Senioritis is an ailment that has plagued high school seniors for many years. It is highly contagious and dangerous but its symptoms—lack of motivation, low performance, etc.—can be combated with a few tips and tricks. Looking back, I always expected myself to fall victim to senioritis, however the tides have seriously turned for me this year and I’ve become more productive and motivated than I have ever been in my entire high school career. Some of the new habits I have picked up are sure to be useful to help at-risk seniors repel the perilous infection.
In previous years, I have found that I wasted a lot of time napping, watching Tik Toks, or watching TV when I should have been doing homework. This often left me rushing to complete work at the last second. While entertainment and sleep are indispensable, striking a balance is crucial. Finding this balance may vary from person to person. Making an improvised schedule is a method that has worked for me. Having a pre-planned, rigid schedule set for each day can be daunting and often discouraging if you get off schedule or circumstances change. However, having an improvised schedule allows you to gauge your mood and motivation in real time and work at a pace that won’t burn you out. For example, when you get home from a long day of school, it may not feel ideal for you to immediately start working on homework, which is completely fair as you’ve been doing work all day. What’s worked for me is gauging how much homework I have and using time right after school to wind down and take a brain break. On a day where I have a lot of homework, I may give myself 25-30 minutes to watch Tik Tok, nap, have something to eat, or just do nothing before I start my homework. I set a timer and spend that free time however I want, then I begin my homework. Giving myself that time to entertain myself before I have to lock in and focus has really helped me. While it is so important to have that break, it’s when the break is unregulated that time can get away from you and you can find yourself scrolling aimlessly for hours or napping until your mom wakes you up for dinner. This is why it is crucial that you set yourself a timer. It will ensure that your break remains controlled and isn’t just “justified” procrastination.
If you find the improvised schedule to be too much, there are a few other steps you can take to stay focused, on top of your work, and motivated. One thing my friends and I often do is call each other when we are all working on homework. This helps because we are able to hold each other accountable to stay focused and complete our work and it also gives us the opportunity to help each other where we can. It also provides entertainment to keep your mind from getting bored and wandering elsewhere. Checking in with friends you share classes with is also a great way to remind each other of assignments you may have due. If you don’t talk to too many people in your class, it is also beneficial to check the “To-do” section of Google Classroom. That will show you everything you have from every class that is assigned but not done, missing, or done. I tend to check that before I go to bed at night to be sure I’ve completed everything or sometimes at 11pm since most of my assignments are due at 11:59pm. I would also strongly suggest regularly checking the “Missing” section, in case an assignment slipped through the cracks. This will allow you to coordinate with your teacher as soon as possible about making up the assignment, late credit, or to address any concerns or extenuating circumstances that may have caused you to miss the assignment.
The battle against senioritis can be a hard one, but with these strategies under your belt you are bound to stay motivated, productive, and on top of your responsibilities. Your friends are going through the same fight, so lean on them in this time of need, support each other, share words of encouragement, study methods, and homework habits. Let your senior year be one for the books. Remember. Last one, best one. Go out with a bang, not a dud.
