When you’re on the verge of graduating and entering the “real world”, it can be a bit overwhelming to think of all the things you need to do to finish off your education while still trying to stay focused after four or more years of grinding and studying.
This is a phenomenon better known as senioritis, a debilitating illness that results in apathy, daydreams, and even laziness. And while the jury is still out on the exact science behind senioritis, there are some cures that have been found to get students back to their vivacious selves. Here are some of those cures that can be found by defying some senioritis myths.
Myth: motivation is hard to come by
Wrong. It may seem like motivation is at a premium your senior year, but the reality is you’re probably looking for it in the wrong places. While getting burned out on school can happen — and does happen for many seniors — it’s usually due to being stuck in a routine.
Switch things up by taking a new class or taking a class pass/fail so you can find motivation again through learning rather than trying for a certain grade. Also, return to rewarding yourself for your hard work if you no longer do so to add a more immediate goal to your studies.
Myth: you can’t relive your early days
You can’t turn back the clock, but you can reconnect with the excitement of being a freshman. Becoming a tutor or mentor for someone in their first year of college, for example, can get you out of your senior bubble, where you and your friends are in a cycle of working, complaining about work, and then working anyway.
Check with your school to see if there are programs that can connect underclassmen with seniors and try and think about the things you wish you had known when you were a freshman. Use that info to help others while reenergizing yourself.
Myth: old dogs can’t learn new tricks
Many students, by the time they reach their senior year, feel as though they’ve done everything. They look at their last year as a chore, or a time where they just need to take care of a few more credits so they can move on with their life.
Break out of this all-business mindset and you’ll find you’re capable of being a lot more whimsical than you previously thought. Make a bucket list, for example, with items ranging from studying somewhere different like the beach or a local park, to taking a small weekend mini-vacation.
Myth: you’re tired because school takes too long
So maybe school does take longer than you’d like. Maybe you do want to be out in the shark tank already. But take a moment of pause to see the big picture and you’ll realize your situation isn’t at all as dire as it seems.
For instance, you’ll never again have the opportunity to focus your efforts and your day on learning new things. When you put things into perspective in this way, you can find new energy: that homework assignment you have to do becomes a more exciting activity, one that you can do at your own pace, in your own home, that doesn’t come with a boss. School is a unique time that not everyone gets to experience. Enjoy it.
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