A week after you submit your college applications, you have ten missing assignments. For the most part, you’re an “A student” who cares about your grades and usually gets things done in a timely manner. However, this time something is different. You have absolutely no motivation, seemingly no remaining incentive (now that your applications are in!) and no interest in getting these assignments done. Will it hurt your grade tremendously? Yes. Have you been procrastinating on it every day? Yes. Do you even care? Meh.. Probably not.
Does this sound familiar? If you are a senior, it probably does, and if you are not, consider this a glimpse into what awaits you.
For starters, the best way to define senioritis is to imagine someone asking, “are we there yet?”. Seniors constantly find themselves thinking about when they will graduate, feeling a combination of excitement as well as dread about the end of their high school years. It is common for grades to slip when senioritis develops, as academics become less of a priority and spending time with friends takes prominence.
Surely, everyone complains about senioritis, but not a lot of people actually offer solutions to combat it. While this is not an article about procrastination itself, it is an article exploring tips we can utilize and mindsets we can adopt to help combat this lack of motivation
1) Talk to someone about it
It is important to have a healthy outlet, whether it is friends, family, or your academic counselor! Communicating your anxieties and stress about your senior year is normal and healthy! Whether it is about being stressed about the admission process or the sad nostalgia of leaving high school, having someone to talk to lifts the mental burden that senior year can bring.
2) Celebrate the small wins
As stated earlier, it is common for seniors to lose motivation throughout the school year. But a way to regain motivation is to reward small accomplishments. It is important to remind yourself of your achievements and acknowledge them in ways that satisfy you. By creating our own incentives to do things, it makes it easier to remain optimistic when combating burnout and lethargy.
3) Do the activities you enjoy
More often, it is common to get lost in schoolwork and assignments and we begin to dedicate less time to the places that re-energize us. By making time for these activities, whether it is attending school-wide events, hanging out with friends, or practicing personal self-care, students can create lasting memories while maintaining something to look forward to. These moments can provide a much-needed source of motivation to keep going even when school begins to feel overwhelming.