School is a huge part of many lives. It is a place where we learn and start to develop our minds. Though there are many aspects of school that people enjoy, one part of school that many dislike is homework. Homework takes up tons of time in a day. It limits how a teen can spend the rest of their day. If I didn’t have as much homework, I would be going out with friends or playing sports with them. Many teens, including me, have to finish tons of pages of work, which may put a ton of pressure on us. This might make a teen’s life more challenging with all of the work. Giving less homework can have so many benefits in a teen’s life. 

1. Less Homework Means More Hobbies

With all the amount of homework a teen may receive, it might take most of the time of their day. With less homework, teens can use that time to try and find new hobbies. Some teens might not have free time to find interests they might enjoy. That is why when there is less homework, teens actually can spend time trying new things. Sometimes, you might find it intriguing, or you might not enjoy it. Having less homework can help teens understand what they like in general. Personally, I have learned that reading books of classical literature is just not for me. I prefer to read books with easier comprehension and different types of action. Because I have been able to use some time to learn new things, I can realize what I like and don’t like. Using your time at an early age to evaluate what you enjoy is beneficial for when you grow up. Later, when you get bored, you can choose new hobbies that interest you. If you don’t have as much time to spend doing this, you might be unsure what to do.

2. Less Stress

Some days, teens might get a little homework and sometimes a lot. With all this homework that needs to be completed, teens might feel uneasy. That’s another reason why teens should receive less homework, so they don’t feel stressed. Feeling stressed might make a teen feel rushed, which leads to them not producing their best work. Because they focus so much on doing the work on time, they only try to just put some work on the assignment. When teens have less homework, they can finish the work on time with great quality. Not only do they finish their work on time without being as rushed, but they also do it the best they can. The importance of having less homework is not just for teens but for the teachers, too. The teachers can see all that a student knows when checking the assignment. If a student only focuses on finishing the work, a teacher might not be able to understand all they know. It is important to realize from both the teen perspective and the teacher perspective that giving less homework can relieve stress for teens and show the teachers all they can do.

3. Spend More Time Socializing 

Being caught up with so much work, teens might not be able to grow connections with one another. Having stronger bonds or creating new ones with people in your community is great. With fewer priorities, teens could spend time connecting with each other. While doing this, they can get to know everyone better. Spending time with each other can also help with school, as you have now grown closer. If you have a team project, having classmates that you know will help a ton when finishing an assignment. Because you already know a bit about each other, you can connect better than people who don’t know one another. If teens didn’t have so much homework, they could be playing with their friends, doing hobbies they enjoy. If you enjoy sports, you can go to a park. If you enjoy reading, you can go to the library. There is just so much you can do without having packets of homework. Personally, I would play sports with my friends. Me and my friends really like sports, so using time to play with them is a great way to bond. All this might just seem to be for having fun but it’s also really important. Using this time to bond with others can help you connect easily with others in your community. This would be beneficial as if you’re working with people you don’t know, it’ll be easier to work with them. 

Homework, in general, is something that most people don’t enjoy. While it might seem beneficial to some, there is so much more you could do with that time. If teens actually had more time, they could work on finding new hobbies and new friends, which is great for the future. Not only will it help far into the future, but it can also help while still in school. Just being able to not have to worry about rushing to complete your work can keep teens calm. So next time you are a teen getting a ton of homework, realize what you could have done instead of having to work on a ton of homework. With adults like parents and teachers putting all this work on you, teens should try doing something about it. They can talk to them to try and make a change. Not only that, if teachers realize the benefits of not giving so much work, then a teen’s life would be easier.

This article was written in partnership with Steppingstone.