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#194: 14 Better Ways to Say ‘I’m Busy’ [Advanced English Vocabulary]

Dec 16, 2020 | Advanced Vocabulary

Of course, at any time of year, we can feel busy or overwhelmed. An unexpected deadline at work. A last-minute meeting. A sick family member who needs extra help. A flat tire that holds up everything else in our day.

But as we get toward the end of the year, that feeling of being busy only increases. There are holiday gifts to shop for and meals to prepare. End of year deadlines and projects to finish. Right now, many of my students are using the word ‘busy.’ But there are better ways to say I’m busy in English.

My goal is always to help you express yourself precisely and effortlessly in English.

The best way to do that is to build your vocabulary strategically with powerful adjectives, collocations, idioms, and phrasal verbs in English.

In today’s lesson, you’ll learn 14 better ways to say “I’m busy” in English plus have the opportunity to practice.

14 Better Ways to Say “I’m Busy” in English

Lesson summary, powerful adjectives & collocations to say “i’m busy” in english.

• To be slammed (at work) – extremely busy/overwhelmed
• This week we’re slammed trying to meet the deadline.
• To be swamped/snowed under – extremely busy/overwhelmed
• I’m really swamped at work right now.
• Our office is snowed under with a mountain of paperwork during tax season.
• To keep someone/oneself busy – to keep someone (or yourself) occupied
• If you have some extra time, let me know. I’ve got plenty of tasks to keep you busy

Idioms to Say “I’m Busy” in English

• to burn the candle at both ends – to work extremely or excessively hard; to work too hard for good health or peace of mind
• I’ll be burning the candle at both ends this weekend to get this project finished.
• to have a full plate/to have a lot on one’s plate/to have one’s hands full – too much to do or a lot to deal with right now, which leads to feeling stressed; unable to take on more responsibility
• She’s got her hands full right now with 3 kids under the age of 5 and a sick husband at home.
• I’m at maximum capacity at work. I can’t handle one more to do request.
• Lara’s at full bandwidth right now so why don’t we ask Suzanne to do this.
• to be up to one’s eyeballs/neck in something – to have an excessive amount of work or too much of something
• Accountants are usually up to their eyeballs in paperwork during tax season.
• I said ‘yes’ to too many things this month and now I’m overwhelmed. I think I bit off more than I can chew.
• To have a lot of irons in the fire – to have multiple projects or multiple, unrelated tasks
• We have 3 major projects with deadlines coming soon, so I have a lot of irons in the fire at work right now. I have very little time to concentrate on just one thing.

Phrasal Verbs to Say “I’m Busy” in English

• To be tied up (at the moment) – to be too busy at the moment and unavailable or unable to do something else
• I’m sorry, I’m going to be late coming home because I’m tied up at work.

Related Lessons

If you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, learn how to say no politely in English .

Feeling overwhelmed? Learn how to simplify your life or create better work-from-home strategies .

Consider how to establish Well-Being at Work or How to Request Someone’s Time/Help .

Or try one of these strategies for Time Management .

As always, the best way to learn and remember new vocabulary is to get consistent, repeated practice. And here’s your chance!

Choose 2-3 of your favorite new expressions from today’s lesson.

Then use them in your own example sentences. Think of your life right now. What makes you feel busy? What is making you feel overwhelmed or stressed? 

As always, you can share with me in the comments below. It’s the best way to practice, get feedback, and learn from others in the Confident English Community.

~ Annemarie

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What about just say “I am disorganised” or even “I am poor at time management”.

All the lessons you share are really interesting, and very good examples to practice.

It is very useful lessons to make the conversion more fun and interesting. Here are my examples using the expression I learned from this session.

• I have been tied up at this important project lately, which run out of all my capacity.
• She burns the candle at the both end and tries to balance her business and family life taking care of her children and ill husband.
• He has a lot of irons in fire at the work with the deadline tomorrow, and he must have to stay up late in the office tonight.

Nicely done, Chih Yeu! I like the examples you’ve shared!!

One little note, the specific words we use for example 2 are “to burn the candle at both ends.” I removed the word ‘the’ in front of both and includes the -s on the word ends. So your sentence would read, “She burns the candle at both ends and tries…”

Thanks so much for sharing here.

I really love your lessons, thank you:)

Thank you. 😊

Nowadays I have many, many situations to be extremely busy.

Let´s me give you some examples

Last week I was really slammed in the hospital because due to snow, many, many people got injured. If you allow me, we were snowed under the consequences of snow.

During 2020 year, doctors and nurses have been burning the candle at both ends

I could share many many more feelings about how busy I was last year and on the other hand how I going to be tied up in 2021.

Thanks for your help At this time they are useful expressions.

Dear Annemarie,

It would be great if I could have watched this video one week before, but I got my hands full.

I would love, when my brother-in-law and his wife have told us that they are always who are coming to visit us, to reply: I would love to come and visit you but I’am tied up at work;)!

I hope I’ll remember it for next time.

Thank you for useful lessons.

Dear Annemarie, I choose these expressions : Excuse me Claire could you call me later ? I am slammed at work In this period I am snowed under my paper works …lessons , courses …. We are following at work 3 projects at the same time … I have a lot of irons in the fire ,

Well done, Luisa. Thanks for sharing your examples.

Hello Annemarie. Happy New Year! It was a very helpful lesson, like always

• I would like to go to a party, but I am tied up with my little sister tonight.
• I have to cook for 50 people, we invited for our anniversary next Saturday. I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew.
• Due to 3 new projects upcoming next week,I will be slammed at wort.

Thank you a lot

Nicely done, Olga. These are great examples of how to use some of the idioms from this lesson.

Hi Annemarie, happy New Year! Wish you peace, happiness and health in 2021. Thank you for all your lessons!

I’m so sorry. I have got my hands full around the New Year so these video lessons were not completed until today. These lessons are very useful to me. Thank you for your energy and time.

I’m so glad to know that these lessons are helpful to you, Liping!

Hi Annemarie,

Thank you for the lesson. It was really helpful!

• I would love to join you for lunch, but I’m really slammed at work right now.
• I’d love to help you, but I have my hand’s full right now.
• I’m up to my eyeballs with this project.

Regards, Karen

Great examples here, Karen!

1. Last year a day like today we were swamped at work preparing the last presentation of the year.

2. Sorry you can’t count on me today, I have a lot of things on my plate.

Hello, Annemarie

This lesson is very beneficial .

• This week I am snowed under in my sister’s marriage preparation.
• If you have some extra time,let me know here is a lot of work to keep you busy.
• My sister’marriage, my half yearly exams and Happy Christmas–all are in the next week so I have a lot of irons in the fire now.

With Regards Indra

Well done, Indra! You’ve got some great examples with idioms from this lesson.

excellent as usual!

Being a doctor, I was requisitioned to ensure guards at Covid-19 department, I am really feeling swamped. When I am at home, my two kids are keeping me up to my eyeballs. ( please I am not feeling that the noun guards is correct but I didn’t find a better translation from French :/)

Hey Annemarie, Thank’s a lot for your very helpful lesson with many interesting examples 🙂 Here are my sentences:

• I’m sorry, I couldn’t help you with shopping, my hands are full right now.
• I bite off more than I can chew when I say “yes” to too many things. I feel overwhelmed.
• I’m really snowed under with a mountain clothes to be ironed during pre-holiday period.

Have a wonderful weekend 🙂 Best Agnieszka

Love these examples, Agnieszka! Nicely done.

Her Annemarie, I love this lesson, so I ‘m moving to a new city and I ‘m tied up packing. That why I have a lot of iron in the fire 🔥 Thank you for your time

Good luck in your move, Paola! I’m glad you enjoyed the lesson.

Good morning Anne Firstly I would like to thank you for the lesson it was powerful and fruitfull.

Examples: I think I ‘ll be burning the candle at both sides this coming weekend ,we are expecting many guest for this wedding. I was stressed that I couldn’t help my colleague, my hands were full .

I am regretting that I didn’t type my reports for last two days now I have to bite off more than I can chew and today is the submission day.

My helper is off today I m tied up ,I m all by myself.

I loved this lesson! So many alternative way to express the amount of work. Here’s my practice: The last 3 years I used to have a lot of irons in the fire handling several complex projects at the same time. Now, with my new role, my plate has been cleared up. Since we are working from home, the experience have vary from being swapped transforming our services to make them fully digital to have some free capacity, nevertheless we always find ways to keep ourselves at full capacity whether it could be taking some online training or implementing new practices …  Read more »

I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Xeni!

Sounds like a lot of work switching your company’s services to be fully digital!

Hey Annemarie, Happy new year. Thanks for this great lesson. I needed it. I am looking forward to joining your fluency school next year. Here’re my examples I’ve got my hands full with finishing my projects and writing my goals for 2021. I’d love to go shopping in sales but I’ve got a lot on my plate right now. I am going to hang out at Christmas with my family, I hope no one will be tied up at work this time. I am working on myself to be able to say no so that I no longer bite off …  Read more »

Oh, wonderful examples here, Nada! Nicely down.

I hope 2021 is starting the way you had hoped. And we’d certainly love to have you join us for Fluency School!

Good morning Dear Annemarie, thanks again for your excellent and motivated lesson. * By exercising, walking and biking, I burn the candles at both ends to keep myself healthy and let the energy flow into my body.

* Educating myself through Toastmasters club and excellent Speak Confident English lessons, I am at maximum capacity to handle unnecessary promotion and social emails.

* Although I am retired I have a lot of irons in the fire at home with my daily chores, so I barely find time to answer to my friend’s phone calls or to their emails.

You’ve got some great examples here, Nasrin!

One note about the idiom ‘to burn the candle at both ends.’ We use this idiom to say that we work or do other things from early in the morning until late at night and so get very little rest.

For example, if you’re trying to get a project finished on time, you might work 12 hours (from morning to night) to get it finished.

The example provided gives me the picture that you’re exercising nonstop from sun up to sun down. Is that accurate?

Thanks a lot, Annemarie! My favorites: burning the candle at both ends, be at full bandwidth, and as a proverb “Don’t bite more than you can chew” There is a similar idiom in Bulgarian “This is not a spoon fitted yo your mouth”

Thanks for sharing a similar idiom you have in Bulgarian! I love that. Now that you’ve got some new idioms in English, how would you use one of them in your own sentence?

• Sorry dear Annemarie I´ve been away for a while even leaving my muse alone by biting off more than a can chew. But I´m back as I´ll always be if you permit

Thank you for sharing with me.

I can’t come to the party, I’ll be tied up at this moment My coworker is on leave, I’m slammed at awork Sorry ! I can’t call you, I’m swamed doing my homework

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Which one is correct? "I'm busy doing homework" or "I'm busy doing my homework"?

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I'm busy doing homework

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

• I can't go out tonight, I'm busy doing homework.
• She spends most of her evenings busy doing homework.
• He always looks stressed because he's busy doing homework all the time.

Alternatives:

• I'm busy with homework
• I'm occupied with homework
• I'm swamped with homework
• I'm tied up with homework
• I'm preoccupied with homework

I'm busy doing my homework

• I can't talk right now, I'm busy doing my homework.
• She's always busy doing her homework before dinner.
• He's focused and busy doing his homework in his room.
• I'm busy with my homework
• I'm occupied with my homework
• I'm swamped with my homework
• I'm tied up with my homework
• I'm preoccupied with my homework

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trouble/busy/at home/... doing something

I have a grammar question about the role of these bold "doing" in the below sentences and why they have "ing" form?

I am busy doing my homework.

I have trouble doing my homework.

I am at home doing my homework.

• present-participles

• doing my homework (and single-word verb forms such as I'm busy working , I have trouble breathing , I'm at home reading ) look to me like "adverbial elements of purpose / outcome". But apart from the matter of what to call them, what exactly is it you don't understand about such usages? –  FumbleFingers Commented Apr 28, 2021 at 17:09
• Thanks. I want to know the grammar role of these structures(to review in grammar books), and accordingly use similar examples in my writings. –  user135080 Commented Apr 28, 2021 at 17:19
• In all your examples, the adverbial element starting with the word doing could in principle be discarded. What's left would still be a valid statement - just lacking in some detail (exactly what are you busy / having trouble with / doing at home?). –  FumbleFingers Commented Apr 28, 2021 at 17:25
• could you refer me to a link or whatsoever describing it in detail? if doing is discarded, the remaining sentence does not make sense for me. I am busy "my homework"? unless we say: I am busy with my homework. –  user135080 Commented Apr 28, 2021 at 17:41
• I said you could discard the entire adverbial phrase starting with the word "doing"in each case. There's nothing "unusual" about the sentences I am busy and I am at home . You wouldn't be so likely to just say I have trouble , but syntactically it's not necessary for even that one to be followed by an adverbial clause (defining what I'm having trouble doing). –  FumbleFingers Commented Apr 29, 2021 at 11:28

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Everyone struggles with homework sometimes, but if getting your homework done has become a chronic issue for you, then you may need a little extra help. That’s why we’ve written this article all about how to do homework. Once you’re finished reading it, you’ll know how to do homework (and have tons of new ways to motivate yourself to do homework)!

We’ve broken this article down into a few major sections. You’ll find:

• A diagnostic test to help you figure out why you’re struggling with homework
• A discussion of the four major homework problems students face, along with expert tips for addressing them
• A bonus section with tips for how to do homework fast

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you .

So let’s get started!

How to Do Homework: Figure Out Your Struggles 

Sometimes it feels like everything is standing between you and getting your homework done. But the truth is, most people only have one or two major roadblocks that are keeping them from getting their homework done well and on time. 

The best way to figure out how to get motivated to do homework starts with pinpointing the issues that are affecting your ability to get your assignments done. That’s why we’ve developed a short quiz to help you identify the areas where you’re struggling. 

Take the quiz below and record your answers on your phone or on a scrap piece of paper. Keep in mind there are no wrong answers! 

1. You’ve just been assigned an essay in your English class that’s due at the end of the week. What’s the first thing you do?

A. Keep it in mind, even though you won’t start it until the day before it’s due  B. Open up your planner. You’ve got to figure out when you’ll write your paper since you have band practice, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dance recital this week, too.  C. Groan out loud. Another essay? You could barely get yourself to write the last one!  D. Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favorite artist might have just posted to Instagram...so you better check your feed right now. 

2. Your mom asked you to pick up your room before she gets home from work. You’ve just gotten home from school. You decide you’ll tackle your chores: 

A. Five minutes before your mom walks through the front door. As long as it gets done, who cares when you start?  B. As soon as you get home from your shift at the local grocery store.  C. After you give yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.  D. You won’t get it done. Between texts from your friends, trying to watch your favorite Netflix show, and playing with your dog, you just lost track of time! 

3. You’ve signed up to wash dogs at the Humane Society to help earn money for your senior class trip. You: 

A. Show up ten minutes late. You put off leaving your house until the last minute, then got stuck in unexpected traffic on the way to the shelter.  B. Have to call and cancel at the last minute. You forgot you’d already agreed to babysit your cousin and bake cupcakes for tomorrow’s bake sale.  C. Actually arrive fifteen minutes early with extra brushes and bandanas you picked up at the store. You’re passionate about animals, so you’re excited to help out! D. Show up on time, but only get three dogs washed. You couldn’t help it: you just kept getting distracted by how cute they were!

4. You have an hour of downtime, so you decide you’re going to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. You: 

A. Scroll through your social media feeds for twenty minutes before hitting play, which means you’re not able to finish the whole episode. Ugh! You really wanted to see who was sent home!  B. Watch fifteen minutes until you remember you’re supposed to pick up your sister from band practice before heading to your part-time job. No GBBO for you!  C. You finish one episode, then decide to watch another even though you’ve got SAT studying to do. It’s just more fun to watch people make scones.  D. Start the episode, but only catch bits and pieces of it because you’re reading Twitter, cleaning out your backpack, and eating a snack at the same time.

5. Your teacher asks you to stay after class because you’ve missed turning in two homework assignments in a row. When she asks you what’s wrong, you say: 

A. You planned to do your assignments during lunch, but you ran out of time. You decided it would be better to turn in nothing at all than submit unfinished work.  B. You really wanted to get the assignments done, but between your extracurriculars, family commitments, and your part-time job, your homework fell through the cracks.  C. You have a hard time psyching yourself to tackle the assignments. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to work on them once you get home.  D. You tried to do them, but you had a hard time focusing. By the time you realized you hadn’t gotten anything done, it was already time to turn them in. 

Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible). Here’s how your answers break down: 

• If your answers were mostly As, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination. 
• If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management. 
• If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation. 
• If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted. 

Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it. 

And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating. 

How to Do Homework When You’re a Procrastinator  

Merriam Webster defines “procrastinate” as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” In other words, procrastination is when you choose to do something at the last minute on a regular basis. If you’ve ever found yourself pulling an all-nighter, trying to finish an assignment between periods, or sprinting to turn in a paper minutes before a deadline, you’ve experienced the effects of procrastination. 

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re in good company. In fact, one study found that 70% to 95% of undergraduate students procrastinate when it comes to doing their homework. Unfortunately, procrastination can negatively impact your grades. Researchers have found that procrastination can lower your grade on an assignment by as much as five points ...which might not sound serious until you realize that can mean the difference between a B- and a C+. 

Procrastination can also negatively affect your health by increasing your stress levels , which can lead to other health conditions like insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even heart conditions. Getting a handle on procrastination can not only improve your grades, it can make you feel better, too! 

The big thing to understand about procrastination is that it’s not the result of laziness. Laziness is defined as being “disinclined to activity or exertion.” In other words, being lazy is all about doing nothing. But a s this Psychology Today article explains , procrastinators don’t put things off because they don’t want to work. Instead, procrastinators tend to postpone tasks they don’t want to do in favor of tasks that they perceive as either more important or more fun. Put another way, procrastinators want to do things...as long as it’s not their homework! 

3 Tips f or Conquering Procrastination 

Because putting off doing homework is a common problem, there are lots of good tactics for addressing procrastination. Keep reading for our three expert tips that will get your homework habits back on track in no time. 

#1: Create a Reward System

Like we mentioned earlier, procrastination happens when you prioritize other activities over getting your homework done. Many times, this happens because homework...well, just isn’t enjoyable. But you can add some fun back into the process by rewarding yourself for getting your work done. 

Here’s what we mean: let’s say you decide that every time you get your homework done before the day it’s due, you’ll give yourself a point. For every five points you earn, you’ll treat yourself to your favorite dessert: a chocolate cupcake! Now you have an extra (delicious!) incentive to motivate you to leave procrastination in the dust. 

If you’re not into cupcakes, don’t worry. Your reward can be anything that motivates you . Maybe it’s hanging out with your best friend or an extra ten minutes of video game time. As long as you’re choosing something that makes homework worth doing, you’ll be successful. 

#2: Have a Homework Accountability Partner 

If you’re having trouble getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time, it may be a good idea to call in reinforcements . Find a friend or classmate you can trust and explain to them that you’re trying to change your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you to make sure you’re doing your homework and check in with you once a week to see if you’re meeting your anti-procrastination goals. 

Sharing your goals can make them feel more real, and an accountability partner can help hold you responsible for your decisions. For example, let’s say you’re tempted to put off your science lab write-up until the morning before it’s due. But you know that your accountability partner is going to text you about it tomorrow...and you don’t want to fess up that you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability partner can give you the extra support and incentive you need to keep your homework habits on track. 

#3: Create Your Own Due Dates 

If you’re a life-long procrastinator, you might find that changing the habit is harder than you expected. In that case, you might try using procrastination to your advantage! If you just can’t seem to stop doing your work at the last minute, try setting your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the assignment is actually due. 

Here’s what we mean. Let’s say you have a math worksheet that’s been assigned on Tuesday and is due on Friday. In your planner, you can write down the due date as Thursday instead. You may still put off your homework assignment until the last minute...but in this case, the “last minute” is a day before the assignment’s real due date . This little hack can trick your procrastination-addicted brain into planning ahead! 

If you feel like Kevin Hart in this meme, then our tips for doing homework when you're busy are for you. 

How to Do Homework When You’re too Busy

If you’re aiming to go to a top-tier college , you’re going to have a full plate. Because college admissions is getting more competitive, it’s important that you’re maintaining your grades , studying hard for your standardized tests , and participating in extracurriculars so your application stands out. A packed schedule can get even more hectic once you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix. 

If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once, you’re not alone. Recent research has found that stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression— are a major problem for high school students . In fact, one study from the American Psychological Association found that during the school year, students’ stress levels are higher than those of the adults around them. 

For students, homework is a major contributor to their overall stress levels . Many high schoolers have multiple hours of homework every night , and figuring out how to fit it into an already-packed schedule can seem impossible. 

3 Tips for Fitting Homework Into Your Busy Schedule

While it might feel like you have literally no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to make sure you’re able to get your homework done and meet your other commitments. Here are our expert homework tips for even the busiest of students. 

#1: Make a Prioritized To-Do List 

You probably already have a to-do list to keep yourself on track. The next step is to prioritize the items on your to-do list so you can see what items need your attention right away. 

Here’s how it works: at the beginning of each day, sit down and make a list of all the items you need to get done before you go to bed. This includes your homework, but it should also take into account any practices, chores, events, or job shifts you may have. Once you get everything listed out, it’s time to prioritize them using the labels A, B, and C. Here’s what those labels mean:

• A Tasks : tasks that have to get done—like showing up at work or turning in an assignment—get an A. 
• B Tasks : these are tasks that you would like to get done by the end of the day but aren’t as time sensitive. For example, studying for a test you have next week could be a B-level task. It’s still important, but it doesn’t have to be done right away.
• C Tasks: these are tasks that aren’t very important and/or have no real consequences if you don’t get them done immediately. For instance, if you’re hoping to clean out your closet but it’s not an assigned chore from your parents, you could label that to-do item with a C.

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you visualize which items need your immediate attention, and which items you can leave for later. A prioritized to-do list ensures that you’re spending your time efficiently and effectively, which helps you make room in your schedule for homework. So even though you might really want to start making decorations for Homecoming (a B task), you’ll know that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more important. 

#2: Use a Planner With Time Labels

Your planner is probably packed with notes, events, and assignments already. (And if you’re not using a planner, it’s time to start!) But planners can do more for you than just remind you when an assignment is due. If you’re using a planner with time labels, it can help you visualize how you need to spend your day.

A planner with time labels breaks your day down into chunks, and you assign tasks to each chunk of time. For example, you can make a note of your class schedule with assignments, block out time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice. Once you know which tasks take priority, you can add them to any empty spaces in your day. 

Planning out how you spend your time not only helps you use it wisely, it can help you feel less overwhelmed, too . We’re big fans of planners that include a task list ( like this one ) or have room for notes ( like this one ). 

#3: Set Reminders on Your Phone 

If you need a little extra nudge to make sure you’re getting your homework done on time, it’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone. You don’t need a fancy app, either. You can use your alarm app to have it go off at specific times throughout the day to remind you to do your homework. This works especially well if you have a set homework time scheduled. So if you’ve decided you’re doing homework at 6:00 pm, you can set an alarm to remind you to bust out your books and get to work. 

If you use your phone as your planner, you may have the option to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events . Many calendar apps, including the one that comes with your phone, have built-in reminders that you can customize to meet your needs. So if you block off time to do your homework from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, you can set a reminder that will pop up on your phone when it’s time to get started. 

This dog isn't judging your lack of motivation...but your teacher might. Keep reading for tips to help you motivate yourself to do your homework.

How to Do Homework When You’re Unmotivated 

At first glance, it may seem like procrastination and being unmotivated are the same thing. After all, both of these issues usually result in you putting off your homework until the very last minute. 

But there’s one key difference: many procrastinators are working, they’re just prioritizing work differently. They know they’re going to start their homework...they’re just going to do it later. 

Conversely, people who are unmotivated to do homework just can’t find the willpower to tackle their assignments. Procrastinators know they’ll at least attempt the homework at the last minute, whereas people who are unmotivated struggle with convincing themselves to do it at a ll. For procrastinators, the stress comes from the inevitable time crunch. For unmotivated people, the stress comes from trying to convince themselves to do something they don’t want to do in the first place. 

Here are some common reasons students are unmotivated in doing homework : 

• Assignments are too easy, too hard, or seemingly pointless 
• Students aren’t interested in (or passionate about) the subject matter
• Students are intimidated by the work and/or feels like they don’t understand the assignment 
• Homework isn’t fun, and students would rather spend their time on things that they enjoy 

To sum it up: people who lack motivation to do their homework are more likely to not do it at all, or to spend more time worrying about doing their homework than...well, actually doing it.

3 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Do Homework

The key to getting homework done when you’re unmotivated is to figure out what does motivate you, then apply those things to homework. It sounds tricky...but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Here are our three expert tips for motivating yourself to do your homework. 

#1: Use Incremental Incentives

When you’re not motivated, it’s important to give yourself small rewards to stay focused on finishing the task at hand. The trick is to keep the incentives small and to reward yourself often. For example, maybe you’re reading a good book in your free time. For every ten minutes you spend on your homework, you get to read five pages of your book. Like we mentioned earlier, make sure you’re choosing a reward that works for you! 

So why does this technique work? Using small rewards more often allows you to experience small wins for getting your work done. Every time you make it to one of your tiny reward points, you get to celebrate your success, which gives your brain a boost of dopamine . Dopamine helps you stay motivated and also creates a feeling of satisfaction when you complete your homework !  

#2: Form a Homework Group 

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, it’s okay to turn to others for support. Creating a homework group can help with this. Bring together a group of your friends or classmates, and pick one time a week where you meet and work on homework together. You don’t have to be in the same class, or even taking the same subjects— the goal is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) your assignments. 

Another added benefit of a homework group is that you can help one another if you’re struggling to understand the material covered in your classes. This is especially helpful if your lack of motivation comes from being intimidated by your assignments. Asking your friends for help may feel less scary than talking to your teacher...and once you get a handle on the material, your homework may become less frightening, too. 

#3: Change Up Your Environment 

If you find that you’re totally unmotivated, it may help if you find a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been struggling to get your homework done at home, try spending an extra hour in the library after school instead. The change of scenery can limit your distractions and give you the energy you need to get your work done. 

If you’re stuck doing homework at home, you can still use this tip. For instance, maybe you’ve always done your homework sitting on your bed. Try relocating somewhere else, like your kitchen table, for a few weeks. You may find that setting up a new “homework spot” in your house gives you a motivational lift and helps you get your work done. 

Social media can be a huge problem when it comes to doing homework. We have advice for helping you unplug and regain focus.

How to Do Homework When You’re Easily Distracted

We live in an always-on world, and there are tons of things clamoring for our attention. From friends and family to pop culture and social media, it seems like there’s always something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do.

The 24/7 world we live in has affected our ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time. Research has shown that over the past decade, an average person’s attention span has gone from 12 seconds to eight seconds . And when we do lose focus, i t takes people a long time to get back on task . One study found that it can take as long as 23 minutes to get back to work once we’ve been distracte d. No wonder it can take hours to get your homework done! 

3 Tips to Improve Your Focus

If you have a hard time focusing when you’re doing your homework, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert tips for blocking out the noise so you can focus on getting your homework done. 

#1: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Pick a place where you’ll do your homework every day, and make it as distraction-free as possible. Try to find a location where there won’t be tons of noise, and limit your access to screens while you’re doing your homework. Put together a focus-oriented playlist (or choose one on your favorite streaming service), and put your headphones on while you work. 

You may find that other people, like your friends and family, are your biggest distraction. If that’s the case, try setting up some homework boundaries. Let them know when you’ll be working on homework every day, and ask them if they’ll help you keep a quiet environment. They’ll be happy to lend a hand! 

#2: Limit Your Access to Technology 

We know, we know...this tip isn’t fun, but it does work. For homework that doesn’t require a computer, like handouts or worksheets, it’s best to put all your technology away . Turn off your television, put your phone and laptop in your backpack, and silence notifications on any wearable tech you may be sporting. If you listen to music while you work, that’s fine...but make sure you have a playlist set up so you’re not shuffling through songs once you get started on your homework. 

If your homework requires your laptop or tablet, it can be harder to limit your access to distractions. But it’s not impossible! T here are apps you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working so that you’re not tempted to scroll through Twitter or check your Facebook feed. Silence notifications and text messages on your computer, and don’t open your email account unless you absolutely have to. And if you don’t need access to the internet to complete your assignments, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the online chatter is a great way to make sure you’re getting your homework done. 

#3: Set a Timer (the Pomodoro Technique)

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique ? It’s a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you focus!

Here’s how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, you get to take a 5 minute break. Every time you go through one of these cycles, it’s called a “pomodoro.” For every four pomodoros you complete, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

The pomodoro technique works through a combination of boundary setting and rewards. First, it gives you a finite amount of time to focus, so you know that you only have to work really hard for 25 minutes. Once you’ve done that, you’re rewarded with a short break where you can do whatever you want. Additionally, tracking how many pomodoros you complete can help you see how long you’re really working on your homework. (Once you start using our focus tips, you may find it doesn’t take as long as you thought!)

Two Bonus Tips for How to Do Homework Fast

Even if you’re doing everything right, there will be times when you just need to get your homework done as fast as possible. (Why do teachers always have projects due in the same week? The world may never know.)

The problem with speeding through homework is that it’s easy to make mistakes. While turning in an assignment is always better than not submitting anything at all, you want to make sure that you’re not compromising quality for speed. Simply put, the goal is to get your homework done quickly and still make a good grade on the assignment! 

Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments , even when you’re in a time crunch. 

#1: Do the Easy Parts First 

This is especially true if you’re working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems. As you do, make a mark beside the questions you think are “easy” to answer . 

Once you’ve finished going through the whole assignment, you can answer these questions first. Getting the easy questions out of the way as quickly as possible lets you spend more time on the trickier portions of your homework, which will maximize your assignment grade. 

(Quick note: this is also a good strategy to use on timed assignments and tests, like the SAT and the ACT !) 

#2: Pay Attention in Class 

Homework gets a lot easier when you’re actively learning the material. Teachers aren’t giving you homework because they’re mean or trying to ruin your weekend... it’s because they want you to really understand the course material. Homework is designed to reinforce what you’re already learning in class so you’ll be ready to tackle harder concepts later.

When you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes, you’re absorbing the information you’ll need to succeed on your homework assignments. (You’re stuck in class anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!) Not only will paying attention in class make your homework less confusing, it will also help it go much faster, too.

What’s Next?

If you’re looking to improve your productivity beyond homework, a good place to begin is with time management. After all, we only have so much time in a day...so it’s important to get the most out of it! To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best time management techniques that you can start using today.

You may have read this article because homework struggles have been affecting your GPA. Now that you’re on the path to homework success, it’s time to start being proactive about raising your grades. This article teaches you everything you need to know about raising your GPA so you can

Now you know how to get motivated to do homework...but what about your study habits? Studying is just as critical to getting good grades, and ultimately getting into a good college . We can teach you how to study bette r in high school. (We’ve also got tons of resources to help you study for your ACT and SAT exams , too!)

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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10 Ways to Say I’m Busy in English

• Post author: Harry
• Post last modified: 06/07/2021
• Post category: English Vocabulary
• Reading time: 12 mins read

Here you will learn 10 different ways to say I’m busy in English .

Welcome to our English courses and today I’m going to talk to you about different ways to say I’m busy in English .

But before I get started, I just like to remind you about our Easy Peasy Club.

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So let’s talk about I’m busy. There are many ways in which we can say it when we talk about busy.  Busy means I haven’t got time for something else or somebody else.

– Could you help me with the housework?

– No, I’m busy.

– Could you do some extra work?

– No, I’m sorry, I’m busy.

– Could you help me with my homework, Dad?

How many other ways can we say it?

Well, there are many ways that are connected with parts of the body.

For example, I’M UP TO MY EYES .

Meaning up here. I’m up to my eyes.

Another way a lot of people say I’M UP TO MY NECK in it. I’m really really busy. I have lots of work.

I’M UP TO THE TOP OF MY HEAD or  I’M OVER MY HEAD in work.

So these are all parts of the body.

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Or indeed even I’ve heard somebody say UP TO MY EARS this week.

• up to my eyes
• up to my ears
• up to my neck
• over my head

in work all meaning the exact same thing, meaning that I’m very busy.

And usually it’s referring to paperwork.

Okay, a lot of our work these days is done over the internet but this means exactly the same. So lots of paperwork to do and lots of paperwork to complete.

So what other ways are there to say I’m busy?

Well, we can say I’M SWAMPED .

Like a swamp where you sink so you can feel yourself sinking under the weight of the work that you have to do.

I’m swamped this week, I really can’t do any more. Let’s put up that meeting until next week.

Or you can say I’M SNOWED UNDER or SNOWED IN

Like the snow that falls in the sky. As the snow falls, it gets higher and higher. So when you’re snowed under, you’ve got the snow up to here and you can’t seem to move.

So when you’re really busy I’m snowed under.

Look, I’m snowed under for the next two weeks, my boss is away. So I really don’t have any time, I’m working late every night. Let’s put off our meeting for a little while.

We can just simply say I’M TIED UP

To tie something means to tie a knot. When you’re tied up, you can’t move, you have to stay at the desk or do what you’re doing.

I’m tied up all this week. I’ve got meetings back to back.

This means that you’re really busy and you don’t have time for anything else.

You can say  I’M ENGAGED

Engaged  can have a lots of different meanings but when somebody means you’re engaged it means you’re busy.

Often that is used when somebody phones for you. They phone through and they get a secretary or somebody else in the office and they say:

– Hello, can I speak to Harry please?

– I’m sorry, he’s engaged at the moment.

meaning he’s busy, he’s on another phone line. You can leave a message and I’ll tell him to call you.

I’m engaged  or  he’s engaged  or  he’s been engaged  on another telephone call for quite a bit of time.

If you go past an office in the building you might see a notice on the door  engaged, don’t enter  meaning whoever’s inside is busy.

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How can I advance my English?

• Published on September 15, 2022
• September 15, 2022

How to Focus on Homework and Actually Get Things Done: 12 Hacks for Busy Students

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Chances are, you’ve had some days when you felt overwhelmed after a long day at school. You couldn’t imagine doing anything other than plopping down in front of the television, let alone finding out how to focus on your homework. 

How can you overcome the resistance and get it done? How do you get your mind to include this task in your day as well?

With just a few adjustments, you will be able to expand your capacity to concentrate.

Why Can’t I Focus on My Homework?

Countless factors constantly fight for your attention : social media, people, overthinking, and anxiety. All of this can make you feel as though you have little control over your mind. 

If you want to start to focus better on your homework, you’ll need to set your mind up for success. Remove all distractions .

Here are two key principles that can help you be more successful in your studies:

1. Identify the distractions in your surroundings

What are the things in your daily life that take your mind away from your studies? Clearly identifying these distractions can help you understand both the problem and what causes it.

Among our environmental distractions, digital distractions are one of the worst kinds, and according to a number of studies , their effect is on the rise in the classroom.

If you’re looking to gain more concentration and, thus, form better study habits, question your online behavior first and foremost.

2. Limit the use of technology to find focus

What’s the role of social media in your daily life? Have you ever sat down to calculate how social media distracts you from doing the things you should be doing?

When you are wondering how to focus on homework long after you’ve put your phone away, you’re still thinking about the last posts you saw on Instagram. The sound of new notifications can be enough to reroute our attention from the task at hand.

And then comes the information overload, the fear of missing out, and the all-too-common signs of addictive behavior. Technology is affecting your mind more than ever, and it’s taking your focus away.

How to Focus on Homework: 12 Things You Can Do to Be More Indistractible

Here are 12 tips on how to stay focused while completing your homework, taught by superbrain coach Jim Kwik and habit transformation expert Nir Eyal .

• Make a routine
• Set up a study-friendly environment
• Avoid heavy meals
• Organize your study notes
• Tell others to stay away
• Listen to study music
• Set deadlines
• Take brain breaks
• Use discomfort as motivation for productivity
• Use time blocking
• Let go of thoughts that distract you
• Reimagine your task

Let’s look at each study hack in more detail.

1. Make a routine

Routines help you be productive without exerting as much effort. When you have homework to do, a study routine can be the reason you actually sit down, set enough time aside, concentrate, and stay focused until you complete the project.

This process doesn’t need to be complicated: just tell yourself that you will sit at your desk at home once you’re back from school. Put your phone on silent, make an outline of the work that needs to get done, and simply begin with what’s most important.

2. Set up a study-friendly environment

A place for everything and everything in its place. That applies to studying, too.

Lying in bed with your notebook is considered a distraction, as is being in the living room with your laptop while others are doing their activities.

You need an isolated place when you decide to focus on your homework. Make it feel comfortable, keep it organized, keep it clean, and consider putting up some motivational posters or positive affirmations .

3. Avoid heavy meals

It’s not advisable to have a big meal beforehand. Big meals can ruin your focus and make you feel sluggish and lazy because it takes a big amount of time and energy for your body to digest. A snack is okay.

There are also some foods , though, that are just plain bad for your productivity. For example, soda, candy, and fried foods are all full of sugar and have no nutritional value. They make your insulin spike up, but then it crashes very fast, which makes you feel depleted of energy.

4. Organize your study notes

Prioritize your work. Keep lists and place the most important items on top. Then work on the items that you should get done first.

It helps to outline what you need to do, breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps. Use colors to highlight the essentials . 

This makes it all look much simpler and you’re more likely to actually get started. The brain loves organization and it won’t be so likely to procrastinate when it knows you have a structure set in place.

5. Tell others to stay away

Don’t be afraid to let others know that you’re studying and require some time and space to get your work done. Decide on fixed hours for studying and tell your friends and family members that you won’t be available during that time of the day.

If others respect your study time, you’ll be more inclined to respect it as well. 

6. Listen to study music

There are many tracks out there designed to help your mind focus. Whether you use binaural beats or just instrumental music, the right sounds can really help to tune your brain into a productive frequency.

This meditation is also great to listen to; it puts your mind in a clear, concise, and ready-to-take-on-the-world mode:

7. Set deadlines

Even if your teacher has already given you deadlines for each assignment, set new ones yourself at earlier dates.

This helps you build discipline, learn how to focus on studying, and prioritize every day.

8. Take brain breaks

Frequent breaks actually increase your productivity and focus. You’ll see that after each study session, the brain needs to be engaged with something different —  you need to activate other parts of your brain before going back to your studies so that you can reach top performance.

You can also use the Superbrain Yoga Technique. In the Superbrain Quest, Jim talks about implementing it during your breaks. It goes as follows:

• Massage the left lobe of your ear with your right hand, and the right one with your left hand
• Inhale and squat down
• Exhale and come back up while continuing massaging your opposite ear with the opposite hand
• Keep going for a few minutes

As your body moves, your brain grooves. — Jim Kwik, trainer of Mindvalley’s Superbrain Quest

9. Use discomfort as motivation for productivity

The brain is wired to protect us from danger, and our ancestors needed this function of the psyche to survive. Discomfort is associated with danger, and whenever they felt it, they knew it was time to run away or protect themselves in one way or another.

In today’s world, danger isn’t so imminent. However, discomfort is, and the brain still works to protect us in the same way. 

So why not use it to your advantage?

Once you have this mindset shift, you can see the discomfort that comes with doing your homework as fuel for moving forward, from pain to pleasure. So instead of procrastinating and avoiding the discomfort, just use it as motivation to get things done.

And maybe you can even save yourself a fun activity to do later in the day, so you have something to look forward to.

10. Use time blocking

You can use time blocking and set a specific amount of time for parts of your homework that needs to be done. For example, you block 30 minutes of reading, then another 30 minutes of writing down highlights from the text. 

This method will give you more structure and support you when you need to focus on school work, as you will have a dedicated structured time to do so.

11. Let go of thoughts that distract you

When you need more concentration, but your thoughts keep getting in the way, here’s a fun visualization exercise you can use:

• Before you start working on your homework, close down your eyes and imagine a flowing river in front of you. 
• Now, place every thought on a leaf and let it run down the river while watching it move away from you. 

Do this repeatedly for 5-10 minutes and see how your mind becomes clearer, more productive, and more inspired.

12. Reimagine your task

How can you make the process of doing your homework more fun? Is there any way you can think of to make it more exciting and engaging?

As you introduce play and fun into any task, your capacity to stay focused will increase. So just try out different methods to engage more in your homework. 

For example, what if you made a trivia quest about your history lesson homework? Or what about riddles to make you remember all the characters from the novel you have to read? 

Once you play around with these kinds of games, you might find that focusing on your homework isn’t as boring as you thought it would be.

Unleash the Power of Your Focus

Discovering how to focus on your homework can go beyond schoolwork and actually support you in many other activities you want to do. Concentration is one of the best skills to nurture for your growth.

If you need a little guidance at the beginning of your focusing journey, Mindvalley has it in store for you. 

By unlocking your FREE Mindvalley access , you can check out sample classes from quests that help you develop better focus and study habits, such as Becoming Focused and Indistractable by Nir Eyal and Superbrain by Jim Kwik. You can also immerse yourself in beautiful sounds and guided meditations designed to improve concentration and help you enter the flow state.

The earlier you start, the greater your journey of self-discovery will be. Welcome in.

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Jim Kwik is the trainer of Mindvalley’s Superbrain and Super Reading Quests. He’s a brain coach and a world expert in speed reading, memory improvement, and optimal brain performance. Known as the “boy with the broken brain” due to a childhood injury, Jim discovered strategies to dramatically enhance his mental performance. He is now committed to helping people improve their memory, learn to speed-read, increase their decision-making skills, and turn on their superbrain.

He has shared his techniques with Hollywood actors, Fortune 500 companies, and trailblazing entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Richard Branson to reach their highest level of mental performance. He is also one of the most sought-after trainers for top organizations like Harvard University, Nike, Virgin, and GE.

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25 Other Ways to Say “I’m Busy”

When we need to convey that we’re busy without using the same tired phrase “I’m Busy,” there are numerous alternatives we can use. These alternatives can be more specific, expressive, or even softer in tone, and can give a clearer picture of what we are actually doing. Below, we’ll explore different ways to express being busy, organized into categories.

• “I can’t make it to the movie tonight, I’m absolutely swamped with work.”
• Explanation: “Swamped” gives the impression of being overwhelmed or having too much to do.

2. Engrossed

• “I didn’t hear the phone ring; I was so engrossed in my research.”
• Explanation: “Engrossed” conveys deep absorption in a specific task to the exclusion of everything else.

3. Occupied

• “I’m currently occupied with finalizing the annual report, can we talk later?”
• Explanation: “Occupied” suggests that one’s attention or activities are fully taken up by something.

Nouns Associated with Activities

4. in a meeting.

• “I’ll have to call you back, I’m in a meeting right now.”
• Explanation: “In a meeting” is straightforward and states exactly what is taking up your time.

5. On a deadline

• “I can’t pause right now; I’m on a deadline for a client project.”
• Explanation: “On a deadline” implies that one is working against the clock to complete a task, hence busy.

6. On a tight schedule

• “We must reschedule our lunch; I’m on a tight schedule all week.”
• Explanation: “On a tight schedule” suggests a carefully planned and busy itinerary with little room for deviation.

Adjectives and Adverbs

• “Sorry, I’m tied up with prior commitments until next month.”
• Explanation: “Tied up” implies being fully committed or bound to certain activities or responsibilities.

8. Preoccupied

• “I haven’t been very social lately because I’ve been preoccupied with family issues.”
• Explanation: “Preoccupied” shows that one’s mind or attention is completely taken by specific concerns or problems.

9. Overloaded

• “My schedule is absolutely overloaded with tasks; I won’t be available until Friday.”
• Explanation: “Overloaded” conveys the state of having more work or responsibilities than can be managed.

Informal Phrases

10. slammed.

• “I won’t make it to the game tonight; I’m slammed with work until the end of the week.”
• Explanation: “Slammed” is a more informal way of saying one is extremely busy or burdened with work.

11. Up to my ears

• “I’m up to my ears in paperwork, so it might take me a while to respond.”
• Explanation: The phrase paints a vivid picture of being so involved in work that it is figuratively piled high.
• “I’m totally buried in exam prep this week.”
• Explanation: “Buried” typically suggests that one is so surrounded by work that they are metaphorically underneath it.

Colloquial Expressions

13. maxed out.

• “I’d love to help with the event, but I’m maxed out with other responsibilities.”
• Explanation: “Maxed out” indicates that one’s capacity for tasks or stress is at its limit.

14. Under the pump

• “It’s tax season, so I’m under the pump and can’t spare a minute.”
• Explanation: “Under the pump” implies being under a lot of pressure or stress, often due to busyness.

15. Chock-full

• “My day is chock-full of appointments; I simply can’t squeeze in another one.”
• Explanation: “Chock-full” is a colloquial way to express that one’s schedule or time is completely full.

Professional Jargon

16. back-to-back.

• “I have back-to-back meetings all afternoon and won’t be reachable.”
• Explanation: “Back-to-back” indicates having consecutive appointments or tasks without a break in between.

17. In the weeds

• “We’re totally in the weeds with this project’s issues and it’s consuming all our time.”
• Explanation: “In the weeds” is a phrase often used to mean caught up in overwhelming detail or facing complications.

18. Booked solid

• “Please consult my secretary for an appointment; I’m booked solid until next month.”
• Explanation: “Booked solid” indicates a completely filled schedule with no available slots.

Idiomatic Expressions

19. running around.

• “I’ve been running around all day trying to get my errands done.”
• Explanation: This idiomatic expression implies being busy with a lot of different tasks, often in various locations.

20. Snowed under

• “I’d like to take a break, but I’m completely snowed under with work at the moment.”
• Explanation: “Snowed under” suggests being overwhelmed with so much to do that one is metaphorically buried in it.

21. Juggling

• “I’m juggling three different projects this week, so let’s touch base later.”
• Explanation: “Juggling” implies handling multiple tasks at once, suggesting a busy state.

Phrases Suggesting Busy States

22. caught up.

• “I’m just caught up with the kids’ activities and appointments.”
• Explanation: “Caught up” implies being entangled or deeply involved with various activities.

23. On the go

• “I’ve been constantly on the go with conferences and meetings this month.”
• Explanation: “On the go” suggests a state of constant activity or motion.

24. Up to my neck

• “I’m up to my neck in audit preparations, and it’s taking all my time.”
• Explanation: This phrase conveys being very busy to the point that one is metaphorically submerged.

25. Stretching myself thin

• “I can’t add another assignment to my week; I’m already stretching myself thin.”
• Explanation: “Stretching myself thin” means extending oneself beyond the capacity to handle current responsibilities or commitments efficiently.

These alternative phrases to “I’m busy” can help articulate a more descriptive state of engagement and cater to different contexts, whether professional, casual, or somewhere in between. Using varied language can also demonstrate consideration for the person you’re communicating with, and shows a higher level of engagement in the conversation.

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15 Ways to Say ‘I’m Busy’ in English

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Busy with work or at work?

• Thread starter ilovejapan
• Start date May 9, 2015

Senior Member

• May 9, 2015

Which one is correct? I am busy with work. I am busy at work. I could find both on online dictionaries.  

Florentia52

Modwoman in the attic.

Both are grammatically correct. They mean different things. What is it you are trying to say?  

If I wanted to meet with my friend next week and asked if she was busy, which one would be used in this situation? Are you busy with work next week? Are you busy at work next week? However, I'd like to know the difference between the two.  

• Feb 23, 2023

1. What are you busy with? 2. What are you busy at? What's the difference in meaning between the above two questions? I'm busy <at/with/in doing> work.  

No. 1 sounds fine but No. 2 doesn’t sound idiomatic to me. I’m struggling to think of a situation in which I might use this wording.  

Joetofu said: No. 1 sounds fine but No. 2 doesn’t sound idiomatic to me. I’m struggling to think of a situation in which I might use this wording. Click to expand...

"What are you busy at?" means "What are you busy doing?" "What are you busy with?" also means "What are you busy doing?" Note this is a totally different "at" than "Are you busy at work?" So this is a new thread, starting at post #4, and the thread linked in post #4 is about a different topic.  

3. I'm busy with my homework. 4. I'm busy at my homework. #3 is supposed to be correct. Is #4 also acceptable?  

Glasguensis

Signal modulation.

Not for me  

No, #4 is not acceptable. The actual meaning is: 5. I am busy doing my work. So #3 and #4 are attempts to express #5. #3 works but #4 doesn't work.  

Ashraful Haque

• Jun 17, 2024

1) I'm busy at work. - Doesn't it suggest that you're busy at your workplace/office? Can we use it if we're working from home? 2) I'm busy with work. - It sounds to me like you're just saying that you're busy working. It could be from home or at an office building. Please let me know if this is correct.  

1) Yes, for office/workplace only -- not at home. 2) Yes.  

5 Better Responses to "How Are You?" Than "Busy"

Our default answer to “How are you?” in the workplace is usually something along the lines of, “I’m stressed/busy/tired/overworked.” We’re being honest: More than half of all working adults are so burnt out they’re worried it’s impacting their health .

There are three problems with saying so, however. First, it loses its potency. Yeah, you’re stressed, so what—you said that yesterday, and the week before, and the month before that. Second, saying you’re stressed or busy actually makes you feel more stressed or busy . Third, we’ve created a “ cult of busy :” There’s a cultural expectation that, if you’re not stressed or busy, you’re slacking.

So, let’s stop it. The next time someone asks how you’re doing (which will probably happen, oh, in the next two hours), don’t complain about being swamped—especially if the question is coming from your boss or a colleague who you ultimately want to impress. Instead, choose from these five replies.

1. “I’m having a productive day.”

If you’re worried your co-workers or boss will assume you need more to do if you don’t talk about your heavy workload, go for this response. You’re still implying you have a lot going on, but you’re demonstrating that you’re handling it. You also sound happy to be working and checking boxes on your to-do list, which everyone in the office will appreciate. Maybe you’ll even inspire them to give similarly upbeat responses to the same question.

2. “I’m working on X project and…”

Sometimes you’re not being productive. You might be stumped by a project, or you actually feel overwhelmed by how much you have to get done. In this case, putting a positive spin on the situation could hurt you. If the person who asks you how you’re doing has the power to help, say, “I’m so glad you’re checking in! I’m working on X problem and I’d love your insight on/support with…”

If he or she can’t help, stick to, “I’m working on these X things. How are you?”

3. “I’m a little overloaded right now, but I expect things to calm down in a week when X is done.”

This is especially good when you think someone might have ulterior motives in asking how you are (i.e., they want to know if you can help with more work). You definitely don’t want to misrepresent your situation, but you don’t want to sound like you’re dodging work, either.

Explain you’re at full capacity right now but hint that the person could approach you again once things have calmed down. It makes you sound more on top of things than just a vague, panicked, “I’m so busy!”

4. “I’ve got a lot to do, but I’m excited for the results.”

This reply makes it difficult for whoever just asked you how you were doing not to get caught up in your energetic attitude. You’re acknowledging that you’re occupied and simultaneously pointing out good things will come of it. “I’m busy” or “I’m stressed” is a complaint—this is a victory lap in advance. Bonus: Projecting your future success will make you look more competent.

5. “I’m stressed.”

Wait, isn’t this what we’ve been harping on about not saying?

Yup. In very rare occasions, you can use “I’m stressed/I’m busy/I’m tired/I’m overworked”—when there’s no substitute for these expressions. You’re the founder of a startup and you’ve just pulled your fourth all-nighter in a week. Okay, you’re busy and tired. You’re in charge of a new marketing campaign that’s failing miserably. Okay, you’re stressed. You’ve been spending every weekend laboring on a project running behind schedule. Okay, you’re overworked.

By saving these statements for the most extreme situations, people will actually take them seriously. You don’t have to be Pollyanna all the time. Just, well, most of the time.

It’s hard to find a professional who doesn’t feel stressed, busy, tired, or overworked. Dropping these responses from your vocabulary, except when they’re truly needed, will make you feel calmer and appear more capable. Win-win.

Photo of busy bees courtesy of Shutterstock .

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How to Appear Busy While Using a Computer

Last Updated: February 10, 2023

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 74 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 139,310 times. Learn more...

For people in school, at work or doing some "homework" using a computer on a daily/hourly basis, this wikiHow explains how you can look productive while not actually doing anything or just procrastinating without letting anyone know. If you have the inclination to look busy, but be doing nothing work-related, read on from step number one below.

Community Q&A

• If you are at work, a library, or any other public place, it may be a good idea to strategically place open books, folders, or papers on and around your desk or table. Be sure to turn the pages once in a while, or pretend to read them, to increase believability. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• When somebody tells you something, don't answer immediately and say, 'Shh, I'm trying to work!" Can't you see I'm busy? I can't focus both at you and at what I'm doing now!' Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
• In Windows, hitting the Windows and the D key simultaneously will take you to your Desktop instantly. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

• You might get caught, be alert at all times. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Don't click out of something fast, that will draw a teacher or professor's attention. Just calmly click into another page or always go to Yahoo.com or Google! Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Don't play Solitaire/Minesweeper/any other silly game if you want to appear busy. Being caught doing something as trivial as that only shows how bored you really are. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Don't appear to be too interested, that is a sign that you're not doing work. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

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8 Polite Ways To Say “I’m Busy Right Now”

It’s no secret that saying “I’m busy right now” can be considered rude. Therefore, it would be helpful to develop a few more polite ways to tell someone that you don’t currently have time to help them. This article will give you the best alternatives for this.

What Can I Say Instead Of “I’m Busy Right Now”?

The preferred version is “sorry, I’m not available at the minute.” It works well because it uses the simple apologetic word “sorry.” This helps to introduce any statement where we might be letting the other person down. It’s worth using this to spare their feelings.

Sorry, I’m Not Available At The Minute

“Sorry, I’m not available at the minute” works well when we want to show someone that we do not have time to help. “Sorry” is all we need with this phrase to show that we are apologizing. Sometimes, that’s enough to turn a rude phrase into a polite one.

You might also want to use a phrase that encourages the person to wait a little longer for your help. We’ll include that in a few other options later on in the list, which will help you to understand why it’s important.

Of course, sometimes, our work takes up too much of our time, and it means we won’t be able to lend a hand at all. That means we have to let the person down who is asking for our help, which is why “sorry” is so important to use here.

I’m Currently Engaged With Other Work

It works well in many situations, and we can use it whenever we have too many things on our plate. We don’t typically need to explain more than that about what is keeping us busy. Phrases like this are plenty to help people understand when we’re busy working.

Please Don’t Disturb Me Right Now

While it isn’t the nicest way to turn someone down, it still works really well in many cases.

“Please don’t disturb me” shows that someone is really concentrating on their work. It’s best that you don’t distract them if you’re asking for help, so you should move on and ask someone else.

Sorry, I’m Busy Right Now

However, if you say “sorry, I’m busy right now,” we now use “sorry” to show that we’re apologetic. It’s one extra word, but it goes a long way in helping the requester understand that we wish we could help them, but we are not able to.

I’m Committed To My Work Right Now

While it doesn’t outright turn someone else’s request for help down, the implication does well in doing this. It’s a polite phrase because we don’t tell someone to leave us alone or to not disturb us.

I Haven’t Got A Moment To Spare At The Minute

Someone may appreciate a simple statement like this, especially if it’s clear you’re busy. It shows you briefly took the time out of your work to answer them (which is better than ignoring them).

I’d Love To Help You, But Can You Wait Until After This

Here are a few examples to show you how it works:

I’m Tied Up At The Minute, But I’ll Be With You As Soon As I’m Done

“I’m tied up at the minute” is a great way to show that we are currently busy. It’s the most informal phrase on this list, but it works well when we want to show someone that we aren’t mad at their request. We can also reiterate that we’ll be happy to help them in the future.

The idea behind this phrase is that we are more than happy to help, but we do not currently have the time. Therefore, we use the ending, “but I’ll be with you as soon as I’m done” to show that we still want to help the person who asked us.

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

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He 's been busy .

She 's been busy .

I 'm being kept busy ... Busy is good.

What can I say, it 's been a busy week.

I like being active, I like being busy .

" I like being busy — there's this thing about busy that feels nice.

I called her and I said, " I know you are busy " — I was stuttering — "I am doing this special"...

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Im busy with my homework meaning in different languages

How to say Im busy with my homework in different languages. To learn languages, common vocabulary and grammar are the important sections. Common Vocabulary contains common words that we can used in daily life, and also play picture dictionary, play some games so you get not bored. If you think too hard to learn languages, then 1000 most common words will helps to learn languages easily, they contain 2-letter words to 13-letter words. Here is a multilingual translation / multilingual dictionary of the word Im busy with my homework with their pronunciation in English.

How to say Im busy with my homework in different languages

Here is the translation of word Im busy with my homework in different languages, Indian languages and other all languages are separated in alphabetical order, this will help to improve your languages. Here you learn meaning of Im busy with my homework in 125+ languages.

Indian languages

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I'm busy with my homework と I'm busy doing my homework はどう違いますか？説明が難しい場合は、例文を教えて下さい。

They mean the same thing!

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They both mean the same. Neither one is more formal than the other. Neither one is more preferred.

• I've just finished my homework と I just finished my homework はどう違いますか？
• I am going to do my homework と I will do my homework はどう違いますか？
• I’m studying my homework と I’m doing my homework はどう違いますか？
• I'm doing my homework. と I'm doing my homework assignment. はどう違いますか？
• I'm doing a little bit of homework と I'm doing a little homework はどう違いますか？
• I have just finished my homework と I just finished my homework はどう違いますか？
• 做作业 。做练习。刷题。 除了do homework,do some exercise は 英語 (アメリカ) で何と言いますか？
• I have to do my homework と I must do my homework はどう違いますか？
• gg と ggs はどう違いますか？
• I stuffed the food into my mouth. と I tucked the food into my mouth. はどう違いますか？
• boutiful と abundant と generous はどう違いますか？
• I do tattoos と I make tattoos はどう違いますか？
• Could I ask you about directions? と Could I ask you for directions? はどう違いますか？
• なま と 新鮮 はどう違いますか？
• 香り と 匂い はどう違いますか？
• あれ、これ、それ と あの、この、その はどう違いますか？
• 道草 と 回り道 はどう違いますか？
• 夫の父 と 姑 はどう違いますか？
• 晩ごはんのあと休みましょう。 と 学校に行き、それから勉強しました。 と what is the difference between それから and あと はどう違いますか？
• 辞書 と 字引き はどう違いますか？
• 戻ってきてくれて と 戻ってくれて はどう違いますか？
• これはどれほど金がかかったか と これはどれぐらい金がかかったか はどう違いますか？
• Hice este dibujo, me inspire mucho mientras escuchaba tu canción. は 韓国語 で何と言いますか？
• ぜんぶ と なにも と かも はどう違いますか？

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