduce Homework Stress

    stress deal with homework

  2. Ways to Reduce Homework Related Stress

    stress deal with homework

  3. 10 Tips on How to Reduce the Stress of Homework

    stress deal with homework

  4. Helping Kids to Deal with Homework Stress

    stress deal with homework

  5. How To Deal With Homework Stress

    stress deal with homework

  6. Strategies to Help Reduce Homework Stress

    stress deal with homework

COMMENTS

  1. Is it time to get rid of homework? Mental health experts weigh in

    "More than half of students say that homework is their primary source of stress, and we know what stress can do on our bodies," she says, adding that staying up late to finish assignments...

  2. The Truth About Homework Stress: What You Need to Know

    Effects of homework stress at home Both parents and students tend to get stressed out at the beginning of a new school year due to the impending arrival of homework. Nightly battles centered on finishing assignments are a household routine in houses with students. Research has found that too much homework can negatively affect children.

  3. 10 Tips to Reduce Homework Stress

    1. Stick to a Schedule Help your child plan out his or her time, scheduling time for homework, chores, activities, and sleep. Keep this schedule handy so your child knows what he or she should be working on, and when. 2. Practise Good Time Management

  4. How to Manage Homework Stress

    Whether your anxiety is related to handling your workload (we know you're getting more homework than ever!), mastering a particular subject like statistics, or getting great grades for your college application, stress doesn't have to go hand-in-hand with studying.

  5. Why Homework is Bad: Stress and Consequences

    Research shows that some students regularly receive higher amounts of homework than experts recommend, which may cause stress and negative health effects. Research suggests that when students...

  6. 10 Effective Tips on How to Reduce Homework Stress

    ‍ The pressure to get good grades, finish homework on time, and keep up with different tasks can make you lose sleep, feel anxious, and even make you sick. This blog post is here to help you handle all that stress.

  7. Homework Wars: High School Workloads, Student Stress, and How Parents

    Homework Wars: High School Workloads, Student Stress, and How Parents Can Help Studies of typical homework loads vary: In one, a Stanford researcher found that more than two hours of homework a night may be counterproductive.

  8. Homework Struggles May Not Be a Behavior Problem

    Mental health challenges and neurodevelopmental differences directly affect children's ability to do homework. Understanding what difficulties are getting in the way—beyond the usual explanation ...

  9. How to Avoid Homework Stress (with Pictures)

    Although homework can be a source of stress, completing it can be a very rewarding and even relaxing experience if done in an organized and timely manner. Remember, homework is not intended as punishment, but is used to reinforce everything you've learned in class. Try to view it as a chance to sharpen your skills and understanding. Part 1

  10. GoodTherapy

    Homework can help bridge the gap between home and school, encourage independent learning, and give children who find school stressful an opportunity to learn at home. So what are the...

  11. How To Deal With Homework Stress

    Homework stress can be harmful too, making students depressed, tired, and building negative feelings towards the whole concept of studying. This can, unfortunately, lead to tragic consequences, such as suicidal thoughts.

  12. 10 Ways To Avoid A Homework Meltdown

    Homework stress can cause frustration and anxiety and ultimately prevent you from achieving your best results. However, this feeling of not being in control can be avoided by simply adjusting your study habits. Homework and study can actually be a rewarding, satisfying experience if done in an organised and efficient way.

  13. I'm So Stressed Out! Fact Sheet

    Life can be stressful—you may feel stressed about performance at school, traumatic events (such as a pandemic, a natural disaster, or an act of violence), or a life change. Everyone feels stress from time to time. What is stress? Stress is the physical or mental response to an external cause, such as having a lot of homework or having an illness.

  14. Strategies to Reduce Homework Anxiety for Parents

    Create a time and space for homework. Children with anxiety may do better knowing what to expect and when to expect it. Set aside a specific time each day when homework is completed. Routine and ...

  15. How to Deal with Homework Overload: Best Stress-Managing Tips

    Some effective ways to do this include exercise, yoga, meditation, deep breathing, and journaling. Exercise is a great way to release tension and boost mood, while yoga and meditation can help you relax and focus. Get help when you need it. If you're struggling with homework overload, feel free to ask for help.

  16. NYU Study Examines Top High School Students' Stress and Coping Mechanisms

    Students reported high rates of feelings of "closeness" to their parents, with an average valuation of 3.15 on a 0-4 scale. Nearly half (49%) of all students reported feeling a great deal of stress on a daily basis and 31 percent reported feeling somewhat stressed. Females reported significantly higher levels of stress than males (60% vs. 41%).

  17. 16 Effective Stress-Management Activities and Worksheets

    Stress, or rather the perception of stressors, can be managed, and there are ways to do so: Preparation increases our sense of control and improves confidence. Relaxation reduces anxiety and restores focus. Maintaining physical health via a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, and exercise underpins overall mental wellbeing.

  18. 5 Tips for Dealing with "Too Much" Homework

    1. Don't be a perfectionist There's an old principle of Pareto's that's been adapted to business (specifically management) called the 80-20 rule. The idea is that 80% of your results, come from 20% of your efforts. Think about that. When you tackle an assignment for school, are you trying to make everything perfect?

  19. How to Deal with Homework Stress: 5 Reliable Tips

    3. Use a homework planner to reduce too much homework stress. A homework planner is one of the best ways to deal with too much homework stress. The planner schedules all your assignments in order of priority. As a result, you have a clear idea of the most urgent work and the tasks that can wait.

  20. How to Deal With Tons of Homework: 11 Tips for Success

    1 Create a checklist of the tasks you have. Before diving in, make a list of all the things you need to do for your homework. As you complete each task, cross it off your list. The satisfaction of checking things off will keep you motivated to continue. [1] 2 Tackle the hardest homework first.

  21. 5 ways to help your stressed-out teen

    Instead, take a step back. Ask your teen how they see the problem. Be a stress coach. Research shows that teens can learn to deal more positively with stress. One idea is to remind your teen of the benefits of mindful attention: "When you feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath, refocus on right now and let go of worries about the future."

  22. Stress Worksheets

    Stress Exploration. worksheet. Stress is a feeling of being tense, overwhelmed, worn out, or exhausted. A small amount of stress can be motivating, but too much stress makes even small tasks seem daunting. Sometimes stress is the accumulation of many small hassles, while other times it is the result of major life changes or long-term problems...

  23. How to Deal with Homework Stress and Manage School Anxiety

    This can even be further aggravated by the usual school stress that students face. Sometimes, the issue is that the materials for the homework are not readily available. This could make students start stressing over homework. How to deal with homework overload. Having a lot of homework to do does not always have to cause anxiety.

  24. A controlled trial of adaptive disclosure-enhanced to improve

    Objective: This is a randomized controlled trial (NCT03056157) of an enhanced adaptive disclosure (AD) psychotherapy compared to present-centered therapy (PCT; each 12 sessions) in 174 veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to traumatic loss (TL) and moral injury (MI). AD employs different strategies for different trauma types. AD-Enhanced (AD-E) uses letter writing (e.g ...

  25. PDF ME 323: Mechanics of Materials Homework 6 Spring 2024 Due: February 23

    ME 323: Mechanics of Materials Homework 6 Spring 2024 Due: February 23, 2024 Problem 1 (10 points): A wide-flange beam with an I-shaped cross section is subjected to three concentrated forces as shown in ... Draw the stress elements to represent the stress states at points A and B. Figure 1: (Top): Wide-flange beam for Problem 1; Bottom: Cross ...