Curing a Case of Senioritis

I think we’ve all either seen it or experienced it ourselves. A senior gets into college (or simply just sees the end of their school career in sight), and suddenly has no motivation to complete the work for their classes. As a senior myself, I’ve been on the brink of senioritis a few times, so here are some of my best tips on how to avoid it. 

1. Take a break. Spend some time listening to a favorite podcast, having a karaoke session in the car (or the shower!), baking some cupcakes, or honestly whatever puts you in a good mood. (I suggest reading Michelle’s blog post for some more mental health tips!) You could spend 10 minutes, an hour, or even a whole day doing this, but whatever you do, try not to let yourself worry about whatever is making you stressed during that time. 
2. Remind yourself why you enjoy the things you enjoy. This may sound a little silly, but hear me out. It’s so easy to get into a habit of essentially repeating the same day over and over again, that you eventually lose focus on why you’re doing these things. Go to school, participate in clubs, go to sports practices, repeat. But why did you pick the classes that you did, get involved in the clubs that you did, and start the sport that you did? Think back on what this inspiration was. Was it because of a certain teacher? Was it from a movie? Whatever the case, try and channel that motivation into a way to rejuvenate your inspiration. If you’re really struggling, try rewatching that movie or talking with that teacher for a nice boost of drive.
3. Begin a positivity journal. I started one of these at the beginning of 2021, and it has honestly been really grounding. In the journal, simply write one positive thing that happened that day. It could be something as simple as I baked cupcakes or I hung out with a friend I haven’t seen in a while. As the days go on, you’ll be able to reflect back on the small positive things that happened each day.
4. Find what motivates YOU. For me, to-do lists are lifesavers. There is something so satisfying about crossing things off a list, that it always keeps me motivated; however, they are not for everyone. If you’re struggling with study-related motivation, try out the pomodoro method! Consisting of specifically timed study periods and break periods, there are many great apps that can help you find success with this method, and it is something I use on an almost daily basis.

If you’ve reached this point in the article, then I applaud you for trying to take the steps to dispel your senioritis. If you ever want to chat or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to president [at] patsa.org. I look forward to seeing many of you at future conferences!