As a freshman, the days of graduating and being a senior seemed so far away. Now, in your senior year, you thought you would feel accomplished and successful, ready to take on the world. That rings true for some students, but unfortunately not everyone. So close yet so far from those final moments of college. Most seniors practically crawl and claw their way to the finish line. Writing one more essay just might end up being the death of them. You shouldn’t lose hope though, some seniors choose not to fall into the hands of senioritis. Their strategies for surviving the semester may prove just the thing you need to survive your own case of senioritis.
Read on for ten tips on how to overcome senioritis
1. Get Out of Bed
This step seems so simple, it probably shouldn’t need a spot. But think about your comfortable, warm and cozy bed. Think about how that thick cover on top of your comfortable mattress just bear-hugs you. Sinking into your bed and falling back asleep might become a part of your weekly routine of skipping class. This habit forms easily but becomes difficult to destroy.
“I’m a cranky zombie in the mornings. I hate them. I set alarms an hour or so before my class time so I can fully wake up and not miss anything,” University of Kentucky senior Bailee Phillip said.
The difficulty of waking up so early in the morning hits all of us at one point or another. If mornings don’t agree with you, setting alarms earlier than necessary will help you get ahead in your day. This way you get some time to prepare for the day. Not only will you get ready without a rush but you can even throw in a nice breakfast if there’s time. Being able to do all this without being in a rush can change the trajectory of your whole day. You’ll find starting your day out like this makes going to sleep earlier worth it.
2. Organize
Being unorganized makes the standard for some people, but after a while, being messy can get in the way. This can result in falling behind in classes or forgetting your due dates, sure signs that laziness caught up to you. Organizing everything helps keep things a little clearer in your head and at home. Start off by cleaning your room. A cluttered atmosphere creates a cluttered mind.
“I know when my room is messy I can feel myself go crazy because I’m more worried about the pile of clothes on the floor than studying,” University of Kentucky senior Raquel Gillman said.
To also help stay organized, use a calendar. You can write down whatever you need to stay on top of your schedule. Being sure that you have your priorities straight and in order will work wonders in the long run. Organizing what needs doing at home and school proves a vital step in getting yourself together. Being less all over the place makes it easier to get things done and feel accomplished afterward.
3. Get Proper Sleep
Everyone struggles with sleeping and the older we get the more sleep we want. Being a senior it feels like sleeping and partying should take up your entire agenda. You just want to relax and enjoy the remaining time left with your friends. I mean no one wants their senior year to focus solely on academics. Plus, we can all admit that at some point or the other a crammed study session in the early morning hours made us miss class. It happens to the best of us, but making it a habit will bite you in the butt in the long run.
“Scrolling through my TikTok is all fun and games at 4 a.m. until I end up missing everything in class and have to ask my friends for their notes because I was too busy sleeping,” University of Kentucky senior Amir Lester said.
You may ask, should I even try to sleep? Well, yes. It may prove difficult, but to do everything you want your body needs rest. By neglecting relaxation, you only put more stress on yourself. Don’t do that to yourself when it’s completely unnecessary. Think about what’s best for you and your body, your body knows that sleep really isn’t for the weak.
4. Incentives
Our generation knows and understands the statement “treating yourself” better than anyone. Sometimes after a bad day we just want to curl up with our favorite stuffed toy, some candy and put on a comfort movie because we feel like we deserve it. Contrary to popular belief, you can still treat yourself on a good day. Incentives help us push ourselves to do the best we can for the reward we want. It might be hard to persuade yourself to study for more than five minutes, let alone for a couple of hours.
“It’s the thought of having to put on pants and having to be a real person for the day that can really make or break the decision on going to class,” University of Kentucky senior Sarah Riker said.
Try using incentives to encourage yourself. For instance, if you want to see a movie in theaters get yourself to study for a few hours and then let yourself go enjoy that movie. Say you want new clothes or shoes; if you pass that test after studying hard for it, go buy them! You earned it. Rewarding incentives can push you to continue like this.
Incentives can also yield negative effects. If you didn’t turn in an assignment maybe you should skip out on the next sporting event with friends. If you’re falling behind in class don’t allow yourself to watch TV shows or play videogames. Though not ideal, you will quickly learn your lessons. Also, things like this will help you get into the habit of understanding what you need to pass the class you may struggle with the most. Adding both positive and negative incentives to your study habits could really change the game for your grades.
5. Study With Friends
To study properly, you need focus. Any type of distractions can throw your mindset off to the point where studying gets put on the back burner. A simple text can throw off your whole mindset and plan to study. Studying alone often seems like the option to get the best results. However, studying with friends can help you understand something that confused you before.
“I used to enjoy studying alone, but over time I made friends in classes. We would meet up to study. It helped me realize that I can understand things differently, sometimes better, than I could just on my own,” University of Kentucky senior Aubrey Wright said.
Including people at your table to talk about different ideas or interpretations allows you to think in a completely different way than before. Broadening your mind or learning how to communicate your ideas to others isn’t a bad skill to gain. What better way to gain a skill like this than in the comfort of your friends? By this point, your study habits might seem set in stone. However, if studying or homework becomes difficult for you to complete, then branching out just might end up being the answer you need. Don’t limit yourself when it comes to learning new things and learning those things in a different way.
6. Get Help
Being independent all the time eventually catches up to you. You only hold yourself back from your full potential by not allowing others to help. It may seem nerve-wracking to speak to your professor about things, but they want to help you with any concerns that you bring to their attention. Your professor believes in you as a person and as a student. They often look beyond grades or class in general. Being vulnerable can take you a long way.
“I talk to my professors all the time. I don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for help on things and usually they’re more than willing to give a helping hand,” University of Kentucky senior Jared Moran said.
Talking to them honestly about your struggles in class, or even senioritis itself, will give them a much better idea of how to help you succeed in their class. Otherwise it will seem like you’re another uninterested student when you’re not. Your professor knows senioritis hits a lot of students harder than they expect it to, no matter how long they’ve worked there. So, just open up to them. They understand and would love to help you.
7. Listen To Something
For me personally, music helps with getting out of a funk. I’m pretty sure a song exists for any mood out there. If you search “senioritis” on Spotify, something you relate to will most likely pop up. When someone sings in your ear while simultaneously telling you how great you look while doing it, completing homework becomes much easier. Being able to memorize your work to the beat of a song can prove just as helpful.
“Sometimes when I listen to music, I pretend I’m in a movie anywhere I go. Even when I’m doing something. I may look weird but I’m getting things done,” University of Kentucky senior Reid William said.
If you get distracted by music, then before you start on any projects or work, pop in your headphones for 30-60 minutes for motivation. Put on whatever you need to get your work done. You can also listen to podcasts or calming rainstorms if that works better. There comes a time when we just need to go to a different mental place before starting something. Make music that gateway.
8. Motivate Yourself
We all possess different, sometimes unique, forms of motivating ourselves out of our lazy moods. I like to call University of Kentucky senior Derek Wilmore’s motivation “opposites attract.” Although his motivation tactics are a little different than most, it obviously helps him get through what he needs to. It doesn’t matter what it takes to motivate yourself, as long as it’s not dangerous for you or others.
“I know it’s strange, but my motivation comes from pestering myself. In the moment it gives me the motivation I need to finish whatever it is. Afterwards, I can reward myself and say sorry,” University of Kentucky senior Derek Wilmore said.
Try to find a way to stimulate yourself in a way that works for you. If you need to work out before or after studying because your brain works best on that type of wavelength, then set out time to do that. Even food could motivate someone to start something. Someone may study better after eating a big, fulfilling meal. Everyone has their reasons for why they do what they do. Whatever it takes to help you keep going and stay on track to prosper, do it.
9. Find New Places To Study
I easily get bored of being in the same place for too long or needing to go somewhere I know will bring me negative energy. Sitting down in the library for the sixth time that week after being in classes all day to continue doing more work really brings down the motivational studying vibes. It blocks the flow of learning the subject and being able to dive completely into it. It makes you want to pack up and go because the motivation just leaves your body. Allowing the atmosphere to control your mood might be inevitable sometimes.
“I tried in the art building near the theater at first, it was way too loud. It wasn’t until I found Old School Coffee that I felt calm and collected enough to study,” University of Kentucky senior Lauren Spicer said.
Instead, go somewhere completely different, just to try something new. You never know what gems on campus you might find. If you don’t like it, then try again next time at a different location. It really makes a difference being somewhere, yet still accomplishing the same goals. If you ever feel stuck in the place that you study, changing that scenery can help you feel different about studying.
10. Set Goals For Yourself
Senior year should revolve around accomplishments. Whether good ones or ones that you would rather no one mention ever again. Soon enough you will graduate and move on in life. But when senioritis gets you down in the dumps, graduating may seem a bit further into the future than you planned. However, you can set goals for yourself to make sure you make it along with your friends. These goals can be anything you want.
“One of my goals is to attend every screening that the Gatton Student Center Cinema put on for the entirety of my last semester,” University of Kentucky senior Macy Smith said.
These goals just keep you going until you cross that finish line. Setting goals like this allows you to forget about classes and graduation. College won’t last forever, so get it done while you can. Otherwise, you may leave with some feelings of regret. Overall, these goals can help bring a different perspective to your college years. But mostly it just helps put some pep in your step before you say your final goodbyes.
