Battle of “Senioritis”

Bailey Lincoln

Seniors during their final semester always seem to struggle to stay focused on their studies and often find themselves not as motivated to complete their work. Well, as a senior myself, I have taken a lot of time to find ways to beat “senioritis” and keep my grades up throughout the semester! If you are also struggling with “senioritis,” some of these tips may benefit you! 

1.Put yourself in the right mindset

When January rolls around for most, the constant thought of almost being out of high school never leaves your head. While it may sound cheesy, half of the battle is telling yourself you still must complete the semester with the same good grades you had finished the previous semester with. To keep the motivation high, remind yourself schools can revoke your acceptance if your grades get too low. End your high school career on a high note! 

2.Staying organized 

Disorganization can apply to students of all ages, but disorganization can cause for potential 100% assignments to turn into a 0, simply because you forgot to do it. Think back to junior high for a moment: the assigned planners that were split by class to ensure you did not miss anything. While I am certain most students do not use that kind of planner, using a planner or calendar of some sort could make or break your ability to turn assignments in. Personally, I use a mix of Google Calendar and a paper planner to keep myself in check for due dates. If you are in search of a method to best suit you here is a list of things to try for yourself: 

  • Google Calendar 
  • Notion 
  • Canvas Calendar 
  • Planner 
  • Reminders 
  • Office 365 Calendar 
  • My Study Life 

3.Take time for yourself 

I’m sure it may sound funny to list how to get good grades and stay focused and turn right around and say the complete opposite. However, if it is done in moderation, self-care time can be the causing factor to keep your mental health high throughout the semester. This last semester can be the most mentally draining time for most, especially with AP tests, but allow some time for yourself. Try taking breaks in your study times to get out of the room and go for a walk, get something to eat, maybe even yoga

. Don’t be gone too long though, that paper won’t write itself! 

4.Find an effective study spot 

Everyone knows where you study can make or break how you can retain the information you are trying to absorb. I am just going to be blunt: do not study on your bed. While it may be the most comfortable spot to be for hours at a time, you don’t want to get too comfortable and fall asleep or get distracted and watch movies. While most people won’t think about it, if you are using your sleep place as your new study space, it will seriously impact your ability to sleep. The American College of Health Science states “Because you’ve trained your body to associate your bed as a place to study or get homework done, once you lay in bed to call it a night your mind will continue to think. Studying in bed earlier in the day can actually rob you of rest”. So, get up and find a coffee shop or library to get your work done! The sooner you finish the sooner you can go home and go to sleep.