So guys, let me tell you a little about my relationship with senioritis. It all started Sophomore year (*flashback sound effects*). Here at Emory, you can either spend your first two years on the main campus in Atlanta or a smaller campus (the Oxford campus) in a little town outside the city, and I opted for the Oxford experience. After your two years at Oxford, you spend your junior and senior years at the main campus in Atlanta. But here’s the thing; when you finish your sophomore year at Oxford, you “graduate”, going through the whole ceremony, diploma and all. This meant that during my whole sophomore year, I had it in my head that I was graduating, which led to some serious senioritis. Long story short, it didn’t go away after I graduated, and I am still dealing with it to this day. But on the bright side, I’m finally actually a senior, so I can actually say that I have senioritis without feeling guilty! I also got pretty good at pushing through the senioritis to actually be a functioning and productive human being!! Here are some of my tips for beating senioritis (even if you aren’t a senior yet)! I hope they help!
1. Start strong
One of the best ways to beat senioritis is to start strong and form some good habits at the beginning of the semester. As someone who has suffered from senioritis for two and a half years, I have found that starting off on the right foot is super helpful in having a successful semester. One way to do this is by getting organized! Starting off the semester with a clean room and an organized planner makes you feel so great about the coming semester! As soon as you get your syllabi, write down all your important dates and deadlines. Also, going to all your classes the first week is a great way to start off the semester! It seems like a small task, but let me tell you, I did NOT feel like going to all my classes the first week.
2. Give Yourself an Attendance Policy
So it’s a great step to start off your semester by going to all your classes, but it’s even better to keep going to all your classes! Some classes have pretty strict attendance policies, so you kind of have to go to class; but for those classes that don’t have attendance policies, it can get really tough to get yourself to leave your cozy apartment/house. In those situations, I like to give myself an attendance policy to make sure that I’m going to most, if not all, of my classes. I allow myself a few skips every semester, but this fake attendance policy gives me that extra little push to get me out the door and into my classes for the most part.
3. Make a motivating playlist
One thing that pumps me up and motivates me to go do anything is a good pump-up playlist. I usually like to listen to some good ol’ girl power music, but there are so many types of music that can pump you up! Maybe it’s the soundtrack to an intense dramatic movie! Whatever gets you going when all you want to do is sit at home and re-watch your favorite show!
4. Work out
There are sooooooo many benefits to working out, that it’s a great thing to do at any point in your life. But when you’re a college student suffering from senioritis, it works wonders. It helps you focus, it helps you retain all the information you spend hours studying, and it boosts happiness and confidence levels! And the best part? It doesn’t have to be a lot! Literally, just getting up and taking a walk can provide you with all of these benefits, and it only takes like 10 minutes.
5. Get involved in something you’re interested in
As a college senior, I have found myself wanting to focus less on school and more on my own personal interests, which is why I suggest taking up a hobby or volunteering! Having a hobby (or two, or three, or four…), or anything else that will take your mind off school, is great for getting you excited about this semester. It really helps you break out of that I-don’t-know-what-day-it-is-because-I’ve-spent-my-whole-week-in-the-library loop. Volunteering is another great way to get off campus and give back to the community, and plus, it gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling. And for any seniors out these who are looking to pad your resumes, it doesn’t hurt their either.