A Secret Technique I Use to Make Schoolwork and Other Work Fun & More Enjoyable

If you are a student or have ever been a student, you most likely hate or have hated homework at one point in your life.

I won’t get into whether or not homework is good or bad, because we could be here a long time talking about that. But I have wondered from time to time,

Is there anything I can do to make homework more fun end exciting?

One day, I got so sick of not enjoying homework that I decided to figure out how I could enjoy it.

I discovered that if I rewarded myself for doing an assignment, I actually enjoyed doing homework.

If I rewarded myself for working on a homework assignment for a specific amount of time – say, 30-45 minutes – homework became fun and exciting, because I looked forward to the reward afterwards (and the feeling of actually completeing my homework assignments).

I also discovered that this technique not only helps you get your homework done, but it also helps you get any work done that you are having a hard time doing (i.e., writing that book, crafting that sermon, finishing that project.)

How to make school work (and other work)
fun, exciting, and more enjoyable

Even if you are not a student, you can still use this technique to make your work more fun and exciting.

Here’s what you do:

1. Pick a homework assignment and set a time limit for how long you’re going to work on it. For example, you’re going to work on that paper for 40 minutes straight, without going on Facebook, texting your friends, playing video games, or watching TV.

2. Determine what you’re reward is going to be after the time limit. Iced coffee, Facebook, an article you have been wanting to read, an email you need to write, a walk outside, bicep curls, etc.

3. Work diligently on your homework for the time limit you determined. Stay laser-beam focused, avoid Twitter and other distractions completely. You can do those things during your “reward time.”

4. After the time limit is up, take 10-15 minutes and reward yourself. This is “reward time.” Reward yourself for doing your homework. Take 10-15 minutes and do your chosen reward. (But make sure you don’t get off track and forget to come back and finish the rest of your homework.)

5. When the “reward time” is up, pick your next homework/work assignment and repeat the process.  You’ll find that rewarding yourself throughout the day with mini-breaks makes work more fun, engaging, and enjoyable.

To help me stay focused and on track, I use a timer to remind myself when my homework time period is up, and when my reward time is over. (I use the Mac app Coffee Break, which is SUPER nice!)

Give it a shot, and let me know what you think. Not only will these steps help you get your homework done, you’ll also be able to do the other things you want to do. It’s a win-win situation!

Remember, this technique also works for projects not related to school, so give it a try in other areas of life as well. (I use this same technique when I’m having trouble staying focused in my writing).

Ultimately, these techniques are a way to be more focused and disciplined in the work you need to get done – and in the work you want to get done but have a hard time doing – while also being able to enjoy the other things you want to do.

Question: Do you have any secret techniques for making your homework and/or other work more fun and exciting? Feel free to share in the comments below!