Senioritis: Getting Over the Hump & Out of the Slump

Every high school senior has experienced it at some point or another:senioritis. It makes sense. Your graduation is rapidly approaching and it feels like the semester should be over already – but it isn't. Be careful, the senioritis slump can cost you big time in terms of your grade in a course, the final and, of course, really can put a damper on your overall GPA. Whether it's senioritis or just the nearing graduation, it can really hit students with a tall wall of unmotivated and a dose of laziness on the side. And, while we can’t stop the senioritis slump for you, we can help you by giving you ways to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get motivated again. Here are some tips to beat senioritis (or whatever it is you call it): Prioritize If you’re feeling burned out, prioritizing your work can help you evaluate and decipher between the important work and the busy work in your life. Organize Determine your tasks and take them on one at a time so that they’re more approachable and you’ll have all the items crossed off your “to do” list in no time! Find Study Buddies Nothing helps keep you motivated like being held accountable for someone else’s grade, too. While it’s ultimately your grade on the line, working with a study buddy makes he much more difficult to find last minute excuses. Try to find one for the class you’re feeling behind in or, better yet, one in each class! Make Some Changes If you feel like you’ve got too much on your plate, maybe you do. Nice try - obviously you can’t cut out your schoolwork, so evaluate what else you’ve got going on and see if you can cut back on clubs, events or other activities – even if just temporarily. There’s nothing wrong with evaluating your time and being realistic about what you can accomplish. Get Some “R & R” Often times you feel overwhelmed and exhausted because you’re, well, overwhelmed and exhausted. Set aside time for “R & R” – that’s rest and relaxation. No, don’t just nap all day and loaf around – that’s still within the senioritis slump realm. Instead set aside specific times to relax, exercise, meditate and, of course, sleep. That way, you can approach each day with a fresh perspective on what needs to be accomplished and limit the anxiety that comes with exhaustion. Remember, if you’re electing to stay a zombie then it’s no wonder you’re in a slump! It's important to stay focused until the end of your high school career because all of your grades and effort are still being monitored by colleges. You don't want your admissions offer to be rescinded (and it does happen) - that should be motivation enough!

What are the best methods you use to pull yourself out of the senioritis slump mindset?