drowning in homework meaning

What to do when you’re drowning in schoolwork

Step one: Don’t panic. Whether you are a second-semester freshman who’s still adjusting to college life, or a last-semester senior who might have hit a bit of “senioritis,” this is not the end of the world. You are still worthy. You are still good enough. You still have every bit of potential that got you into this school, and you are still capable of achieving your dreams. Over my four years here, I have worked to find a good academic plan and stick to it. Here are some of the things that helped me along the way.

Plan your semester out. You might not be the type of person who likes planning every moment of your time—I know I’m not. You might think that even if you make a plan, you won’t stick to it and it will fall through. Plan anyway. I have a few planning strategies that have worked for me in the past.

For me, a simple spreadsheet goes a long way when planning the semester. I start off by loading all of my deadlines into an assignment spreadsheet ( template linked here ) organized by class, due date, and estimated completion time. I even have categories for “Grand Marshal” and “Job Applications,” since those will take up time in my day.

For planning my week, I use Google Calendar. I put every class, meeting, appointment, or planned activity in it as far in advance as possible. To plan my days, I use a simple journal, because studies have shown that writing is better for memory retrieval. On the left page, I brain-dump every task for the week and the time it will take from the assignment sheet. On the right page, I write time slots based on my Google Calendar for food, work, and breaks.

This system is what works for me. Others use Trello , which is a web-based to-do list application or Google Keep to keep track of time and tasks. Others still will use just a journal or a year long planner. The important part is to commit to trying something.

Be sure to budget in time for food, water, sleep, exercise, showers, and fun! You might think that, if you just work 24 hours a day during the beginning of the semester, then you won’t fall behind. In reality, you’ll end up burnt out by week two. Take care of yourself by taking regular breaks for relaxation. It will provide you with higher motivation and energy as the semester moves on.

Accountability

After planning, it is important to find ways to hold yourself accountable to the plans that you make. One key way to create accountability is to introduce yourself to your professors and class dean at the beginning of the semester. If it’s too stressful to introduce yourself at office hours, a simple email will do. In my experience, most faculty at RPI try to find a way to connect with their students even if their class sizes go into the hundreds. Should you find yourself struggling later in the semester, you will already have a connection with key resources for your academic success.

I also recommend finding a study buddy. This can be a friend who is in the same classes, who will motivate you to do homework as a social activity. It could even be someone who you have no classes in common with; if you work with someone else who is struggling with time management, you can keep each other accountable to study hours.

Finally, review your grades on a regular basis. I would even recommend recording them in a spreadsheet. Since grades can be located on a variety of different platforms from LMS to Gradescope, there can be a disconnect between how well you think you’re doing in a class, and how well you’re actually doing in the class. Regularly reviewing your grades can identify the warning signs that you’re struggling early, giving you time to reach out to your professors or study buddies.

With all of this, it is important to be flexible throughout your college experience. No single system will work perfectly for you; it’s a learning process. My freshman year, I tried to use a year-long paper planner as my primary method of organization. But, my weekly plans changed so frequently that the planner became a hassle to upkeep. Focus on what you’ve learned from struggling. Maybe you learned that you should consider changing majors, or that RPI will take more effort than what was expected in high school, or that you need a more complete support system. When you find yourself feeling like you’re drowning, know that you are worthy of being here, and you are not alone.

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How Much Homework Is Too Much?

Are schools assigning too much homework.

Posted October 19, 2011

Timothy, a fifth grader, spends up to thirteen hours a day hunched over a desk at school or at home, studying and doing homework. Should his parents feel proud? Now imagine, for comparison's sake, Timothy spending thirteen hours a day hunched over a sewing machine instead of a desk.

Parents have the right to complain when schools assign too much homework but they often don't know how to do so effectively.

Drowning in Homework ( an excerpt from Chapter 8 of The Squeaky Wheel )

I first met Timothy, a quiet, overweight eleven-year-old boy, when his mother brought him to therapy to discuss his slipping grades. A few minutes with Timothy were enough to confirm that his mood, self-esteem , and general happiness were slipping right along with them. Timothy attended one of the top private schools in Manhattan, an environment in which declining grades were no idle matter.

I asked about Timothy's typical day. He awoke every morning at six thirty so he could get to school by eight and arrived home around four thirty each afternoon. He then had a quick snack, followed by either a piano lesson or his math tutor, depending on the day. He had dinner at seven p.m., after which he sat down to do homework for two to three hours a night. Quickly doing the math in my head, I calculated that Timothy spent an average of thirteen hours a day hunched over a writing desk. His situation is not atypical. Spending that many hours studying is the only way Timothy can keep up and stay afloat academically.

But what if, for comparison's sake, we imagined Timothy spending thirteen hours a day hunched over a sewing machine instead of a desk. We would immediately be aghast at the inhumanity because children are horribly mistreated in such "sweatshops." Timothy is far from being mistreated, but the mountain of homework he faces daily results in a similar consequence- he too is being robbed of his childhood.

Timothy's academics leave him virtually no time to do anything he truly enjoys, such as playing video games, movies, or board games with his friends. During the week he never plays outside and never has indoor play dates or opportunities to socialize with friends. On weekends, Timothy's days are often devoted to studying for tests, working on special school projects, or arguing with his mother about studying for tests and working on special school projects.

By the fourth and fifth grade and certainly in middle school, many of our children have hours of homework, test preparation, project writing, or research to do every night, all in addition to the eight hours or more they have to spend in school. Yet study after study has shown that homework has little to do with achievement in elementary school and is only marginally related to achievement in middle school .

Play, however, is a crucial component of healthy child development . It affects children's creativity , their social skills, and even their brain development. The absence of play, physical exercise, and free-form social interaction takes a serious toll on many children. It can also have significant health implications as is evidenced by our current epidemic of childhood obesity, sleep deprivation, low self- esteem, and depression .

A far stronger predictor than homework of academic achievement for kids aged three to twelve is having regular family meals. Family meals allow parents to check in, to demonstrate caring and involvement, to provide supervision, and to offer support. The more family meals can be worked into the schedule, the better, especially for preteens. The frequency of family meals has also been shown to help with disordered eating behaviors in adolescents.

Experts in the field recommend children have no more than ten minutes of homework per day per grade level. As a fifth- grader, Timothy should have no more than fifty minutes a day of homework (instead of three times that amount). Having an extra two hours an evening to play, relax, or see a friend would constitute a huge bump in any child's quality of life.

So what can we do if our child is getting too much homework?

1. Complain to the teachers and the school. Most parents are unaware that excessive homework contributes so little to their child's academic achievement.

2. Educate your child's teacher and principal about the homework research-they are often equally unaware of the facts and teachers of younger children (K-4) often make changes as a result.

3. Create allies within the system by speaking with other parents and banding together to address the issue with the school.

You might also like: Is Excessive Homework in Private Schools a Customer Service Issue?

View my short and quite personal TED talk about Psychological Health here:

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Copyright 2011 Guy Winch

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Guy Winch, Ph.D. , is a licensed psychologist and author of Emotional First Aid: Healing Rejection, Guilt, Failure, and Other Everyday Hurts.

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Fill in the form below and receive news in your email box, drowning in: definition, meaning, and origin.

The idiom "drowning in" means having too much of something, usually unpleasant or overwhelming. It can also mean being very busy or stressed with many work or problems.

In short: It means having too much of something bad or overwhelming. It expresses a negative feeling of being unable to cope with a situation.

What Does "Drowning In" Mean?

The idiom "drowning in" means being overwhelmed by something, usually in a negative way. When someone says they are "drowning in" something, they compare their situation to being underwater and unable to breathe. They say they have too much of something causing them distress or difficulty.

Where Does "Drowning In" Come From?

The idiom "drowning in" has been used since the late 1800s to mean being overwhelmed by something. It comes from the literal meaning of drowning, which is to die or suffer from being submerged in water or another liquid. It is a common way of expressing extreme distress or danger and has been used in literature and poetry for centuries.

10 Examples of "Drowning In" in Sentences

Here are some examples of how to use this idiom in sentences:

• The company is drowning in competition in the market.
• She is drowning in sorrow since her husband passed away.
• The city is drowning in traffic congestion during rush hour.
• He is drowning in work since he took on two extra projects.
• Holy cow ! We're drowning in laundry after a weeklong vacation.
• No mean feat . She's drowning in responsibilities as the team leader.
• Oh, snap . She was drowning in debt after she maxed out her credit cards.
• He is drowning in love with his new girlfriend. He can't stop talking about her.
• The restaurant was drowning in customer complaints about the food. That's too bad .
• They are drowning in information since they subscribed to ten different newspapers.

Examples of "Drowning In" in Pop Culture

Here are some examples of how this idiom has been used in various forms of pop culture:

• Drowning In The Sea Of Love : This is the title of a 1971 song by Joe Simon, later covered by artists such as Aretha Franklin and Boz Scaggs. The song uses the idiom "drowning in" to mean being overwhelmed by love . Some lyrics are "I've been down one time / And I've been down two times / But now I'm drowning / Drowning in the sea of love."
• Drowning in Money is the eighth episode of the twelfth season of Murdoch Mysteries, a Canadian crime drama series. It aired on May 11, 2019. The episode is about a wealthy couple who drowned in their pool in an apparent double suicide, but Detective William Murdoch suspects murder.
• Drowning Mona : This is the title of a 2000 comedy film starring Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, and Neve Campbell. The film is about a murder mystery involving a woman named Mona who dies after her car plunges into a river. The film uses the idiom "drowning in" to mean being killed by water.

Synonyms: Other/Different Ways to Say "Drowning In"

Here are some synonyms and alternative ways to say this idiom:

• Flooded by/with
• Inundated by/with
• Engulfed by/with/in
• Overwhelmed by/with
• Submerged by/with/in

10 Frequently Asked Questions About "Drowning In"

Here are some frequently asked questions about this idiom:

• What does "drowning in" mean?
• What is the origin of the phrase "drowning in"?
• Is "drowning in" a positive or negative idiom?

The idiom "drowning in" is usually negative, implying having too much of something unpleasant or overwhelming. However, sometimes, it can be used positively to emphasize having an excess of something good or desirable.

• What is the difference between "drowning in" and "drowning from"?

The idiom "drowning in" means having too much of something, while the phrase "drowning from" means dying or suffering from being submerged in water or another liquid. For example, "He is drowning in work" means he has too much work, while "He is drowning from water" means dying from water.

• Can you use "drowning in" with people?

Yes, you can use "drowning in" with people, but only to mean having too many people around you or being overwhelmed by their presence or demands. For example, "She is drowning in fans since she became famous." You cannot use “drowning in” with people to mean killing or harming them with water.

• Is the idiom "drowning in" a literal expression of being submerged in water?

No, it is a metaphorical expression and should not be taken literally. It refers to feeling overwhelmed or excessively burdened rather than being physically submerged in water.

• What are some synonyms for "drowning in"?

Synonyms for "drowning in" include "swamped with," "buried in," "overwhelmed by," and "flooded with."

• Can this idiom be used in professional contexts?

Yes, "drowning in" can be used in professional contexts to describe situations where individuals or organizations are overwhelmed with work, tasks, or challenges.

• Can "drowning in" be used to describe emotional states?

Yes, "drowning in" can be used to describe emotional states. For example, someone might say, "I'm drowning in sorrow," to express extreme sadness or grief.

• How can I avoid "drowning in" a workload or responsibilities?

To avoid feeling overwhelmed, it's important to prioritize tasks, delegate when possible, manage your time effectively, and seek support or assistance when needed. Setting realistic goals and boundaries can also help prevent "drowning in" situations.

Final Thoughts About "Drowning In"

The idiom "drowning in" is a common way of expressing a negative feeling of being unable to cope with a situation. It means having too much of something unpleasant or overwhelming.

Some basic information about the idiom:

• It can also mean being very busy or stressed with many work or problems.
• It comes from the literal meaning of drowning.
• It can be used with various nouns that indicate something excessive, such as debt, problems, sorrow, etc.
• It can sometimes be used with nouns that indicate something good or desirable but only to emphasize having an excess of it, such as money, love, compliments, etc.
• It has some related expressions that have a similar meaning.
• It has some synonyms and antonyms that can replace or contrast it.

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Drowning in the stress of high school: how one adjustment in homework might be the change we need

Some students feel overwhelmed. Here’s one student’s perspective on how we might fix this.

Hannah Farr

MHS students working on homework during an off block

Hannah Farr , Reporter November 5, 2018

We hear it all every day: there’s not enough time. In the life of a high school student, it is undoubtedly true. We have a seven hour school day, sports, jobs, and homework that consume all our time. With all this, when is there time for a social life and a good night’s sleep? According to the National Sleep Foundation, teenagers need between eight and ten hours of sleep a night. Many students at Mead are not meeting this.

Junior Trevin Haines says he gets four to five hours of sleep a night. When asked why this is, he says it’s the overwhelming amount of stress he feels every night between homework, grades, extracurricular activities, and of course the social stress of high school.

Of course, there’s no way to completely eliminate all high school stress. That being said, there are ways we can take the load off of students and at least reduce the stress to a manageable level.

As a student, there are two different types of homework we get assigned. One is work we were given in class that simply didn’t get done that becomes homework. The other kind is added homework. Just as it sounds, added homework is an extra assignment, specifically to do at home.

If we eliminate added homework, it would eliminate an enormous amount of stress. It would also allow more time for students to focus on keeping themselves healthy, extracurriculars that are strongly encouraged by the school, and spending time with their family.

What does an average day look like?

I asked one student from each grade about their average day and here is what they expressed when asked about homework, sleep, stress, extracurricular, and grades.

Senior Dani Garcia is an excellent student. She recently won an award in softball for her academics. She spends an average of two to three hours a night on homework. She gets five to six hours of sleep a night. When I asked her if her homework impacts how much sleep she gets she said, “Yeah, the other night I stayed up ‘til midnight doing homework.”

Haines commented, “At this point, I’m depleted of energy and motivation.” This is due to the unhealthy amount of stress from the three to four hours of homework he has a night on top of hours upon hours he spends in his extra curricular activities. This leaves him not getting anywhere near enough sleep at night; as a result he is on an endless cycle of stress and exhaustion.

How are students supposed to reach the expectations our administrators, teachers, and parents have set under these conditions?

Freshman Khyra Brockbank is a positive, hard working student who spends two to three hours a night on homework. Brockbank is a straight A student taking mostly honors classes. She is also an athlete and spends an average of two hours at softball. Between school, homework, and sports, she states that she often comes to school tired and under rested. This also doesn’t leave much time for social activities and just any sort of fun.

Sophomore Madi Nagy is a high-striving student athlete who also has a job. She has a lot on her plate. She spends three to four hours a night on homework. In addition, she spends six to seven hours at work and/or sports. She says she usually gets six to seven hours of sleep a night and explains her amount of homework has an impact on her sleep. She remarked, “The more homework I get, definitely the less sleep I get, and the less quality sleep I get.” With all of this going on in her life, Nagy rated her stress level a 7.5/10 on an average day.

Students in general shouldn’t be sacrificing their physical and emotional health for their school work.

We need to make a change. There needs to a new policy to manage students workload at home.

When interviewing fellow peers they all express that there homework is usually additional work, as opposed to unfinished class work.

When asked about this Nagy says, “Nine out of ten times it’s definitely just homework, like it’s something that’s separately assigned; if I don’t finish something in class that’s also homework.”

Many are in agreement. Stress levels would be reduced if there wasn’t any extra work assigned. Students will perform better in school after being well rested. Our high school experience will likely become more enjoyable. All of this is possible with one simple change.

Teachers should not assign extra homework. By this I mean that if students receive homework, it should be unfinished classwork, not an additional assignment.

Students and adults can agree they want similar things: happy, healthy, and successful students, and the most obvious way to do this is reduce their stressors and decrease the amount of homework they are given.  If you want students to strive, give them an environment to do so.

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Your donation will support the student journalists of Mead High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

Hannah Farr is a sophomore. She enjoys playing softball, snowboarding, going to concerts, and various outdoor activities such as: camping, hunting, backpacking, and fishing. She hopes to use her love for writing to get her voice, and the voice of the students herd and bring out the truth in school and community-wide issues. You can contact her at [email protected]

Hannah Millar is a junior at Mead High. She enjoys texting people, hanging out with friends, eating, and hanging out with her awesome friend Ayden! She wants to bring a new and exciting voice to The Mav. You can contact her at  [email protected]

Comments (7)

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Jocelyn Zavala • Jan 24, 2020 at 11:03 am

It nice to see someone speaking up about this.

Arizona Lee • Sep 9, 2019 at 8:51 am

This is awesome! I especially liked the “what does an average day look like” section.

Rebecca • Aug 30, 2019 at 10:58 am

This is a great article. Thank you!

Jordan Baumgartner • Aug 30, 2019 at 10:54 am

Really helpful article!

Matthew Silbernagel • Nov 18, 2018 at 11:48 pm

Great article!!

william M farr • Nov 6, 2018 at 8:28 am

Good job hannah well thought out

Madi Nagy • Nov 5, 2018 at 1:34 pm

Nice article!

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Dork Diaries

#1 New York Times Bestselling Series

October 14, 2017

I’M DROWNING IN HOMEWORK!!!

Hey Brandon, I started school a few weeks ago, and I’m really stressed out over the amount of homework I’m getting! What should I do?! Homework Help Please!!

Hey Homework Help Please,

I wish I could come over and help you with your homework right now! Not that I’d be that much help, but I know what it feels like to be overwhelmed with homework and not know what to do.

It’s like the older you get, the more homework you receive in school. Plus, every teacher is different and some will assign more homework than others. It would probably help a LOT to make sure you’re organized and plan ahead in case that happens.

Here are some things that might help you get (and stay) organized:

• Use a planner: There are apps specifically made for tracking homework assignments and reminding you of due dates. Just search homework planner and you’ll find options. If you’re more of an old-school planner kind of person, you can also find special notebooks that help you track assignments, break projects into manageable chunks, remind yourself of due dates, etc.
• Study In The Right Environment: You might be the kind of person who needs total silence and no distractions while you study. OR you might be the type of person who needs your most rocking playlist blaring at the loudest volume. Figure out what works for you, and then make sure you’re setting yourself up for success by studying in the best way that works for you.
• Make A Daily Schedule: Each day when you sit down to study, check your monthly or weekly assignment calendar and make a list of all the things you need to do that day. Sometimes it’s helpful to do one of the simplest tasks first, so you can feel like you’re making progress when you cross it off the list.
• Take Breaks: It might seem like the opposite of being productive, but sometimes taking breaks makes you MORE productive! Set a timer for a half an hour. Work hard in that half hour. When the timer goes off, give yourself five minutes to get up and stretch, check your texts, pet the dog, whatever. Then get back to work for another half hour.

Now, the best study skills in the world won’t help if you can’t figure out the material. Here are a few things you could do in that situation:

• Call A Friend: Talk to someone else in the class. Maybe they can talk you through it, or maybe you can meet early at school and they can help you out.
• Go To A Tutoring Center: If your school doesn’t offer free tutoring, your public library might.
• Ask Your Teacher: If you’re really having trouble understanding a concept, ask your teacher. Hey, that’s what they’re there for. I know it can be intimidating, but they’ll appreciate you making the extra effort.
• Talk to your parents: See if they can help you figure this whole thing out. And if they can’t, maybe they could help you find a private tutor. But if not, maybe that means talking to your teacher about other tutoring resources. It might feel like most of the studying pressure is on you, but your parents should still be your partners in helping you get the best education you can.

I hope this is helpful. It’s great that you’re reaching out for support. Keep asking until you find someone who can help you. Don’t give up!

Readers, who do you turn to for homework help? How do you stay organized? Tell us in the comments!

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7 Ways to Save Yourself When You're Drowning in Work

For whatever reason, you’re behind on your work. Your to-do list is out of control, you’re missing deadlines, and your inbox is full of emails from co-workers following up on things you promised them weeks ago.

When things are really dire, a quick fix or new to-do list app isn’t going to fix the situation. To take control again, it’s time to take a step back, assess the situation, and make some more strategic moves to clear your plate.

First, you need to make what I call a “kitchen sink list.” Block out time on your schedule for a meeting with yourself (I recommend an out-of-office breakfast). Then, at that meeting, write down absolutely everything you have going on right now. Start by identifying the major groupings of work (e.g., Client Communications, Internal Reporting, Hiring), making sure to add an “Other” bucket for all the miscellaneous items that inevitably pop up. Then, write out everything you need to get done on paper. No item is too small or too insignificant to make the list. It’s important to face the reality of exactly what you need to get done to determine the seriousness of the situation—and how extreme of a strategy you’re going to need to put in place.

Typically, after doing a kitchen sink list, you’ll find yourself in one of two camps. The first camp is if you look at everything and it feels like a lot, but with a bit of perspective, a few things reorganized, and a couple of weeks of beast mode , it can happen. It’ll just be a busy few weeks.

But, if you look at your kitchen sink list and know it’s impossible to get all that done, you’re in Camp Two. Somehow, you’ve bitten off way more than you can chew, and you are totally overwhelmed and desperately behind. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s time to face that reality and make some changes.

To make it easier on your frazzled self, here are seven strategies that can help get your work life back under control:

1. Prune the Tree

Look at the tasks on your kitchen sink list and decide which ones can be taken off entirely. I know, it sounds scary—even impossible. But I’m willing to bet that there are a few things that don’t really need to get done right now (at least not by you). Anything non-critical should get the ax.

2. Simplify the Output Using the 80/20 rule.

Are there any tasks or projects where 20% of the effort would yield 80% of the impact? For example, your boss wants a competitive analysis for a new product she’s thinking of launching. Before handing her a novel on the competitive landscape, would one page on each serious competitor be enough to help make that decision? Or, if the majority of the revenue you bring in as a sales rep comes from bigger deals, but you spend half your time on small deals that barely move the needle, could you shift your time and attention to the bigger deals instead? Yes? Go with those tasks or projects.

3. Automate or Outsource

Productivity expert Stever Robbins wrote a great piece on the 30/3 rule . It explains that something that takes you 30 minutes a day adds up to three weeks a year. Three whole weeks! Get that time back by seeing if there are any smaller tasks you can automate or outsource using third-party tools, such as Assistant.to, to speed up scheduling.

4. Ask for Help

Talk to your boss, colleagues, employees, even other departments to see if anyone can help take on some of the workload. Who knows—maybe your intern has been dying to get her feet wet in PowerPoint, or maybe Dan from Sales has an Excel model you could easily adapt to forecast your budget. Look to areas where there is some overlap with colleagues’ work for the most obvious hand-offs. (Check out these delegation tips if you need help starting that conversation.)

5. Start Sequencing

If everything left on your list needs to happen and you’re not going to get any help, then it will have to happen—just not all at once. Look at your deadlines to determine which items are truly urgent and which timetables can be pushed back. Your manager can and should help you with prioritization and sequencing.

6. Pass a Moratorium on Yes

This strategy doesn’t help deal with your existing problem, but it’s critical for keeping it in check. Until things are under control again, you need to be the king or queen of “No!” Don’t take on additional projects until you’ve gotten yourself out of this mess.

7. Suggest a Hire

If you’ve tried all of the above and still find yourself swimming in to-dos, it may be time to request adding someone to your team. Depending on your company’s culture and budget, consider part-time, intern, or temporary help as a lower-cost option.

And if all else fails, declare to-do list bankruptcy and move to Bali. Just kidding, you won’t fail. You’re just going to be under a little more stress than usual until you figure this all out—but I promise, you’ll get there.

Photo of frazzled woman courtesy of Shutterstock .

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The Impact of Social Media on Bullying and Cyberbullying in Schools

School life can be challenging. Students often find themselves drowning in homework tasks, trying to keep up with all the expectations and deadlines. Yet, this is not the only trouble they deal with in school. Students also deal with bullying. Just imagine: it affects one in every four students. To make it worse, the use of technology only contributed to the appearance of cyberbullying. While resources like writepaper.com reviews can easily help students with different academic challenges, bullying and cyberbullying are not that easy to fix. In this article, we’ll examine how social media platforms affect bullying in schools and the impact they have on it. 

Social Media Platforms as Battlegrounds

Social media platforms like Instagram, X, Snapchat, and TikTok have become the modern battlegrounds for bullying in schools. Unlike traditional face-to-face encounters, online spaces offer more ways for bullies to target their victims. Here’s how social media affects bullying:

• 24/7 Accessibility. Social media never sleeps. It’s like an eternal school hallway where bullies can harass their victims at any time, even outside school hours.
• Public vs. Private . Schools have some control over their physical environments, but not online. Social media has clouded the distinction between public and personal spaces. What happens online can easily spill into school life , making it difficult to escape.
• Screenshots . Bullies can capture hurtful messages or embarrassing content, making it difficult for victims to erase them. This often leads to prolonged humiliation and anxiety.
• Reduced Empathy . Anonymity of social media can lead to a reduction in empathy. When people don’t have to face their victims, they may become more ruthless in their words and actions.
• Trolling Culture . Social media provoked a culture of trolling. It encourages individuals to mock and harass others for amusement.

Anonymity and its Role in Enabling Bullying

Anonymity is a tool that fuels cyberbullying. Anyone can create a fake profile without sharing their name or picture online. Behind this digital mask, they can send hurtful messages and comments to others without revealing who they are. This anonymity emboldens bullies, giving them a sense of protection from facing any consequences for their actions. As a result, they behave in ways they might never dare in face-to-face interactions.

A student may post a photo on their social media account and get mean comments anonymously. The anonymity makes it challenging to address the issue and empowers the bully to continue their hurtful behavior without being held accountable. This example illustrates how the absence of real identity can be a weapon in the hands of cyberbullies.

Besides, online space gives people a sense of detachment from their actions. This can encourage students to act like and say things they’d never say in person. 

The Blurred Line Between School and Personal Life Online

The boundary separating school life from personal life has become quite fuzzy. Things that happen on social media don’t just stay there. Students often bring their online interactions, friendships, and even conflicts with them into the school environment. For example, disagreements or conflicts that originate on social media platforms can easily spill over into real-life situations, creating tensions among classmates. Arguments on social media turn into uncomfortable confrontations in the school hallway. Such incidents illustrate how online conflicts can affect the atmosphere within the school.

Students are always online and connected with their social media profiles throughout the school day. This means that online drama is always just a click away, even during class or lunch breaks. The constant connectivity can intensify peer pressure, as students might feel pressured to conform to online trends or join in on online bullying or exclusion. For instance, a student may feel pressured to be part of a hurtful online conversation they don’t necessarily agree with just to fit in. This blending of online and offline lives can add complexity to the social dynamics of school.

Empowering Students to Fight Cyberbullying: Tips for Educators and Parents

Digital literacy and resilience are essential skills for students. Here are some practical tips parents and teachers can use to help students navigate social media safely:

• Recognize Red Flags. Tell students how to identify the signs of cyberbullying. These can be mean texts, exclusion, or harassment. Ask them not to ignore such red flags and address them as soon as possible. 
• Open Communication. Build a secure space where learners feel comfortable discussing their online experiences and any concerns they may have. Let them know that they can always talk to trusted adults.
• Support Networks . Students need a support network. Friends, family, and trusted adults can provide guidance and help in case of cyberbullying.
• Privacy Settings. Guide students on how to adjust their privacy settings on their private accounts. It will allow them to enjoy more command over their online space. Stress the significance of keeping personal data confidential.
• Cybersecurity Awareness. Educate students about online security measures, such as strong passwords and the importance of logging out of shared devices to protect their accounts from hacking or misuse.
• Online Reputation. Discuss the concept of an online reputation with students. Emphasize that their digital footprint can affect prospective chances, such as college or job opportunities.
• Critical Thinking. Promote thinking critically by inspiring learners to challenge the accuracy and credibility of online information. Discuss the spread of fake news and how to fact-check.

By equipping students with these digital literacy and resilience-building tips, we can help them navigate the online world more safely.

The impact of social media on bullying and cyberbullying in schools is undeniable. Social media platforms have transformed the dynamics of bullying, blurring the lines between the online and offline worlds while providing anonymity to aggressors. This has resulted in profound emotional and psychological consequences for victims. 

Nevertheless, empowering students with digital literacy, resilience, and strong support networks holds promise in addressing these challenges. Collaboration among schools, parents, and social media platforms is crucial in creating a safer digital environment where students can harness technology’s benefits without hidden threats. 

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Drowning in Homework

By Mandy Dawson

I’m drowning in homework and if it doesn’t ease up soon, I’m never going to make it past the first grade.

Joseph’s teacher is a very nice lady who is in her first year of teaching. I don’t know if that’s why she feels the need to send him home with a pile of papers and reading assignments or if that’s just the way first grade is now.

Last year, we had a brief encounter with a Kinder teacher who assigned the equivalent of 15 minutes of homework a night in weekly packets that weighed more than my son. I failed nearly every assignment. And by “fail” I mean the homework was sent home with big red marks and notes telling me what parts I’d missed.

This year, in addition to the packets sent home every week, we’re required to do twenty minutes of reading. On top of that, Joseph has a reading tutor with additional assignments twice a week as well as reading classes a half hour before school every morning.

I’m burned out just thinking about it.

It’s not that I don’t want to read to him for twenty minutes every night. I just don’t want a set time limit. What if the chapter we’re reading only takes ten minutes? What if we decide to tell a story from “out mouths”? What if we are outside playing and don’t get home until it’s too late to do much more than brush our teeth and go to bed?

I want Joseph to love school and love reading. I’m not sure forcing him to sit and complete worksheet after worksheet is the way to do that. And by force, I do mean force. He’s done with school by the time I get home from work. He wants to play with his Legos, watch TV, swing on the swing, chase after Elizabeth. He does not want to sit at a table for even twenty minutes.

I can barely get him to do that for dinner.

Do your elementary students bring homework home?

Mandy Dawson is the creator of In Mandyland , an almost daily blog recording her adventures in juggling a full-time job, two active children, four arguing hens, a fluffy bunny, and one ex-husband. A self-diagnosed gardening and crafting addict, she often finds herself gluing together clay pots and trying to discover the cure for brown thumb. When she’s not writing, she can be found burning dinners while she stares off into space with a story idea. She was a regular contributor for Makes Fun of Stuff, Aiming Low, and Six Kitchens, and has been featured on BlogHer and Mamapedia. She is an Assistant Editor for Write on Edge and has had her fiction featured in three anthologies currently available on Amazon.

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What Does Swamped with Work Mean?

Home » Phrase and Idiom Dictionary » What Does Swamped with Work Mean?

Swamped with Work Meaning

Definition: Overwhelmed with too much to do.

Origin of Swamped with Work

The literal meaning of a swamp is a marsh or wetland. Swamp is attested from the year 1624 and is attributed to John Smith. This man was an English explorer who was a leader of the Jamestown colony in what is now Virginia.

The verb swamped means to sink . This is because a swamp has land that looks dry but is actually wet. Therefore, a person walking in a swamp could easily drown if they stepped in the wrong spot.

The figurative meaning of swamped is from the late-1700s or early-1800s. The idea behind the expression is that a person is sinking or drowning in work, just as a person could sink in a literal swamp.

Examples of Swamped with Work

Robert: It’s so nice to finally relax. I had such a busy week.

Marty: My week was intense as well. In fact, I was so swamped with work on Friday that I can’t even really relax now. I’m too stressed about how busy I’ll be come Monday.

Robert: That’s awful! Your company should hire someone so you can split the duties with another person. You’re doing the work of three or four people. It’s not fair.

Marty: I completely agree.

Josh: It’s as if our English professor thinks that his class is the only class that we are taking. I do at least three hours of homework for it per night. And that’s just the reading! If I have to write an essay it can take much longer.

Jeff: I agree. I’m swamped with work from that class alone. When I add in the other homework, I’m dying!

More Examples

This excerpt is about how to eat more nutritiously.

• Dave really took to Kerneen’s suggestions and made some changes. I tried to follow her plan for about a week, then got swamped with work and life and felt too overwhelmed to even try to focus on my nutrition. – Journal Sentinel

This excerpt is from an article about undocumented workers who want to pay taxes.

• “We’ll have thousands of people at our doors and we will need to have a plan,” said Salvador Gonzalez, spokesman for the Chicago-based Center for Economic Progress, a nonprofit organization that offers free tax assistance for low- and moderate-income clients. “Anyone dealing with ITINs (an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) will be swamped with work.” – OC Register

The phrase swamped with work is an informal way to say that one has an excess of things to do.

Drowning in Work? Here’s How to Ask a Colleague for Help.

by Heidi Grant

Summary .   

Asking for help makes most of us uncomfortable, so we avoid it, or do it awkwardly, which is one reason we end up drowning in work. To get better at it, start by figuring out what help you really need: What can someone else do that will save you a ton of time, but won’t take a lot of supervision? Next, identify the right person to hand it off to, and tell them, in no uncertain terms, what you need them to do. This is where most of us bungle it: Asking is awkward, so we say something vague and then wonder why no one did what we vaguely asked for. Accept whatever help they offer, even if it’s not exactly what you asked for. And finally, say thank you. We’re all more likely to help when we can see the impact our help has had on other people.

Raise your hand if you have an insurmountable pile of projects on your to-do list and an inbox so terrifying to behold that you can hardly bear to behold it.

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March 05, 2016 Word of the Day

plural metaphors

1 : a word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar

“He was drowning in paperwork” is a metaphor in which having to deal with a lot of paperwork is being compared to drowning in an ocean of water.

Her poems include many imaginative metaphors .

a poet admired for her use of metaphor

— compare SIMILE ; see also MIXED METAPHOR

2 [count] : an object, activity, or idea that is used as a symbol of something else — often + for

The author uses flight as a metaphor for freedom.

The veil is a metaphor for [= symbol of ] secrecy.

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Dream of drowning here are 7 things it could mean + what to do about it.

Our dreams can offer us unique glimpses into our subconscious, with some dreams being pleasant and enjoyable—and others being more stress-inducing.

Dreaming about drowning tends to be the latter, and whether you've just had this dream or you've been having it repeatedly for years, here's what it could be telling you, plus what to do about it.

What does it mean to dream of drowning?

Our dreams have a way of helping us process and integrate certain emotions, even giving us guidance or clarity in some cases, according to professional dream analyst  Lauri Loewenberg , so long as we can understand them.

And in the case of drowning dreams, she says, the most common emotion associated with these dreams is stress , overwhelm, or otherwise feeling like you're "in over your head" and can't breathe. Something in real life likely has you feeling like you're "in too deep," Loewenberg says, noting that our dreams often use wordplay in their symbolism.

Whether it's your job, your relationship, your family, or your own emotional baggage, something is weighing you down, and this dream is your subconscious' way of playing out these feelings, Loewenberg adds.

7 drowning dreams scenarios & their interpretations

If you're drowning alone.

According to Loewenberg, dreaming of drowning by yourself indicates the aforementioned general theme of feeling stressed or overwhelmed about something. But because you're alone, she explains, that's a clue your stress coming from within you, as opposed to an external source.

"You're really gotten in too deep into something, like debt, or really any situation you want to get yourself out of," she says, adding, "And if you're alone, that will tell you the situation you're in is of your own making."

Loewenberg also notes that this dream can be directly connected to the fact that you are feeling all alone in life. "And that may be because you're not letting it be known that you're in this situation," she adds.

If something is pulling you down

On the flipside, if something in the dream is pulling you down, such as a net, a heavy weight, or even a person, that's a big clue that something external in your life is causing you stress. Something you deal with regularly is weighing you down or creating a sense of struggle within you, Loewenberg says.

If someone is trying to save you

If you're drowning in a dream and someone is trying to save you, Loewenberg tells mindbodygreen, your subconscious is encouraging you to either ask for help or allow others to help you.

This is especially relevant if you tend to be someone who doesn't like to admit when they need a hand, feels uncomfortable accepting someone else's kindness, etc. As Loewenberg explains, "Allow yourself to have help, whether it's in the form of advice, financial help, emotional support, or someone taking on some of your responsibilities—it's time to take some of the load off and it's OK if you need to ask for help."

If you see signs of salvation

Some drowning dreams might involve something like a lifevest, a rescue ship, or a helicopter. According to Loewenberg, any signs of salvation in this dream are encouraging you to stay strong in whatever real life situation this dream represents.

"If you see something that can save you, that is your subconscious reassuring you that help is available to you and a better situation is right around the corner—you got this, and it's OK," she says.

If you can suddenly breathe underwater

We obviously can't breathe underwater in real life, but dreams make the impossible possible, and according Loewenberg, a lot of people have reported dreaming about breathing underwater.

"I've been told many times that at some point in the drowning dream, some people will actually realize they can breathe underwater, and that's actually pretty common," she says, explaining that this would indicate your subconscious is letting you know you can survive the real life situation the dream represents.

If you're slowly sinking

If the thing that stands out most in the dream is a felt sensation of being dragged or pulled down, Loewenberg tells mindbodygreen this can indicate depression or negative emotions. Water in dreams often does represent our emotional world, so feeling weighed down by the water itself is symbolizing drowning in negative emotions, she says, "when your psyche is saying, 'No, pull yourself up.'"

If you drown peacefully

It's also worth noting, according to professional intuitive  Catharine Allen , that drowning dreams and other  dreams about death  could be related to  a past life . As Allen previously wrote for mindbodygreen, "Let's say I had a dream that I died in the water, drowned when I fell into the sea. If I felt peace and calm in my dream and like my spirit was at rest, I might come to the conclusion that this dream was about  a past life ."

How to work through a drowning dream

As with interpreting any dream, the key is figuring out what this dream is mirroring in your waking life. And more often than not, Loewenberg says, it directly relates to something that happened the previous day.

Some questions you might consider asking yourself include:

• What in my life makes it feel hard to breathe?
• Where in my life do I feel like I'm drowning or am in over my head?
• What would need to happen in my life to allow me to breathe easier?

"Figuring out what the stressor is in real life and trying to take a little bit off your plate will make a big difference here," Loewenberg explains, adding give yourself permission to lighten your load, ask for help, or in some way, de-stress.

Check out our full guide to working through recurring dreams for more info here.

What does drowning symbolize in dreams?

Drowning in dreams typically symbolizes feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or otherwise "in too deep" or "in over your head."

What is the spiritual meaning of dreaming about water?

Water in dreams often represents our emotional state, with the quality of the water mirroring our emotions (i.e. stormy waters versus calm and clear waters).

What does it mean when you dream about drowning and you can't breathe?

Dreaming about drowning and not being able to breathe typically means you're feeling overwhelmed or "in too deep" about something in your life.

The takeaway

Drowning dreams are scary, stressful, and can definitely leave you wondering what it actually meant. More often than not, it's a big sign you're stressed out or "in too deep" with something in your life. Figuring out what that is and doing what you can to lighten your load will help rest easier—sans drowning dream.

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Definition of drown

intransitive verb

transitive verb

Examples of drown in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English drounen

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing drown

• drown one's sorrows / fears

Dictionary Entries Near drown

Cite this entry.

“Drown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drown. Accessed 14 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of drown, medical definition, medical definition of drown, more from merriam-webster on drown.

Nglish: Translation of drown for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of drown for Arabic Speakers

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