Behind on Homework? Start Here.

• Step 1: Hide Your Distractions
• Step 2: Create SMART Goals
• Step 3: Let Your Teacher Know
• Step 4: Make It Easier to Start
• Final Thought: Progress Over Perfection

Are you behind on schoolwork and not sure how to catch up?

You’re not alone and you’re not out of options.

In this blog, we will walk you through a simple, practical system to help students reset, refocus, and make real progress. Whether you’re a student feeling stuck, a parent trying to help, or a teacher guiding a student toward success, this post offers actionable advice grounded in executive function strategies.

If you’re looking for more foundational tools, check out The Secret to Helping Any Student with Executive Function Tutoring, which introduces key support strategies for building student independence.

Step 1: Hide Your Distractions

“Whenever I feel distracted, it’s because I got a notification on my phone… and then all of a sudden, it’s my bedtime.”

Distractions are real. Phones buzz, people call our names, or we get caught in a spiral of “I’ll just do it later.” That’s why the first fix is to make distractions harder to access.

Try this:

• Put your phone in another room or have someone hide it until you’re done.
• Use an app blocker like Screen Zen or AppBlock to restrict TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube during study hours.
• Turn on Do Not Disturb to silence incoming notifications.
• Stick to school-related tabs – Google Classroom and your grade portal only.
• Pick the right environment. Choose a space with fewer interruptions, whether it’s your room, a quiet library, or a friend’s focused workspace.

“The more you can create that for yourself, the more you can see that the thing you’ve been putting off doesn’t really take that long.”

Distraction-proofing is one of the most effective executive function hacks, and it’s a skill students can strengthen over time.

Step 2: Create SMART Goals

Vague goals like “I need to catch up” can leave you feeling more stuck. Instead, Presh suggests using SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.

Here’s an example:

“I will turn in my 7 missing assignments in 3 weeks because I want to get Bs and above for this semester.”

To help students get clear on what they’re working toward, goal-setting frameworks like this are explained further in Why Working with an Executive Function Tutor Builds More Than Good Grades where we talk about giving students clarity and ownership over their process.

But don’t stop at writing the goal, start small.

“List out all of your missing assignments and decide which one you’ll do today.”

Step 3: Let Your Teacher Know

Once you’ve got your SMART goal, tell your teacher. If talking in person feels tough, try emailing them using the SEND method:

• S: Say something nice
• E: Explain your goal
• N: Need advice
• D: Deliver thanks

Here’s an example from the video:

“Hi [Teacher’s Name], I hope you’re having a good day. I have missing assignments in your class and I want to get a B this semester. I’m not sure which ones I should do first, can I get your help to prioritize? Thank you so much!”

This proactive communication helps build trust and accountability and it’s a great way to involve supportive adults, a principle also explored in How to Get Unstuck for Students: Top 5 Executive Function Hacks, which encourages students to collaborate with teachers and parents.

Step 4: Make It Easier to Start

Sometimes we don’t need more motivation, we just need to lower the effort it takes to begin.

Ask yourself:

• What’s the easiest thing I can do right now? → Make a list or reread instructions.
• What’s a reward I can look forward to? → A 10-minute video, chocolate, or screen time.
• How can I make this more fun? → Change your music, study in a new spot, or light a favorite candle.

If all else fails, try a Study Sprint:

• Set a timer for 20 minutes.
• Focus on one task.
• Then take a 5-minute break.
• Repeat this cycle 3 times.

“I guarantee you, you’ll be incredibly surprised with how much you are able to do when you’ve locked in and focused for those 20 minutes times three.”

One trick: search “lo-fi 20 minutes” on YouTube for built-in study music and a timer.

Final Thought: Progress Over Perfection

“Catching up isn’t about doing things perfectly. It’s starting small and keeping the progress going.”

If you’re behind, don’t try to fix everything at once. Just pick one of these steps: hide distractions, set a SMART goal, or send that email and start right now.

What’s the first thing you’re going to try today? Let us know!