I'm probably going to come off as a spoilt rich kid but..


I have terrible grades in school. I'm not proud of this. It's not because school is too hard, it's because it's too easy. I'm in 10th grade. I get As on all the tests, but it's homework. I just can't make myself do the homework, it's soo boring. Now I know this is a problem for most kids, I know it's about self discipline, trust me I am aware of the reasons, I just need help solving them. I need tips on how to have more discipline, or make boring work doable. When I do homework my mind will race, I'll think about something I am interested in and want to go research it. I have adhd, but Im on medication, its not like i cant focus, but its not like i dont want to either. I wish i could elaborate more but i have to go so hopefully i can get some suggestions. All the stuff on the internet just says the same thing so i figured ill try here.

Do you have options to take more difficult classes? You might get blocked because of your grades.

You are not going to find a trick that's going to make homework fun or motivation outside yourself. Discipline is an skill, it only comes with practice.

For me, it was thinking about my future. I wanted to go to a good college, I wanted a successful career. Good grades will facilitate that. Being a high schooler and having discipline must be a lot harder now, though. With the internet, video games, smartphones, and porn, I don't know how I would cope as a 15/16 year old.

The only way I can think to externally provide discipline is to create some accountability for yourself. Ask your teachers if they will email your homework assignments to your parents, and ask your parents to visually check that the assignments are complete. Then set up a reward system with your parents. Maybe if you complete all your assignments for a month, you get a new video game, for a whole semester, maybe a new phone, stuff like that.

Are you in high school? I mean it probably isn't as important to get good grades as it's been made out to you anyway.

Do you have plans for college? Something that might help keep you focused is the long-term goal of getting accepted into the college of your choice. Knowing there are academic based scholarships might encourage you to work harder to get that homework done. My daughter hates homework but she does it because she's gotten 2 B's in her entire life - the rest have been A's and is currently on the Distinguished Honor Roll list. She doesn't want to slip. She's in 7th grade and if she can have that mindset at that grade, surely you can being in the 10th grade.

(December 17, 2015 at 1:05 am)SteelCurtain Wrote: Do you have options to take more difficult classes? You might get blocked because of your grades.

You are not going to find a trick that's going to make homework fun or motivation outside yourself. Discipline is an skill, it only comes with practice.

For me, it was thinking about my future. I wanted to go to a good college, I wanted a successful career. Good grades will facilitate that. Being a high schooler and having discipline must be a lot harder now, though. With the internet, video games, smartphones, and porn, I don't know how I would cope as a 15/16 year old.

The only way I can think to externally provide discipline is to create some accountability for yourself. Ask your teachers if they will email your homework assignments to your parents, and ask your parents to visually check that the assignments are complete. Then set up a reward system with your parents. Maybe if you complete all your assignments for a month, you get a new video game, for a whole semester, maybe a new phone, stuff like that.

Thanks for the reply. The thing is reward systems dont really work for me because i dont care about much. Like i dont care enough about phones, money or anything to make me accomplish something i otherwise wouldnt. Im not really a materialistic person.

(December 17, 2015 at 1:07 am)CapnAwesome Wrote: Are you in high school? I mean it probably isn't as important to get good grades as it's been made out to you anyway.

Yes i am in highschool.

(December 17, 2015 at 2:03 am)Judi Lynn Wrote: Do you have plans for college? Something that might help keep you focused is the long-term goal of getting accepted into the college of your choice. Knowing there are academic based scholarships might encourage you to work harder to get that homework done. My daughter hates homework but she does it because she's gotten 2 B's in her entire life - the rest have been A's and is currently on the Distinguished Honor Roll list. She doesn't want to slip. She's in 7th grade and if she can have that mindset at that grade, surely you can being in the 10th grade.

I never have considered not going to college, ive never really valued college much either though. I know i need to go to a college, but ive never really seen the difference in going to a top one vs something else. I have always just thought i will do something great regardless, i think maybe thats my problem, im looking too much in to the future. Often i worry about things like death, and not accomplishing anything, not inventing anything or leaving my mark in any way, i like to think about broad ideas.

Well, try to at least develop some short term goals. I realize from what you said that a reward system really isn't your thing because you aren't a materialistic person (your parents must love you for that!), however, what sorts of things do you like to do? Any hobbies? Friends you like hanging out with or doing stuff with? If so, then perhaps try to develop a reward system based on those things. Rewards don't have to have a monetary value attached to them, you could always reward yourself with a favorite outdoor activity, like, rock climbing or mountain biking with friends, for example.

You seem wise for your age. Hang on to that. You'll need it later on in life.

You should try AP classes. Not sure if they still have those, it's been a while since I was in high school.

Also, if you're making As in your classes and having these kinds of problems with homework, then I am assuming you are finding some way to do the homework nonetheless. After all, unless you have made some sort of agreement with your teachers whereby you can forego with the homework, those homework assignments are worth a percentage of your overall grade.

Doing homework cannot be as difficult as you are describing if you are still making As.

(December 17, 2015 at 2:47 am)Kitan Wrote: You should try AP classes.  Not sure if they still have those, it's been a while since I was in high school.

Also, if you're making As in your classes and having these kinds of problems with homework, then I am assuming you are finding some way to do the homework nonetheless.  After all, unless you have made some sort of agreement with your teachers whereby you can forego with the homework, those homework assignments are worth a percentage of your overall grade.  

Doing homework cannot be as difficult as you are describing if you are still making As.

You misread, i said im getting As on the tests, but that doesnt matter as i still end up with Cs from not doing a lot of the HW

(December 17, 2015 at 2:51 am)Heat Wrote: You misread, i said im getting As on the tests, but that doesnt matter as i still end up with Cs from not doing a lot of the HW

I suppose I did misread.

What about the homework, precisely, is not worth your attention? Is there something else that your time is better spent on doing?

(December 17, 2015 at 2:55 am)Kitan Wrote:

(December 17, 2015 at 2:51 am)Heat Wrote: You misread, i said im getting As on the tests, but that doesnt matter as i still end up with Cs from not doing a lot of the HW

I suppose I did misread.

What about the homework, precisely, is not worth your attention?  Is there something else that your time is better spent on doing?

Thats not the point, it is worth my attention, but regardless i cant focus on it because it doesnt interest me whatsoever.