3 Ways to Spring Clean Your School Motivation
Have you ever heard of senioritis? Suffered from it yourself? It’s the malady common to seniors in high school and college- they don’t want to work hard anymore since school is almost over.
While I had some senioritis my last year of high school, I saw it first hand during my senior year of college. Not from my classmates, but my students. I was student-teaching that year and taught 2nd-semester high school seniors.
They were very sweet but did.not.want.to.do.anything. There I was, all but tap dancing on their desks, yet they could never stir up the energy to complete work.
As both a student and an educator, I know that the spring can be difficult to get through. The end is in sight, but there is still a lot to get through BEFORE the end. This is the time you should really concentrate and finish the school year on a high. But…
3 Ways to Spring Clean Your School Motivation
That Spring Rut
When the weather starts to turn nice, it makes summer seem so close. And many of us lose any motivation we once had. We start phoning in our work – you know, doing the absolute minimum, if anything at all. Suddenly, you’re wearing sweatpants everywhere. You arrive late to class or take an extra “sick day” here or there.
[click_to_tweet tweet=”Don’t let the overwhelm ruin your spring.” quote=”Don’t let the overwhelm ruin your spring.”]
And let’s not forget that springtime is also testing season and project central. Teachers assign ALL the work in the spring. The amount of work you have to accomplish may become overwhelming and you shut down. “I can’t possibly do all of this, so I will mindlessly scroll on my phone instead.”
Neither of these reactions is great for you. Obviously, not completing work or not attending class will not only lower your grades, but negatively affect your learning as well. For high school seniors, slacking off your last semester of high school can make the college transition even harder. It’s more difficult to get back on track in a new school environment come the fall.
So, what can you do to spring clean your motivation?
Go Back to Your Goals
If you haven’t lately, go back and look at your short-term and long-term goals. Remind yourself why you’re taking these classes and how those classes connect to your goals. Once you’ve checked back in on those goals, ask yourself how each assignment or activity helps you reach those goals.
Get Organized
It’s time to Spring Clean – literally. Just getting a fresh start can help you remotivate yourself. Maybe it’s time to get a new planner or spruce up your study space. Clean your backpack and water bottle. (Please.)
Prioritize Your Tasks
This is especially helpful if you’re starting to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of things you have going on. Make a list of everything (and I mean everything) you have to complete or attend in the next 2-3 weeks. Then organize them using an Eisenhower model. This will help you figure out where to get started.
BONUS: Ask for Help!
You don’t have to do this alone! Talk to your parents, friends, or your teachers. They want you to succeed and finish the school year strong. Sometimes, just verbalizing your goals to another person – “I’m going to complete all my assigned reading” – will push you to follow through.
In a perfect world, I could just wave a wand over you and – presto! – your motivation would return. Sadly, we don’t live in a perfect world. You must pull yourself out of this rut, little by little. Yet, when you finish the school year on a high note, you will be so proud of yourself. Psst – you’re worth the effort!
How do you spring clean your motivation? Let me know in the comments below!
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