Q: Before you can tackle any homework assignments, you need to make sure that you have everything you need to finish the job. You can avoid needing to get up every few minutes by gathering all your supplies first. Take out all of your homework from your school bag, including your agenda, if you use one. Go through each homework task and determine what supplies you will need. Gather all of your supplies and keep them within reach. Make sure you have lots of paper, extra writing utensils, a calculator or other tools, and any textbooks you may need. If you need to use a laptop or computer, make sure that one is available to you. It's easy to get distracted when you're doing homework, especially if you find the homework to be boring. Help yourself to stay focused by removing all distractions from your environment. Put your phone away. Put it on silent and hide it in a drawer so you're not tempted to check it. If you need to use a computer but find you're easily distracted by other websites, use an internet nanny to block sites, like social media, that you don't need to visit. Tell your family and friends that you're trying get work done. Ask them not to bother you during this time. Pick a spot to do your homework that is quiet so you can concentrate without getting distracted by loud noises or other people talking. If you can't find a quiet place in your home, try visiting your local library. It's easiest to concentrate when you are at a comfortable temperature, not too hot or too cold. If you find yourself falling asleep when you do your homework, try turning the heat down. You're more likely to feel sleepy in a room that's too warm.
A: Organize your supplies. Limit distractions. Find a quiet space. Adjust the temperature.

Q: How much leeway you have to develop your research question depends on how tightly your assignment is structured. Make sure you understand what your instructor wants so you can find a topic you're interested in learning about that best suits the assignment. If you don't understand any aspect of the assignment, don't be afraid to ask your instructor directly. It's better to get an explanation about something than to assume you know what it means and later find out your assumption was incorrect. Typically, an instructor will provide a broad topic area, then expect you to find a more narrow topic to research that falls within that broad area. For example, suppose your instructor assigned a research paper about a "public health concern." You might make a list that included such public health concerns as teenage vaping, anti-vaxxers, and drunk driving. From your list, choose one area in particular that you want to look at. This is where you'll start your research. For the purposes of this example, assume you chose to research vaping among teenagers. Once you've got an idea for a more narrow topic you want to focus on, do an online search to see generally what information is out there about it. At this point, pay attention to the amount of information available and the issues raised by some of that information. If you're doing a general internet search on your topic and not getting back a lot of strong results, there may not be enough information out there for you to research that topic. This is typically rare, though, unless you've started off with a topic that's too narrow. For example, if you want to study vaping in your high school, you might not find enough sources. However, if you expanded your search to include all high schools in your state, you might have more luck. If you don't know a whole lot about your topic, look for a resource that will provide a general overview so you can become more familiar with possible questions you could answer in your research paper. After you've done a little preliminary research, you'll likely have some idea of the kinds of issues that are pressing in your chosen area. Form a question based on one of those issues that you can answer through research. For example, if you wanted to look at teenagers and vaping, you might decide to ask the question "Are teenagers who vape more likely to smoke than teenagers who don't?" How you frame your question also depends on the type of paper you're writing. For example, if you were writing a persuasive research essay, you would need to make a statement, and then back that statement up with research. For example, instead of asking if teenagers who vape are more likely to smoke than teenagers who don't, you might say "Teenagers who vape are more likely to start smoking." At this point, you're ready to do some preliminary research based on the question you've chosen. It can help to type your exact question into the search engine, then go through the results you get. Look at the number of results you get, as well as the quality of the sources. You might also try an academic search engine, such as Google Scholar, to see how much academic material is out there on your chosen question. You may find that your question is too broad or too narrow based on the number of potential sources you find. To adjust the scope of your question, look at "who," "when," and "where." For example, if you've chosen teenagers who vape, the "who" would be teenagers. If a search of that topic yields too much information, you might scale it back by looking at a specific 5-year period (the "when") or only at teenagers in a specific state (the "where"). If you needed to broaden your question on the same topic, you may decide to look at teenagers and young adults under the age of 25, not just teenagers.
A: Read through your assignment instructions carefully. Brainstorm some topics that interest you and fall within the assignment's parameters. Look up general information about the topic. Decide on the question you want to answer through your research. Look for information about your specific question. Refine your question based on the information you find.

Q: Being hungry can depress your mood and make you more susceptible to panic attacks. Keep your blood sugar regulated by eating regularly and not letting yourself get too hungry. Have small snacks in between meals as well. Never skip meals. This causes a blood sugar crash and will depress your mood. Eat as many fresh foods as possible. There isn't much research confirming it, but healthy eating does have some links with less anxiety and stress. If you're often on the move, plan ahead and pack some snacks. A quick granola bar or bag of nuts can prevent a blood sugar crash. While many herbs and essential oils claim to reduce anxiety, only a few have been studied. Stick with treatments that doctors have evaluated and approved for anxiety-reduction. Always consult your doctor before taking herbal supplements to make sure they won't interact with any medications you're taking. Some herbs that may be effective are passionflower, chamomile, valerian root, and lavender. These ingredients come in supplements or teas that you can take daily. Always follow the dosing instructions on these products and don't take more than directed. Kava was once considered an effective anxiety treatment, but new studies show that it can cause liver damage. Avoid this treatment. These substances might make you feel better in the short-term, but they could increase your anxiety and risk of panic attacks. Avoid all illegal substances, and keep your drinking limited to 1-2 drinks per day. Since nicotine is a stimulant, avoid smoking as well. Some drugs, particularly hallucinogens, can trigger panic attacks. If you regularly cope with your anxiety by drinking or using drugs, you may develop an addiction. Speak with your doctor if you have trouble quitting.
A:
Eat at regular times to avoid a blood sugar drop. Try some calming herbal treatments. Avoid drugs, smoking, and excessive drinking.