Use less time on grunt work. Don’t make parts you don’t have to, it’s ok to buy them. Spend some money, save some time.
Sometimes it’s ok to go with an obvious answer or an easy project for homework. Each week is not a fully realized idea in and of itself. They are doodles and sketches. It’s more important to master new tools and skills and explore quick little ideas than to polish something. Keep moving. You can always come back to something you like.
Make more doodles. If you made something for a homework assignment that came together quickly, try making something else as well. Go in a different direction from the same starting point.