Eight Ways to Combat Senioritis

It’s April, and by now many students have already caught the dreaded “senioritis.”  However, this is the time when if you don’t have it, you’ll get it, and if you have it already, it’s about to get so. much. worse. 

While it may not be possible to avoid feeling even the slightest bit of this senior year syndrome, there are ways to work through the tough spots and make your last few months of high school a little more manageable.  I’ve put together eight tips and tricks to prevent it if it hasn’t hit you yet or lessen it if you’re already living it.

Stay Healthy

I’m a huge advocate for personal mental and physical health because I know how much it impacts your day-to-day life.  By building and keeping a healthy schedule, you’ll find symptoms of senioritis – laziness, lack of motivation, fatigue – might decrease or go away.  These can be simple doings, like developing a healthy diet to fuel you through hours of demanding homework or taking 20-30 minutes each day to go outside and get your body moving.  Even taking five minutes to yourself to meditate or do some breathing exercises can make a noticeable difference in how you approach the day!

Start Good Habits

College is just around the corner, so any good habits you can start now will just help you that much more once you’re there.  Whether it’s study skills, getting in a good sleep routine, or finding a time management schedule that works for you, these are all habits that will help you in the midst of senioritis AND once you get to college.  Use this challenging time as a training ground for the challenges you’ll face in six months.

Those Grades Still Matter!

Did you know a college can change their mind, even after you’ve already been admitted?  They DO look at your final grades, so don’t think your last semester of high school doesn’t matter!  A significant change in your grades can cause them to raise question if you’re truly ready for college or not.  Don’t give them a reason to second guess their decision!

Set Goals for Yourself

Having clear goals can really improve your motivation!  Physically writing down your goals and putting them somewhere where you will see them each day gives you something visible to work towards.  Be specific – is there something you want to accomplish before you graduate high school?  Before you start college?  Making it something concrete, like “volunteer 10 hours each month” rather than “volunteer more,” will help you know once you’ve achieved it.  Senioritis doesn’t stand a chance when you’re working towards something important to you!

Change Things Up

Senioritis can often flare up due to boredom.  You’ve probably been going to the same high school, with the same hallways and the same routine.  Why not switch things up?  Consider participating in an extracurricular activity you’ve never done before, or taking on a new project.  This is the perfect time to start a new hobby or get involved locally!  Anything from poetry, web development, or woodworking is a great way to spend your time and keep yourself stimulated so you don’t fall idle.

Remember Why You’re Here

You have worked too hard to let apathy and lethargy get in your way!  Think back to all of those academic obstacles – that difficult class you took where you barely got the grade you wanted, and that test you felt like you’d never pass but then you did, and that long paper you wrote that you were sooo proud of!  All of those small and big moments led up to this, and with only a few months left, I know you have it in you to stay strong until the finish line.

One Day at a Time…

This is an overwhelming time of transition.  Don’t forget to take it one day at a time.  Stay focused on what today holds and what this week will bring.  Take each school assignment, each scholarship application, and each conversation about the future little by little.  Sometimes you might find yourself falling into senioritis because you’re so overwhelmed, you drop everything.  By staying healthy and starting good habits now, you can stay organized to see the little details and how they add up to the big picture. 

Have Fun!

Most importantly, don’t let apathy ruin your last few months of high school!  You will never be in high school again (I can hear your cheers) and you won’t ever have these experiences available to you again.  I know, I know – you have to work super hard just go make senioritis disappear.  But in between working hard, go to social events, do the things you love, and make time for fun in between all the responsibility.  I promise, it will be worth it in the end.