Welcome to senioritis: the universal condition of students who are so close to the finish line that they’ve mentally checked out. (Spoiler alert: it gets worse after spring break.)
But while it’s tempting to let your brain just go on autopilot, there’s still some work to do before you can walk across that stage!
Ya girl Jane is back with a few tips on how to pull yourself out of the slump. Let’s make it to graduation without letting your GPA slip!
1. Make a To-Don’t List
Let’s face it: the issue isn’t just the workload. It’s TikTok, endless scrolling, and reorganizing your Spotify playlists. But you need to write that essay!
Identify your biggest time-wasters (looking at you, “Love Island”) and put them on a to-don’t list. You could physically write it out and tape it to your desk to help keep yourself accountable.
This might sound counterproductive, but hear me out: you’re going to procrastinate anyway, so why not plan for it?
2. Set Bite-Sized Goals (Snack Breaks Included)
No one wants to tackle an entire research paper in one sitting. You’re not a robot! Instead, you can break big tasks into smaller chunks.
Write 300 words, then reward yourself with some chips. Finish one calculus problem set, then give yourself a 10-minute Instagram break. Progress is progress, even if it’s fueled by Doritos.
3. Romanticize the Grind
This is for my Kitelings who also suffer from an overactive imagination. Sometimes, what works for me is to pretend that I’m the main character in an indie film about my life.
Light a candle, play some lo-fi beats, and sip overpriced coffee while you study like it’s the most aesthetic thing you’ve ever done. Suddenly, finishing that English essay feels less like a chore and more like a scene from your Oscar-worthy documentary!
(Just don’t get too caught up in the fantasy, or else you’ll start daydreaming about one-liners to respond to the press on your promo tour. Just me? Never mind, then…)
4. Trick Your Brain
Hate starting? Same. Sometimes just beginning a task is the hardest part!
Try this: tell yourself you only have to work on a task for 10 minutes. Nine times out of ten, you’ll end up powering through once you get over the initial hurdle. If not? Hey, at least you did something.
And if it does work… congrats! You’ve tricked your brain into being responsible! 😎
5. Find Your Accountability Buddy
Whether it’s a friend, a group chat, or a parent/mentor, it helps to find someone to keep you on track. Give them permission to push you if you slack off.
For me, personally, roasting me won’t work. It doesn’t help for my bestie to tell me that I’m being lazy. (More often than not, that just sends me down into a spiral of despair…)
I thrive off of positive reinforcement. Lie to my face! Tell me I’ve just written the best three words of any scholarship application ever written! Nobel-prize worthy!
Even if I know it’s not necessarily true, having someone there to encourage me goes a long way. Or maybe you need to be roasted, in which case… you still watching YouTube, dude? Get to work!
6. Sleep. For Real.
Senioritis makes you want to stay up all night binge-watching your favorite shows, but let’s not forget: sleep deprivation isn’t cute. It’s just exhaustion with dark circles.
Get your 7-8 hours in so that you can actually function during the day (and crush that test). Your mind can’t work if you don’t take care of your body!
Spring semester before graduation might feel like the gravitational pull of laziness is just too strong, but don’t let it win.
Future you – diploma in hand, ready to take on the world – will thank you for putting in the effort now.
Now, go out there and show senioritis who’s boss! And don’t forget: be sure to check out Red Kite to start applying to scholarships. We’re here to help connect you to the financial aid you need, so that you can spend less time stressing, and more time studying!
Sign up today! www.myredkite.com