is it bad to watch tv while doing homework

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Is it OK to watch TV while studying?

Table of Contents

• 1 Is it OK to watch TV while studying?
• 2 Is it OK to watch movies while studying?
• 3 What can I watch while I study?
• 4 Is it okay to watch Netflix while studying?
• 5 Can you watch Netflix while doing homework?
• 6 Is it okay to watch TV while doing homework?
• 7 What happens when you focus on your homework?

Definitely turn it off. No matter how your brain works and what you need to study, the TV will just distract you. On the other hand, if you frequently (or soon to be) find yourself having to study in a place with lots of distractions, then you can leave it on to help train yourself to focus.

Is it OK to watch movies while studying?

If you entertain yourself while studying, your brain will get some time to relax and won’t be overburdened. A great way to entertain yourself is by watching movies!

Is listening to music while doing homework bad?

Listening to music while doing homework seems harmless, but many studies have shown that listening to popular music with lyrics can hurt reading comprehension and the ability to do complex tasks, but that more “zen-like” and classical music does not.

Is it bad to listen to music while studying?

Music that is soothing and relaxing can help students to beat stress or anxiety while studying. During long study sessions, music can aid endurance. In some cases, students have found that music helps them with memorization, likely by creating a positive mood, which indirectly boosts memory formation.

What can I watch while I study?

8 TV Shows To Binge Watch While Studying

• Gilmore Girls. Gilmore Girls is the perfect TV show to binge watch while studying as you don’t have to pay a lot of attention to keep up with what is going on.
• Parks and Recreation.
• The Big Bang Theory.
• The Simpsons.
• The Toys That Made Us.
• Our Planet.

Is it okay to watch Netflix while studying?

It’s totally fine! Just think of Netflix as a reward for your studies!

What should I watch while doing homework?

They’re funny, short and you really don’t need to pay attention to pick up on the plot.

• The Office. Miss actually working in an office or going to work in general?
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
• Anything HGTV.

Is LOFI good for studying?

Yes, lo-fi music can help you study, as it specifically triggers an enjoyable response. When we are in a pleasurable situation, this causes the release of Dopamine, a neurotransmitter which elicits a focused response. Dopamine is responsible for enhancing alertness, motivation, focus and happiness.

Can you watch Netflix while doing homework?

Once you enable the Netflix Picture in Picture mode, you can quickly minimize the player and play in the background on Android. While the movie is playing on Netflix, simply tap on the button and Netflix will switch to Picture in Picture mode.

Is it okay to watch TV while doing homework?

What happens when you study in front of the TV?

Is it bad to multitask while doing homework?

What happens when you focus on your homework?

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Should I be concerned about my teen's constant multitasking during homework?

Many teens multitask with media while doing their homework, and most of them think this has no effect on the quality of their work. Consider the stats :

• 51 percent of teens say they often or sometimes watch TV during homework.
• 50 percent often or sometimes use social media while doing homework.
• 60 percent often or sometimes text during homework.
• 76 percent often or sometimes listen to music during homework. (In fact, 50 percent of teens think listening to music helps their work vs. 6 percent who think it hurts.)

But, despite what kids think and do, frequently using several devices at a time affects the ability to focus. Productivity suffers when switching rapidly between different tasks because the brain has to re-focus every time it switches to a new activity . Over time, heavy multitaskers can also have trouble with face-to-face conversations.

The challenge for parents is figuring out what's normal (but frustrating) teen behavior and what are truly unhealthy study habits. Listening to music while doing homework seems harmless, but many studies have shown that listening to popular music with lyrics can hurt reading comprehension and the ability to do complex tasks, but that more "zen-like" and classical music does not. But if your teens' academics are slipping, that's a red flag. Discuss your concerns and talk about ways to structure homework time, such as turning off cell phones and TV for a certain amount of time or allowing kids to check their texts only after they complete each assignment. Consider asking your kids to write down assignments and have them check each off as they finish them. Maybe offer rewards for finishing in a timely manner, since multitasking tends to make homework time drag on.

If your kid is really having a tough time blocking out distractions and staying focused, you might need some technical assistance. If your kid's school uses a 1-to-1 device program, ask the teacher if it comes with some time-management software or other controls that allow you to restrict access to non-homework-related sites. If your kid is using your home computer to do work, you might consider a parental-control program such as OpenDNS or KidsWatch that lets you separate homework from playtime.

Common Sense Media offers the largest, most trusted library of independent age-based ratings and reviews. Our timely parenting advice supports families as they navigate the challenges and possibilities of raising kids in the digital age.

The 7 Laws of Multitasking

The two main hazards (and two main benefits) of multitasking..

Posted December 16, 2014

You’ve been told that multitasking is a bad idea. Articles and essays appear every day telling you why multitasking is dangerous, makes things take longer, tires out your brain, reduces the quality of your work, and lowers your IQ . And, for the most part, these warnings are all based on good research. 1, 2

But have you ever noticed that you still multitask in many ways, and it usually works out just fine?

The truth is that sometimes multitasking is a very bad idea, sometimes it doesn’t help, but also doesn’t hurt much, and sometimes it brings great benefits. The point of this essay is to help us tell the difference.

And, with that, I present the seven laws of multitasking.

Law One: Some tasks mix well.

In the simplest case, when you multitask, you have a primary task (task A), and a secondary task (task B). The primary task is your priority. The secondary task is tacked on as something else you can enjoy or accomplish at the same time.

Sometimes the two tasks will mix well. Here are some examples:

• listening to music while practicing a sports skill
• talking with strangers while waiting in line
• listening to a talk radio program while driving (sometimes)
• listening to music while working.
• talking on the phone while cooking
• cleaning a room while doing a weight workout
• doing dishes while waiting for a video game to load
• watching television while folding laundry
• listening to an audiobook while exercising
• drinking coffee while talking with a friend
• eating popcorn while watching a movie

And, contrary to idiom, even chewing gum while walking works out just fine most of the time.

On the other hand, . . .

Law Two: Some tasks mix poorly.

Sometimes tasks don’t mix well. Here are some examples:

• texting while driving
• monitoring social media while doing high-focus creative work
• watching television while doing homework
• listening to a podcast while writing
• listening to music with lyrics while reading
• talking with friends while watching a movie
• emailing one person while talking with another
• playing angry birds while landing a commercial passenger jet.

These examples, good and bad, come from my own experience, from common experience, and from the research literature. One or two of the examples might fail to resonate for you, but the point remains: multitasking is a mixed bag.

Now let’s see if we can figure out what makes multitasking good in some cases and bad in others.

Law Three: It’s partly about switching costs.

Imagine you have a small kitchen, and you plan to make two omelets and two batches of cookies. In what order should you do your cooking?

When you make an omelet, you must get out the eggs, the cheese, a cutting board, a knife, some spices, some vegetables, a skillet, and a mixing bowl. Then you make the omelet. And, if you’re like me, when you’re finished, you still have a dirty mixing bowl, cutting board and skillet sitting there, with the eggs, cheese, and maybe some extra veggies still sitting on the counter. At some point you will need to clean up and put things away.

So we can break the task of making a single omelet into three parts: 1) setup, 2) make the omelet, 3) cleanup.

And the same goes for baking cookies. You’ll have the same three components to that task: setup, make the cookies, and cleanup.

Now consider two plans for making the two omelets and two batches of cookies:

Plan 1 : omelet, cookies, omelet, cookies

Plan 2 : omelet, omelet, cookies, cookies.

And consider how much time and effort is required for each plan.

With plan 1 you will need to:

• setup for omelet
• make omelet
• setup for cookies
• make cookies

With plan 2 you will need to:

When you alternate tasks, you have to clean up task A before you can setup for task B (remember, this is a small kitchen). And it turns out that you can save a lot of work by focusing on one kind of food at a time instead of switching between them. You save two setups and two cleanups by following plan 2 instead of plan 1. This is the benefit of batch processing. It saves on overhead.

The same thing happens in your brain when you multitask. For example, when you sit down to do some homework your mind has to do some setup tasks. It must load certain information into short term memory , build appropriate mental models, erect filters to keep irrelevant information out, and so forth.

Now, if you switch your attention to watching television for a few seconds, you must free up some of the resources being used for homework, and prepare some new mental resources that are needed to track the show you’re watching.

So your mind has to perform some cleanup and setup work every time you switch from homework to television, and every time you switch back as well. These are known as “switching costs”, and they cost you in terms of both time and energy.

The costs might be small for an individual switch, but after an hour of homework/television they add up, and you might find you got only half of the homework done you could have, and you might be more mentally weary as well. 2

And the switching costs will be even greater if your primary task is a complicated creative endeavor, such as constructing a mathematical proof, developing a theory in physics, writing about a complicated topic, or coding a complex algorithm.

Richard Feynman had the following to say about allowing creative work to be interrupted (whether by accident or through multitasking):

“To do high, real good physics work you do need absolutely solid lengths of time, so that when you’re putting ideas together which are vague and hard to remember, it’s very much like building a house of cards and each of the cards is shaky, and if you forget one of them the whole thing collapses again. You don’t know how you got there and you have to build them up again, . . .” 3

The problem is that, when you’re doing complicated work, you often have to build up intricate mental models, and you’re pushing yourself to the edge of your capacity to concentrate. And when you take your attention away from your creative task and attend to an interruption, the mental models dissolve. And you probably won’t be able to build them back up the way they were.

It’s like having your computer crash while writing a paper, and realizing you hadn’t saved your document for half an hour. It will cost you time and energy trying to get everything built back up, and you might not actually get it back the way it was.

The real tragedy here is not that sometimes geniuses lose track of where they were. Geniuses typically value deep concentration and take measures to protect against interruption. The real tragedy is that many chronic multitaskers never bother with deep concentration, and might never discover the genius within them.

Law Four: It’s partly about resource conflict.

Another problem with mutitasking is that task A and task B might need the same mental resource, and they can’t both use it at the same time.

If a person listens to light instrumental music while sending an email message, there is typically little problem. Task B (listening to music) makes use of mental resources not needed for task A (writing the email message). If our email writer sub-vocalizes as she writes, there might be some auditory involvement, but the music won’t require verbal processing, so the degree of conflict is minimal.

If, on the other hand, she talks with a colleague while writing her email, then there is much more conflict over mental resources. Task B requires the person to construct and communicate meaning in sentences, just like task A does. Both require empathy and social strategizing as well. Trying to do both tasks at the same time will cause high switching costs and a greater chance of error.

Texting while driving is an iconic case of resource conflict. Both tasks compete over visual attention. When you switch your gaze from driving to texting, you will no longer be able to see new driving hazards as long as you are looking at your phone. Plus it takes some time to get situation awareness when you look back to the road. That’s why texting and driving is now the number one cause of death for teen drivers. 4

In general, when it’s important to do task A well, we should not also take on a secondary task that competes with the primary task for key resources.

Law Five: It’s partly about sweetening the pot.

But there are benefits to multitasking. Sometimes we are staring down a relatively simple task that we just don’t want to do (such as folding clothes). But we know that we would be much happier doing that task if we could do something else pleasant or useful at the same time (such as watching television or listening to an audio book). So we multitask in order to “sweeten the pot”, so we will have the motivation needed to perform the primary task.

We might not fold the clothes in record time. There will be some switching costs. But the alternative, if we’re being frank, is that we won’t fold the clothes at all. And, since the task is relatively simple, the switching costs will be manageable.

Or sometimes the primary task will contain periods of activity interspersed with periods of inactivity, while another task can be broken into small chunks that can fit those gaps. When I workout with weights, I perform sets of exercise with periods of rest in between. When I clean my office I do a series of discrete tasks with natural break points between subtasks (clear the clutter from my desk, empty a trash can, etc.).

That makes these two activities a natural fit. If I arrange to do cleaning tasks during the rest intervals in my workout, that “sweetens the pot” for both tasks. I normally don’t like cleaning my office, and will put it off repeatedly. But, if I can make use of the dead times in my workout, it seems worthwhile, because there’s little else of value I would be able to do during those two-minute rest periods.

Multitasking can help us start a task we don’t want to do, and it can also keep us doing a task when we’ve grown impatient. When the car trip gets boring , we can play twenty-questions. When we get impatient waiting in line, we can strike up a conversation with a stranger.

And pot-sweetening is just one of the two main possible benefits of multitasking.

Law Six: It’s partly about setting picks.

In basketball, it’s easier to score when you’re not being harassed by an opponent. That’s why teammates will sometimes position themselves at a spot on the floor and just stand still. The player with the ball can then dribble close enough to the teammate that the shadowing defender must either run into the teammate, go around the teammate, or switch assignments with the teammate’s defender. Sometimes this allows the player with the ball to get off a clean shot. The teammate in this case is “setting a pick”.

Likewise, a well-chosen secondary task can “set a pick” for the primary task by blocking out potential distractors.

When we work on a task, our minds do many things. Parts of our mind are concerned with executing our primary task. They help us keep the goal in mind, make plans, execute those plans, work around obstacles, keep the right things in memory for easy access, and so on. These are “foreground” processes.

At the same time other parts of our mind are looking out for signs of danger, looping through other problems we are dealing with, monitoring our internal states, or looking for opportunities to switch to more rewarding tasks. These are “background processes”. And background processes have a way of getting us off track at times.

So here’s the thing. This is where we can use multitasking to our advantage. If we choose our secondary task wisely, it can compete for resources with background processes that might otherwise interrupt us. And that means the right task B can actually help us stay focused on task A. Here’s how we might formalize that strategy:

Background Process Interference Strategy: when background processes are likely to interrupt a primary task, try to find a secondary task that will compete for resources with the background processes, but not with the foreground processes.

In other words, use task B to “set a pick” for task A.

If you don’t like doing yard work, and you know that parts of your brain will be looking for more rewarding things to do, and will be sending a constant stream of rationalizations to your mind to try to get you to quit, then you can run interference by listening to a podcast. Listening to the podcast will compete with the background processes for a key resource (strategic thinking), but will not compete substantially for the resources being used by the primary task.

On the other hand, if you’re writing an essay, and you fear your background processes will be trying to get you to quit, setting a pick with a podcast won’t work as well. In that case, task B will interfere not only with the background processes but also with the foreground processes -- like a clumsy teammate who tries to set a pick and knocks over the ball-handler in the process.

Law Seven: It’s all about making trade-offs.

It should be clear by now that we can’t say full stop whether multitasking is good or bad. It all depends on features of task A, features of task B, how A and B interact, and what a person’s goals are.

When it’s important to do the primary task well (driving), we must be extra careful about switching costs and resource conflict (that’s why texting while driving is a terrible idea). When it’s not that important, we can be more relaxed about those costs, and be more open to some of the benefits of multitasking (watching television while folding clothes is probably fine).

Sometimes it will be important to do task A quickly (studying for a test the night before an exam) and sometimes it won’t matter too much how long it takes (folding laundry on an otherwise empty evening). When it’s important to do a task quickly, we must be extra concerned about switching costs (and we might opt for some mid-tempo instrumental music to help us focus and block out distractions while we study -- instead of watching a television program).

Sometimes we are motivated to do task A (playing a new video game), and sometimes we lack motivation (working out). When we lack motivation, a well-chosen task B might just sweeten the pot.

Sometimes we are so familiar with task A, we do much of it on “auto-pilot”. And sometimes task A takes our full attention. That’s why listening to a talk program on radio can be a good idea for an experienced driver, but a bad idea for a student just learning to drive.

Sometimes task A is complicated (writing an essay), and other times it’s simple (folding clothes). Switching costs are usually higher for complicated tasks.

And so, in order to tell whether a given case of multitasking is good or bad, we will have to weigh the costs against the benefits on a case by case basis.

Conclusion: some specific and useful strategies.

We’ve covered a lot of ground. Here are the key lessons in a nutshell:

We’ve seen that multitasking can be a bad idea when:

• there are high switching costs
• there is resource conflict between task A and task B

And we’ve seen that it can be a good idea when:

• task B “sweetens the pot” for task A
• task B can “set a pick” for task A

And we’ve seen that the wisdom of multitasking can also depend on other features of task A and task B:

• how important it is to do them well
• how familiar they are
• how important it is to do them quickly
• how motivated we are to do them
• how complicated they are

Let’s finish with a few specific and useful ways to apply these lessons:

• Multitasking can be dangerous. When it’s important to do task A well, we should be very careful about choosing a task B, and err on the side of caution. We should never text and drive, or talk on the phone while driving. And we should take steps to make sure our passengers will not distract us with rowdiness or emotionally challenging conversations (this is of special relevance for those of us with children).
• Multitasking can hinder creative productivity . When working on a creative project that pushes us to the limits of our concentration, we should not multitask in ways that will expose us to interruptions of the primary activity (for example, while writing an essay, we should close our facebook, twitter, and email clients, and check them only after we’ve done a good chunk of creative work).
• Multitasking can assist creative productivity. Well-chosen secondary tasks can set picks for our creative projects, and can help us maintain focus against background processes that might otherwise interrupt us (for instance while writing an essay in a coffee shop, we might listen to invigorating instrumental music to block out ambient noises, conversations, and internal signals of discomfort).
• Multitasking can help us be more patient. We tend to grow impatient when we have a goal and we have just learned that it’s going to cost us more to reach our goal than we originally thought. And our tendency when we are impatient is to either try to find shortcuts or to abandon our goal for another goal. But sometimes the right course of action is to simply stay the course and absorb the extra costs. The right task B can both sweeten the pot, and set picks on those voices in our heads trying to get us to change course. For instance, we might talk with a stranger while waiting in line, so we don’t bolt, or listen to an audiobook while stuck in heavy traffic, so we don’t plot out risky and minimally productive lane-changing maneuvers (For more on impatience, see “The 7 Laws of Impatience” ).
• Well-chosen music mixes with almost everything. Well-chosen music has a magical ability to both sweeten the pot and set picks for almost any activity -- while avoiding resource conflict and switching costs almost entirely. The music must be chosen carefully, so it does not provide resource conflict (for instance songs with lyrics might not be optimal for reading, and death metal might be a poor choice for meditation ). But there is usually a good choice for almost any activity. Some tasks might not mix well with any kind of music, but these will probably be rare for most people.

1 Ophir, Nass, Wagner, “Cognitive Control in Media Multitaskers”

2 Armstrong and Chung, “Background Television and Reading Memory in Context”

3 Richard P. Feynman “The pleasure of finding things out.” p. 19

4 Delthia Ricks, "Study: Texting while driving now leading cause of death for teen drivers"

Further Reading

The 7 Laws of Impatience -- Jim Stone

Jim Stone, Ph.D., is a philosopher, avid student of motivational psychology, and developer of personal productivity software and workshops.

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Do You Multitask? Is It Helpful or Harmful?

A guest writer challenges readers to stop distracting themselves and do one activity at a time for a week. Do you think you could do it?

By Natalie Proulx

Do you ever watch TV while you’re doing homework? Listen to a podcast or music while driving? Talk on the phone while cleaning your room? Text or scroll while hanging out with friends?

If so, you’re probably familiar with the practice of multitasking — doing two (or more) things at once. Or, at least, trying to.

In “ Stop Multitasking. No, Really — Just Stop It ,” Oliver Burkeman writes about why this practice doesn’t really work:

A few months ago, I was teetering on the brink of feeling overwhelmed by life’s responsibilities, afflicted by the ambient anxiety that seems to be an intrinsic part of life in the 2020s. In an effort to maintain — or maybe restore — my sanity, I embarked on a personal endurance challenge. Other people, at similar moments, begin competing in grueling triathlons, or head off on intensive meditation retreats. Me? I decided to give up listening to podcasts or music while running, or driving, or loading the dishwasher, or doing almost anything else. To just focus, in other words, on what it was I was actually doing, one activity at a time. It was surprisingly hard. Once you’ve finished mocking me for treating such a trifling alteration to my habits like a grand existential struggle, I have one request: Try it. Identify the small tricks you use to avoid being fully present with whatever you’re doing, and put them aside for a week or two. You may discover, as I did, that you were unwittingly addicted to not doing one thing at a time. You might even come to agree with me that restoring our capacity to live sequentially — that is, focusing on one thing after another, in turn, and enduring the confrontation with our human limitations that this inherently entails — may be among the most crucial skills for thriving in the uncertain, crisis-prone future we all face.

The essay concludes:

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Does Watching TV Before Studying Affect Study Habits?

In today’s age of technology, TV’s are everywhere. They are mounted on the wall in doctor’s waiting rooms, are located in every room of the home, and even carried around in our pockets in the form of smartphones. There is no doubt about it, TV’s are inescapable and can be quite distracting. This is especially true at homework time. TV’s can have adverse implications on study habits. They can also affect the study habits of children who watch TV before studying. Here are some tips to improve your child’s study habits and help set them up for success.

Children Should Not have a 65  Inch TV in Their Bedroom

If your child studies in their bedroom, they should not have a TV in their room. It sounds crazy, but they should especially not have a huge TV in their room. There are folks who have large TVs in their kids room and that is a mega distraction. There have been documented research studies that suggest children have lower standardized test scores when they have a television in their bedroom versus those who do not.

A 2005 Stanford University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University study reported that children scored between seven and nine points lower on standardized reading and math scores. Considering this study was done before the tablet and smartphone invasion, an argument could be made that the test scores are affected more than ever before. 

These children in the study also were found to study for longer lengths of time when they had a television in their room than children who did not have a TV. The fact that televisions are distracting is the main factor for this anomaly. 

In 2018 approximately 71 percent of American kids , ages 8 to 18, had a TV in their bedroom. Further, in 2013, 75 percent of children eight years old and younger had access to a smartphone or a tablet. This poses some serious questions as to the long term implications and the successful study habits of our children. 

The simple solution: don’t let your child have a television in their bedroom. 

Is Watching TV Before Studying Poor Timing?

The short answer is yes. It is recommended that you should use television as a reward after you get a certain amount of studying done. The reason for allowing TV time after studying is so that your child has ample time to study and doesn’t run out of time to complete their homework if they spend too much of it watching TV before doing homework. 

As children get older, they tend to have more homework at night. With extra-curricular activities, some students only have an hour or so to get homework done from the time they get home from sports practices, tutoring, dance, scouts, etc. If they waste that time watching television, with the excuse that they need to decompress, they won’t get their homework done, and their grades will suffer. 

If you find that your child is chronically running out of time at night to get their homework done, you may need to reevaluate the number of extracurricular activities that they participate in or work out a better schedule for them to get their schoolwork done in a timely manner.

Learn Time Management 

Part of homework is learning how to correctly budget time. If your child wants to do sports, wants to watch television, wants to be able to play outside after school, and needs to eat dinner, they need to be good at managing their time. 

If you start instilling sound time management systems early in their education, as your child gets older, they will be better at organizing their time on their own. Once they are in college, your child will thank you for setting them up to face schoolwork on their own. 

If you are horrible with time management, perhaps sit down and put together a schedule with your child. Aim for it to be something that can easily be accomplished and not a system that can be busted open and thrown out the window if you get stuck in traffic or if the team bus is running late returning from a game.

Be sure to remember that watching television within a half-hour of bedtime can make it hard to fall asleep. The lighting from a TV can stimulate the brain, rather than help it to settle down. So, if you build TV time into your child’s schedule, make sure that it won’t hinder their ability to get a good night’s sleep.

Dad, Cyber Safety Influencer, Product Evangelist, Avid Cyclist, Hobbyist Musician. Battling the constant love/hate with tech.

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A Neuroscientist Explains Why Multitasking Screens Is So Terrible For Your Brain

How many times have you sat down to watch TV or a movie, only to immediately shift your attention to your smartphone or tablet? Known as "media multitasking" , this phenomenon is so common that an estimated 178m US adults regularly use another device while watching TV.

While some might assume that frequently shifting your attention between different information streams is good brain training for improving memory and attention, studies have found the opposite to be true.

Media multitasking is when people engage with multiple devices or content at the same time. This might be using your smartphone while watching TV, or even listening to music and text messaging friends while playing a video game.

One recent study looked at the body of current research on media multitasking (consisting of 22 peer-reviewed research papers) and found that self-reported "heavy media multitaskers" performed worse on attention and working memory tests. Some even had structural brain differences.

The study found that "heavy" media multitaskers performed about 8-10% worse on sustained attention tests compared to "light" media multitaskers. These tests involved participants paying attention to a certain task (such as spotting a specific letter in a stream of other letters) for 20 minutes or more.

Researchers found that on these tests (and others) the ability to sustain attention was poorer for heavy multitaskers. These findings might explain why some people are heavy multitaskers.

If someone has a poor attention span, they may be likely to switch between activities quickly, instead of staying with just one.

Heavy media multitaskers were also found to perform worse than light media multitaskers on working memory tests. These involved memorising and remembering information (like a phone number) while performing another task (such as searching for a pen and piece of paper to write it down).

Complex working memory is closely linked with having better focus and being able to ignore distractions.

Brain scans of the participants also showed that an area of the brain known as the anterior cingulate cortex is smaller in heavy multitaskers . This area of the brain is involved in controlling attention. A smaller one may imply worse functioning and poorer attention.

But while researchers have confirmed that heavy media multitaskers have worse memory and attention, they are still uncertain about what causes heavy media multitasking.

Do heavy media multitaskers have worse attention because of their media multitasking? Or do they media multitask because they have poor attention?

It might also be an effect of general intelligence , personality , or something else entirely that causes poor attention and increased media multitasking behaviours.

But the news isn't all bad for heavy multitaskers. Curiously, this impairment might have some benefit. Research suggests that light media multitaskers are more likely to miss helpful information that isn't related to the task they're currently performing.

For example, a person may read with a radio playing in the background. When important breaking news is broadcast, a heavy media multitasker is actually more likely to pick it up than a light media multitasker.

So should you avoid media multitasking? Based on current research, the answer is probably yes. Multitasking usually causes poorer performance when doing two things at once, and puts more demands on the brain than doing one thing at a time.

This is because the human mind suffers from an "attentional bottleneck" , which only allows certain mental operations to occur one after another.

But if you're wondering whether media multitasking will impair your attention capabilities, the answer is probably no. We don't know yet whether heavy media multitasking is really the cause for lower performance on the tests.

The effects observed in controlled laboratory settings are also generally rather small and most likely negligible in normal everyday life.

André J. Szameitat , Reader in Cognitive Neuroscience, Brunel University London .

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .

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What is your opinion on watching TV while doing homework

• Thread starter land_of_ice
• Start date Apr 1, 2011
• Tags Homework
• Apr 1, 2011
• Cold antimatter for quantum state-resolved precision measurements
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My rules (For myself): Nothing in the background; no movies, no TV, no people, sometimes cats (I have no choice!) Only some special types of music: Classical or instrumental, very low volume. I don't even have TV, so that's not hard. Basically I want all of my brain to be directed towards what I'm doing, I don't need any "filling" sound like movies, a lot of people seem to need that though. I also only ever do homework on graph paper with no holes in the margins.  

DivisionByZro said: My rules (For myself): Nothing in the background; no movies, no TV, no people, sometimes cats (I have no choice!) Only some special types of music: Classical or instrumental, very low volume. I don't even have TV, so that's not hard. Basically I want all of my brain to be directed towards what I'm doing, I don't need any "filling" sound like movies, a lot of people seem to need that though. I also only ever do homework on graph paper with no holes in the margins.

A PF Mountain

No TV for me. I find it extremely hard to concentrate on solving exercises when I hear a TV in the background. Watching it would mean I'm not even thinking about my homework.  

I'm used to multitasking. Sometimes I'd watch tv or chat with friends while doing homework. (not recommended)  

land_of_ice said: Do you feel as though it is a good idea or not?

I do occasionally watch a show (on my second computer monitor) while I'm doing chemistry homework, but never for math or physics. I find that if I try watching something while doing homework that involves thinking, I neither perform well or enjoy the show. I have tested that it takes me just as long to do my work THEN watch the show as it takes me to do my work while watching the amount of shows needed to complete the assignment. I used to only listen to classical music while doing work, but became reliant on it and could not focus when it came test time. I now listen to an assortment of music with lyrics (Pandora) so that I can practice tuning out noise.  

diligence said: Ummm, is this a rhetorical question? Because obviously the answer is no if we're talking about math or physics homework. Maybe it's fine for other subjects that don't require as much brainpower, but I mean, c'mon, does this even need to be hashed out?

I can't read a textbook while watching TV. I have to have it off for that. If I am just doing problem sets I almost always watch/listen to TV. I can't stand it being quiet. And music I'll just sit there and change stations and not do homework. For some reason I can put on a movie and just leave it.  

I think if it works for you, then it works for you. It doesn't for me. I prefer to put on a good death, doom or black metal album. If a TV is on, or someone is talking in the next room, I'm distracted beyond all hope.  

Armchair Scientist

TV, nope, Music, maybe. I find it helps keep me from getting distracted if I have some music to listen too. (Usually. Sometimes it doesn't help, but i just have to judge it myself at the time)  

• Apr 2, 2011

Angry Citizen said: I think if it works for you, then it works for you. It doesn't for me. I prefer to put on a good death, doom or black metal album. If a TV is on, or someone is talking in the next room, I'm distracted beyond all hope.

No TV. I have a bit of a rule of thumb that comes from experience... I find that if, once I get busy on a problem, I tune out whatever the background noise is, then it needs to be turned off. You may think "but if you can tune it out, then that's good, right?" Nope! It means it's at a level where it will be distracting during those moments when I pull back from the problem, like when I'm finished one and about to move onto another or when I need to take a small break or something. It's harder to get back on task with the noise going. Sometimes I have to work with the TV going, though, otherwise who would babysit my kid? Ahem...  

• Apr 3, 2011

Leptos said: It's not a good idea. For many people in math and physics, things like watching TV aren't important in the same sense as our education, but rather they are used to cope with anxiety. I too have an issue with anxiety, but I get myself to study and do homework with no distractions and 100% focus by doing jumping jacks and push ups every time I feel too anxious to get to work. It turns out this works very well for me since it also helps oxygen get to my brain

I can't do homework if I don't have the TV on. I get very bored very quickly. Then again, I'm a product of the internet in that I need to be constantly multitasking or I can't accomplish anything.  

A PF Molecule

I can't read and have the TV on, though while doing homework I can, though it does distract me. Usually I put on light classical music.  

Related to What is your opinion on watching TV while doing homework

1. what are the potential benefits of watching tv while doing homework.

There is limited research on the benefits of watching TV while doing homework. However, some studies suggest that certain types of TV programs, such as educational or informative shows, can improve cognitive abilities and memory retention. Additionally, some students may find it easier to concentrate on their homework while having background noise or visual stimulation.

2. What are the potential drawbacks of watching TV while doing homework?

Watching TV while doing homework can be distracting and can lead to a decrease in productivity and lower quality of work. The constant switching of attention between the TV and homework can also hinder the ability to retain information and fully understand the material. Additionally, depending on the type of TV program being watched, the content may not be conducive to learning or may even be inappropriate for certain age groups.

3. Is it better to watch TV before or after completing homework?

It is generally recommended to complete homework first before watching TV. This allows for focused and uninterrupted time to complete assignments and retain information. After completing homework, students can then relax and watch TV as a reward for their hard work.

4. How can parents or teachers help regulate TV and homework time?

Parents and teachers can set clear guidelines and expectations for when TV can be watched and when homework should be completed. This can include designating specific times for TV and homework, limiting the amount of TV allowed each day, and monitoring the types of TV programs being watched. It is also important for parents and teachers to lead by example and limit their own TV time while encouraging productive study habits.

5. Are there any alternative activities that can be done while doing homework?

Instead of watching TV, students can engage in other activities that can help them focus and retain information while doing homework. This can include listening to instrumental music, taking short breaks to stretch or walk around, or even studying with a friend. It is important to find an activity that works best for each individual student and helps them stay focused and productive while completing their homework.

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Distracted by Technology: Focusing Attention on Homework

By Michael Howard

Does your child stay up all night doing homework ? Is he or she often texting or online while doing homework or studying? Is it possible for students to study and do their homework effectively while being distracted by technology? Is focusing attention on homework really all that important? It’s just homework, right? 

Welcome to the 21st century. A world filled with distractions every where you turn. How is it even possible to get homework done at all, let alone focus on doing homework without being distracted by a wide variety of electronic gadgets. Back in the not so distant past, you might have heard a kid saying "It doesn't matter if I have the TV on while I do my homework. It's not like I'm studying for a test." Today, it's a bit more complicated as students and their smart phones are inseparable. What might at first glance seem harmelss, doing homework or studying while watching TV, texting or checking social media can actually impair learning the material as well as lower test scores. Research has shown that it's one of the worst study habits a student can develop.

Is There an App For That ?

With nearly everyone over the age of 10 having a cell phone and access to the internet these days, it's quite common to find students dividing their attention between texting, checking social media websites and surfing the internet while doing homework and studying for exams. Given that text messaging is the way many students communicate with each other, it's not easy for parents to explain to them that when it's time to do homework or study for an exam it's necessary to turn their phone off.

In all likelihood, they will argue about this as s tudents of all ages seem to have a misconception that they can pay attention to more than one thing at a time and that multitasking is an effective way to do homework or study for a test. How are you, their parent, going to respond? With research. In this blog post, w e reviewed the most up to date research that we could find on the subject of multitasking to give parents a better understanding of what it takes to be a successful student.

What Does Research Show About Studying While Distracted by Technology?

In a study conducted by Dr. Larry Rosen, a psychology professor at California State University - Dominguez Hills, students were observed studying for a 15 minute period where they were told to "study something important.” He found was that students generally started to lose focus after about three minutes. On average "students only spent about 65 percent of the observation period actually studying." That’s not exactly what you might consider “quality” studying time.

Dr. Rosen did another study where he surveyed high school students and asked them how often they switch from studying to doing something related to technology such as checking email, Facebook, texting or watching TV. Across all grade levels, 80% of students reported that they switch between studying and technology somewhat often to very often. Rosen calls this “Continuous Partial Attention,” meaning that most of the time, students are not focused on studying but rather are moving their attention back and forth between studying and various forms of technology. As you might expect, students who were the most distracted generally had the most windows open on their computers. Students who were less distracted had higher GPAs than students who switched back and forth fairly often and those who regularly check Facebook or text messages. Students who had strategies for studying also had higher GPAs according to Rosen’s findings.

Rosen explains, “Young people’s technology use is really about quelling anxiety...they don’t want to miss out or to be the last person to hear some news (or like or comment about a post online).” One of the major problems with texting and posting on Facebook and other social media sites while in class and/or studying, is that "they draw on the same mental resources—using language, parsing meaning—demanded by schoolwork." Ultimately, he concludes, if we want students to learn and perform at their best, smart phones and other online distractions must be managed.

Can Doing Homework While Distracted by Technology Affect Test Scores?

In another study of 8-18 year old students done by the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly one third of the students surveyed confessed that when they were doing homework, they were also watching TV, texting, or listening to music. Victoria Rideout, the lead author of the study, warns parents about the dangers of media multitasking. This concern is distinct from worrying about how much kids are online or how much kids are media multitasking overall. “It’s multitasking while learning that has the biggest potential downside,”she says.

If a student is focused when doing their homework, they actually retain more of the information when it comes time to take a test on the same subject matter. It's like studying for the test little by little and absorbing the information in small chunks. The strategy of ‘chunking’ bits of information has been shown to be the most effective way to learn larger amounts of information and is a useful test prep strategy. If a student does her homework while multitasking, that will result in less information being retained and therefore  more time will be required for test preparation in order to achieve the same result. Compounding matters, if homework is done while multitasking in an introductory class, it will be more difficult to build on that “shaky foundation of knowledge” in the more advanced class the next semester.

Dr. David Meyer, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan observed that “under most conditions, the brain simply cannot do two complex tasks at the same time. Listening to a lecture while texting, or doing homework and being on Facebook—each of these tasks is very demanding, and each of them uses the same area of the brain, the prefrontal cortex." Most students incorrectly believe that they can perform two challenging tasks at the same time, according to Meyer. They may like to do it, they may even be addicted to it, but there’s no getting around the fact that it’s far better to focus on one task from start to finish.”

Quick Test for Students to Determine if Multitasking Impacts Performance

Here’s a fun, 3 minute test that you can do along with your kids to demonstrate if multitasking impacts performance (and the time it takes to complete homework).  Taking this simple test will allow students to see for themselves if multitasking could potentially be affecting their studying.

http://davecrenshaw.com/multitasking-example/

Top 3 Negative Outcomes of Studying While Being Distracted by Technology

According to an article by Annie Murphy Paul , research has shown that there are various negative outcomes that result from students multitasking while doing homework. Paul describes the top 3 negative outcomes. "First, the assignment takes longer to complete, because of the time spent on distracting activities and because, upon returning to the assignment, the student has to re-familiarize himself with the material.” Second, the mental fatigue caused by repeatedly dropping and picking up a mental thread leads to more mistakes. “Third, students’ subsequent memory of what they’re working on will be impaired if their attention is divided.” Paul explains, “The moment of encoding information is what matters most for retention, and dozens of laboratory studies have demonstrated that when our attention is divided during encoding, we remember that piece of information less well—or not at all."

Paul goes on to write, "Finally, researchers have found that media multitasking while learning is correlated with lower grades. In Rosen’s study (discussed above), students who used Facebook during the 15-minute observation period had lower grade-point averages than those who didn’t go on the site. In addition, two recent studies by Reynol Junco , a faculty associate at Harvard’s Berkan Center for Internet & Society , found that texting and using Facebook—in class and while doing homework—were negatively correlated with college students’ GPAs."

In conclusion, the evidence is overwhelming. Studying or doing homework while sitting in front of the TV, using social media or texting, makes it more difficult to learn and retain the information, increases the time it takes to complete homework, and may ultimately result in lower test scores.

Is your child attached to his smart phone or other electronic gadgets? If so, and grades are suffering, it might be time to take action. Are you ready to help your child  break the multitasking habit, learn to focus attention on homework and get on the path to academic success?

How Parents Can Help Children Manage Distractions While Studying

Teach your child to take technology breaks to separate doing homework from using technology. Here's the strategy: After your child has worked on his homework without interruption for 15 minutes, he is then allowed a technology break for 2-3 minutes to text and post to social media. When the break time is up, you instruct him to turn off his electronic devices for another 15 minutes of doing homework or studying. Students can extend their working time to 20, 30 or 45 minutes and perhaps extend their technology break time to 5-7 minutes. If your child complains that the technology break time is too short, you can let him know that when he is finished with his homework, he can use technology for as long as he wants (or whatever amount of time you say is ok).

Would you like to cut your child's homework time in half?

If so, click below to download our free guide to "Cutting Homework Time in Half."  You might also want to contact us to see if Executive Function coaching can help your child with focusing attention on homework .

Photo credit: Gitte Laasby

Attribution: A much more detailed discussion of some of these studies can be found in Slate Magazine (May 3, 2013) by Annie Murphy Paul , a fellow at the New America Foundation and author of the book Brilliant: The Science of How We Get Smarter.

Michael Howard is the Director of Marketing for Beyond BookSmart. He joined the company in 2012 and works remotely from Los Angeles. He is responsible for researching and developing marketing strategies, marketing materials, updating and optimizing the company website, social media, and search engine optimization. Michael earned his BA in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Lamar University .

About the Author

Michael howard.

Michael Howard is the Lead Marketing Strategist for Beyond BookSmart. He joined the company in 2012 and works remotely from Los Angeles. He is responsible for researching and developing marketing strategies, marketing materials, updating and optimizing the company website, social media, and search engine optimization. Michael is also involved with researching and recruiting potential candidates for employment. Michael earned his BA in Psychology from the University of Illinois, Champaign and his MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Lamar University.

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Q: Does the TV Really Help My Son Focus on Homework?

It’s true that the adhd brain sometimes needs background noise in order to focus on a boring task. but does your child really need the tv or music on in order to complete a homework assignment the answer might be yes..

Q: “My son insists TV helps him focus when he’s trying to complete a ‘boring’ homework task such as copying a map. I tell him no TV during homework because it is a distraction. He gets angry at me and says I don’t understand how his brain works and blames me when he can’t focus and get his work done. Any thoughts?” — AntiTVParent

Hi AntiTVParent:

I love that you asked this question! It’s a common one with not a simple answer. It’s not always easy to identify the right course of action for your child. But, in your case, your son is telling you (and very clearly, it seems) what he needs to complete those “boring” tasks. So since you didn’t mention if your son is actually able to complete them when the television is on, my short answer is: You need to allow him to try. Perhaps you can experiment with him: Do one day’s homework with TV and the next day’s without, and see if there is a difference.

Many of my student clients find it very helpful to have the television on in the background for them to complete busywork. It keeps them focused and on task. And if we’re being really honest, it makes the boring less boring. Especially for the ADHD brain. However, for the kind of work that requires real brainpower, I would say no television.

[ Click to Download: Free Guide to Managing and Safeguarding Your Child’s Screen Time ]

Many of my students who find homework to be anxiety producing say that having the television on has a soothing, stress-relieving effect for them.  And, interestingly enough, they can put on the television and not touch the channel — but when listening to music, they are constantly changing songs.

And speaking of music, my all-time favorite tip for students is to create 30-minute playlists to listen to while they work. So if your son needs background noise , perhaps you can introduce this technique. He creates a playlist of music he knows well and listens to it every time he sits down to do math, for example. The consistency of hearing the same songs over and over again will help his brain activate and stay focused.

So my advice to you is this: Say yes to music if he needs it to stay focused and yes to background television ONLY if he is using it for “simple tasks” — and completes them.

[ Get this Free Resource: How to Regulate Your Teen’s Devices ]

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No TV during homework - a battle worth fighting?

My daughter is in 5th grade. At the moment her homework isn't particularly challenging or of much overall importance, but I've always stuck to the rule of no tv/youtube videos on while doing homework. I want to build good habits for when the work does matter more, and I feel the video distracts and breaks focus.

We've been going through a little stretch with her where she hasn't been doing her homework or is doing it at the last possible second on the bus or before class. This is the first year for her where we as parents aren't provided with homework info and it's totally on her to get it done.

So yesterday for the first time in an while I happened across her doing her homework without prompting and not at the last minute. Unfortunately she was doing it in front of the computer while watching a youtube video.

I was just about to tell her again about the rule for homework and tv's, but then I started to wonder if I should just be happy that she took responsibility to get the work done and allow her to find a style of study that works for her.

How many of you did your homework in front of the tv? How many of you allow it? Is this a battle worth fighting?

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Is it bad to watch movies, etc while studying for finals?

<p>The only thing that has gotten me to focus on my calc is my movie marathon. They are all movies that I have seen 1000s of times. I am picking up concepts and i get excited to study because it means i could watch one of my fav movies too. is this bad? i mean, so far so good for me but does anyone else do this?</p>

<p>i know there are studies that show multi-tasking is bad…</p>

<p>hmmmmmmmm?</p>

<p>You seriously bumped after 1 hour? Go watch a movie or something and relax :D</p>

<p>And yes, I used to do this too but with TV shows since they’re shorter.</p>

<p>You just said it’s helping you, so it’s obviously not too bad for you. You’re probably more focused on the work and just use the movie as a distraction, a background noise. If you start trying to focus on the movie then you might start having trouble sticking to studying.</p>

<p>It’s all dependent on what works for you. I know people who work best that way. It sounds like you perform better with a movie on. You could try without the movie. If you still do better with, than you probably don’t need our input.</p>

<p>I do way better without anything going on. A couple nights ago, I tried to study to music, and I just ended up zoning out to it, doing pushups, and looking up random stuff related to the bands. Then last night I did it without the music, and I just totally immersed myself in studying.</p>

<p>As long as you’re focusing, you should be fine. If you mean studying while watching a movie, then you need to make sure you’re not distracted by the movie to the point that you’re not even really studying.</p>

<p>As ExaltedAlmighty said, it depends on each person so if you can work like that, then all the better. I also require a quiet environment to study, and things like talking/TV/other noises don’t help me. I listen to music occasionally when I do some form of written homework, but otherwise, if I’m reading or studying some material, I can’t listen to music at the same time.</p>

Best TV Shows to Have in the Background While Studying

Now while we don’t necessarily condone watching television while studying, if you’re a Zoomer (Gen Z) like me, a little background noise can help. 

So even if you’re not paying attention to the show because you’re too busy trying to understand exponents, I’ve compiled a list of all the best shows to have on in the background. They’re funny, short and you really don’t need to pay attention to pick up on the plot. 

Miss actually working in an office or going to work in general? Well look no further. This is an American mockumentary sitcom that depicts the everyday lives of office employees at a paper company. It features a nutty boss, crazy pranks and a ton of laughs…it might be a tad far-fetched from a real life office. 

How to watch: Netflix 

Parks and Recreation

Parks and Rec is pretty similar to the office but features a group of employees working for their local Parks and Rec department in Pawnee, Indiana. If you like a lot of chaos mixed with some politics this is the show for you. A love of breakfast food is also a must. 

How to watch: Netflix

Looking to attend community college soon? Well check out Community, a completely unrealistic example following the lives of different students as they attend community college. It’s over the top and far-fetched but will make you cry laughing. Besides, who can resist a young Donald Glover? 

Black-Ish/Grown-Ish

Black-ish follows an upper middle class African-American family led by Andre and Rainbow and revolves around the family’s lives, as they juggle several personal and societal issues. This show is hilarious, heartwarming and makes you want to curl up with your family… or fight with them… either or. 

The show also has a spin-off named Grown-Ish. This follows the oldest daughter of the family, Zoey, as she heads off to college and learns it might not be all that it’s cracked up to be. If you love outstanding fashion, the highs and lows of relationships/friendships and some good comedy this is the show for you.  

How to watch both: Hulu

Ever wondered what it’s like living with roommates in your late twenties to early thirties? Well look no further. This show follows a quirky girl named Jess after she breaks up with her boyfriend and moves in with three male strangers. It’s hilarious and portrays the ups and downs of living with other people while trying to “become an adult.” 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Brooklyn Nine-Nine follows the lives of a group of detectives working in the 99th precinct in Brooklyn, NY. Between solving murders and tracking down criminals this group has time for endless jokes, Halloween heists and a whole lot of ridiculousness. 

How to watch: Hulu

Anything HGTV

This channel really speaks for itself. It shows home and garden improvement shows all day, every day and yes they are ADDICTING. Soon you’ll be saying words you’ve never heard of before like “crown molding, “open floor plan” and “shiplap.” However, it’s definitely the easiest channel to have on in the background when studying. 

How to watch: Just pop on the HGTV channel 

Sarah L. Marketing Coordinator. Resident Zoomer (Gen Z). Loves to read, write and watch TV.

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10 movies and shows to watch on netflix while you should be doing your homework, because we all know that netflix is the ultimate time waster....

Well, it's back-to-school season. New classes, new homework, new books, and maybe even a new school for some of us.

We should really all be focusing on our homework and our grades, but there's something so relaxing about laying down in bed with your laptop after a long day of classes and logging into Netflix just to binge-watch episodes of your favorite show for the next nine hours until you fall asleep.

These 10 movies and shows are the ones I have been enjoying so much over the last few days.

1. "Gossip Girl"

Yep, this is my go-to right now. A lot of my classes have been moved online because my professors are worried about COVID. I don't mind at all, because, between Zoom calls, this is what I'm doing. I can't tell you how many episodes I've watched today alone.

2. "Grey's Anatomy"

Unlike poor Cristina, I've already been sedated by all the binge-watching I've been doing. I don't care if you've watched this show a million times, it never gets old, and you can just watch it over and over again.

On the bright side, if you're going into the medical field, I guess you can say that this kind of counts as studying.

3. "To All The Boys I've Loved Before"

Nothing like a good romcom to watch alone in your bed when you could be at the library studying. You probably have a better chance of finding your own love story out in the real world, but oh well.

4. "Gilmore Girls"

I often ask myself why I can't be the perfect student like Rory Gilmore, and by now I think we all know the answer to that. But there is one thing I have in common with her and that is that I too, would really like a taco.

Honestly though, if you haven't watched this yet, I highly recommend, it's one of the best shows out there.

5. "The Kissing Booth"

Why are Netflix originals so good? It's really causing me an issue because all I want to do is watch them all day long. I've decided that Netflix should be outlawed.

6. "Jane the Virgin"

Again, if you haven't watched this one, you have to. It's hilarious and romantic all at the same time. You won't regret it, I promise.

7. "Life As We Know It"

Such a good movie, perfect for a lazy day. The new movies that Netflix just added are actually really good, and I 110 percent recommend this one.

8. "Definitely Maybe"

This is the first "grown-up" movie I remember watching as a kid and it's on Netflix now! If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and stop what you're doing (after you finish this article of course) and go watch it. It's just the sweetest rom-com ever!!

9. "Clueless"

Clueless.. exactly how I am when I look at any school work. This is a classic but only for teenagers and people who grew up in the '80s. I don't know, it's sweet but it'll also give you a good laugh, definitely a good time waster.

10. "A Walk To Remember"

Well, when you finish this, you can cry over it and your failing grades, and then quickly after that write a hate letter to Nicholas Sparks for creating such a movie. Definitely watch this if you're overly hydrated and need to get some tears out.

All this being said, if someone wants to hack into my Netflix account and change the password so I no longer have access to it, that would be greatly appreciated.

On a serious note, though, all of these shows and movies are actually amazing, and I highly recommend watching them if you haven't yet, and if you do, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. But maybe only start watching them AFTER you've finished your homework for the evening.

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25 beatles lyrics: your go-to guide for every situation, the best lines from the fab four.

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The End- Abbey Road, 1969

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Dear Prudence- The White Album, 1968

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

Because- Abbey Road, 1969

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

All You Need Is Love, 1967

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

We Can Work It Out- Rubber Soul, 1965

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Come Together- Abbey Road, 1969

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

I Wanna Hold Your Hand- Meet The Beatles!, 1964

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-1967

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Strawberry Fields Forever- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Rain- Paperback Writer "B" side, 1966

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

Here Comes The Sun- Abbey Road, 1969

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

Saw Her Standing There- Please Please Me, 1963

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

Michelle- Rubber Soul, 1965

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

Revolution- The Beatles, 1968

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Eleanor Rigby- Revolver, 1966

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

With A Little Help From My Friends- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Hey Jude, 1968

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

Yesterday- Help!, 1965

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

Let It Be- Let It Be, 1970

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all i got to give if you say you'll love me too. i may not have a lot to give but what i got i'll give to you. i don't care too much for money. money can't buy me love.

Can't Buy Me Love- A Hard Day's Night, 1964

All you need is love, love is all you need

All You Need Is Love- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird- The White Album, 1968

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

In My Life- Rubber Soul, 1965

While these are my 25 favorites, there are quite literally 1000s that could have been included. The Beatles' body of work is massive and there is something for everyone. If you have been living under a rock and haven't discovered the Fab Four, you have to get musically educated. Stream them on Spotify, find them on iTunes or even buy a CD or record (Yes, those still exist!). I would suggest starting with 1, which is a collection of most of their #1 songs, or the 1968 White Album. Give them chance and you'll never look back.

14 Invisible Activities: Unleash Your Inner Ghost!

Obviously the best superpower..

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

1. "Haunt" your friends.

Follow them into their house and cause a ruckus.

2. Sneak into movie theaters.

Going to the cinema alone is good for your mental health , says science

Considering that the monthly cost of subscribing to a media-streaming service like Netflix is oft...

Free movies...what else to I have to say?

3. Sneak into the pantry and grab a snack without judgment.

Late night snacks all you want? Duh.

4. Reenact "Hollow Man" and play Kevin Bacon.

America's favorite son? And feel what it's like to be in a MTV Movie Award nominated film? Sign me up.

5. Wear a mask and pretend to be a floating head.

Just another way to spook your friends in case you wanted to.

6. Hold objects so they'll "float."

"Oh no! A floating jar of peanut butter."

7. Win every game of hide-and-seek.

Just stand out in the open and you'll win.

8. Eat some food as people will watch it disappear.

Even everyday activities can be funny.

9. Go around pantsing your friends.

Even pranks can be done; not everything can be good.

10. Not have perfect attendance.

You'll say here, but they won't see you...

11. Avoid anyone you don't want to see.

Whether it's an ex or someone you hate, just use your invisibility to slip out of the situation.

12. Avoid responsibilities.

Chores? Invisible. People asking about social life? Invisible. Family being rude? Boom, invisible.

13. Be an expert on ding-dong-ditch.

Never get caught and have the adrenaline rush? I'm down.

14. Brag about being invisible.

Be the envy of the town.

But don't, I repeat, don't go in a locker room. Don't be a pervert with your power. No one likes a Peeping Tom.

Good luck, folks.

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned..

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

1. The importance of traditions.

Sometimes traditions seem like a silly thing, but the fact of it is that it's part of who you are. You grew up this way and, more than likely, so did your parents. It is something that is part of your family history and that is more important than anything.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

No matter how many times they get on your nerves or make you mad, they are the ones who will always be there and you should never take that for granted.

3. How to give back.

When tragedy strikes in a small town, everyone feels obligated to help out because, whether directly or indirectly, it affects you too. It is easy in a bigger city to be able to disconnect from certain problems. But in a small town those problems affect everyone.

4. What the word "community" really means.

Along the same lines as #3, everyone is always ready and willing to lend a helping hand when you need one in a small town and to me that is the true meaning of community. It's working together to build a better atmosphere, being there to raise each other up, build each other up, and pick each other up when someone is in need. A small town community is full of endless support whether it be after a tragedy or at a hometown sports game. Everyone shows up to show their support.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

People say this to others all the time, but it takes on a whole new meaning in a small town. It is true that life is about the journey, but when you're from a small town, you know it's about the journey because the journey probably takes longer than you spend at the destination. Everything is so far away that it is totally normal to spend a couple hours in the car on your way to some form of entertainment. And most of the time, you're gonna have as many, if not more, memories and laughs on the journey than at the destination.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

Word travels fast in a small town, so don't think you're gonna get away with anything. In fact, your parents probably know what you did before you even have a chance to get home and tell them. And forget about being scared of what your teacher, principle, or other authority figure is going to do, you're more afraid of what your parents are gonna do when you get home.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

Everyone deserves a chance. Most people don't have ill-intentions and you can't live your life guarding against every one else just because a few people in your life have betrayed your trust.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

While small towns are not always extremely diverse, they do contain people with a lot of different stories, struggle, and backgrounds. In a small town, it is pretty hard to exclude anyone because of who they are or what they come from because there aren't many people to choose from. A small town teaches you that just because someone isn't the same as you, doesn't mean you can't be great friends.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

In a small town, you learn that it's okay to be who you are and do your own thing. You learn that confidence isn't how beautiful you are or how much money you have, it's who you are on the inside.

10. How to work for what I want.

Nothing comes easy in life. They always say "gardens don't grow overnight" and if you're from a small town you know this both figuratively and literally. You certainly know gardens don't grow overnight because you've worked in a garden or two. But you also know that to get to the place you want to be in life it takes work and effort. It doesn't just happen because you want it to.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

If you're from a small town, you know that you will probably only meet a handful of people in your life who ACTUALLY know where your town is. And forget about the people who accidentally enter into your town because of google maps. You've gotten really good at giving them directions right back to the interstate.

12. How to be humble .

My small town has definitely taught me how to be humble. It isn't always about you, and anyone who grows up in a small town knows that. Everyone gets their moment in the spotlight, and since there's so few of us, we're probably best friends with everyone so we are as excited when they get their moment of fame as we are when we get ours.

13. To be well-rounded.

Going to a small town high school definitely made me well-rounded. There isn't enough kids in the school to fill up all the clubs and sports teams individually so be ready to be a part of them all.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

In a small town, good luck holding a grudge. In a bigger city you can just avoid a person you don't like or who you've had problems with. But not in a small town. You better resolve the issue fast because you're bound to see them at least 5 times a week.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

One of my favorite things about growing up in a rural area was being able to go outside and go exploring and not have to worry about being in danger. There is nothing more exciting then finding a new place somewhere in town or in the woods and just spending time there enjoying the natural beauty around you.

16. To be prepared for anything.

You never know what may happen. If you get a flat tire, you better know how to change it yourself because you never know if you will be able to get ahold of someone else to come fix it. Mechanics might be too busy , or more than likely you won't even have enough cell service to call one.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

It's okay to ask for help. One thing I realized when I moved away from my town for college, was how much my town has taught me that I could ask for help is I needed it. I got into a couple situations outside of my town where I couldn't find anyone to help me and found myself thinking, if I was in my town there would be tons of people ready to help me. And even though I couldn't find anyone to help, you better believe I wasn't afraid to ask.

18. How to be creative.

When you're at least an hour away from normal forms of entertainment such as movie theaters and malls, you learn to get real creative in entertaining yourself. Whether it be a night looking at the stars in the bed of a pickup truck or having a movie marathon in a blanket fort at home, you know how to make your own good time.

19. To brush off gossip.

It's all about knowing the person you are and not letting others influence your opinion of yourself. In small towns, there is plenty of gossip. But as long as you know who you really are, it will always blow over.

Grateful Beyond Words: A Letter to My Inspiration

I have never been so thankful to know you..

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

You have taught me that you don't always have to strong. You are allowed to break down as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward. When life had you at your worst moments, you allowed your friends to be there for you and to help you. You let them in and they helped pick you up. Even in your darkest hour you showed so much strength. I know that you don't believe in yourself as much as you should but you are unbelievably strong and capable of anything you set your mind to.

Your passion to make a difference in the world is unbelievable. You put your heart and soul into your endeavors and surpass any personal goal you could have set. Watching you do what you love and watching you make a difference in the lives of others is an incredible experience. The way your face lights up when you finally realize what you have accomplished is breathtaking and I hope that one day I can have just as much passion you have.

SEE MORE: A Letter To My Best Friend On Her Birthday

The love you have for your family is outstanding. Watching you interact with loved ones just makes me smile . You are so comfortable and you are yourself. I see the way you smile when you are around family and I wish I could see you smile like this everyday. You love with all your heart and this quality is something I wished I possessed.

You inspire me to be the best version of myself. I look up to you. I feel that more people should strive to have the strength and passion that you exemplify in everyday life.You may be stubborn at points but when you really need help you let others in, which shows strength in itself. I have never been more proud to know someone and to call someone my role model. You have taught me so many things and I want to thank you. Thank you for inspiring me in life. Thank you for making me want to be a better person.

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life..

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Don't freak out

This is a rule you should continue to follow no matter what you do in life, but is especially helpful in this situation.

Email the professor

Around this time, professors are getting flooded with requests from students wanting to get into full classes. This doesn't mean you shouldn't burden them with your email; it means they are expecting interested students to email them. Send a short, concise message telling them that you are interested in the class and ask if there would be any chance for you to get in.

Attend the first class

Often, the advice professors will give you when they reply to your email is to attend the first class. The first class isn't the most important class in terms of what will be taught. However, attending the first class means you are serious about taking the course and aren't going to give up on it.

Keep attending class

Every student is in the same position as you are. They registered for more classes than they want to take and are "shopping." For the first couple of weeks, you can drop or add classes as you please, which means that classes that were once full will have spaces. If you keep attending class and keep up with assignments, odds are that you will have priority. Professors give preference to people who need the class for a major and then from higher to lower class year (senior to freshman).

Have a backup plan

For two weeks, or until I find out whether I get into my waitlisted class, I will be attending more than the usual number of classes. This is so that if I don't get into my waitlisted class, I won't have a credit shortage and I won't have to fall back in my backup class. Chances are that enough people will drop the class, especially if it is very difficult like computer science, and you will have a chance. In popular classes like art and psychology, odds are you probably won't get in, so prepare for that.

Remember that everything works out at the end

Life is full of surprises. So what if you didn't get into the class you wanted? Your life obviously has something else in store for you. It's your job to make sure you make the best out of what you have.

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