It’s a lazy, hazy, crazy day when you’re a senior in college. All of a sudden, school seems to be the last thing on your mind.
You just can’t seem to get motivated to go to class, finish that paper, or study for that final exam. It’s not that you don’t care — it’s just that you’re so close to graduation, you’re already thinking about what’s next.
You have lost almost all the momentum you had at the beginning of the semester.
Where did it go?
You’ve come down with senioritis. And you’re not alone.
What is senioritis?
The term seniorities mean students’ lack of motivation during the last year of their courses.
Seniorities is a real thing.
Although, it’s mostly associated with seniors, any one can experience senioritis.
What causes senioritis in college
Senioritis happens for a variety of reasons, but it mostly has to do with fear of what comes next.
The end of senior year is an important time in your life because you’ll be entering the workforce or going to graduate school.
You’re preparing yourself for this major transition into adulthood, which is understandably stressful.
Fear of the unknown
The fear of the unknown can cause stress and anxiety. You may feel like you’re not ready for what’s coming next or that you don’t have enough experience or knowledge to succeed in your career.
This can lead to senioritis as a way of escaping all the stress and anxiety that accompanies the end of college.
Lack of professional goals
Goals act like a road map to the future.
Having goals will give you hope.
It’ll also help you determine what to focus on in your day-to-day activities.
And therefore, without goals, you may go through your studies with dread.
And dread causes you to lose motivation in almost everything.
Job prospects
Many students have difficulty finding a job after college because they don’t know what they’re looking for or where to find it.
The best way to find a job is through networking with people who have jobs or through online job search engines like Monster, LinkedIn or Indeed.
Searching through these sites can be very time-consuming, so be patient and persistent when searching for your ideal job!
What are the symptoms of senioritis?
How do you know if you have senioritis? There are several signs that indicate you may be suffering from this condition:
- Lack of motivation to complete assignments or attend classes (including exams)
- Skipping classes or coming late more often than usual
- When you don’t feel like doing anything these days
- Turning down invitations to hang out with friends to stay in your room
- Not making plans for what you’ll do after graduation because you don’t care about any jobs or internships that might be available after college
- Lack of preparation for an upcoming semester because you don’t see the point
- Consistently asking your professors for deadline extensions
Tips for overcoming senioritis
All you want is to finish your last semester in college.
And all you ask yourself is: how?
What can I do to get over this feeling of senioritis?
Here are some practical tips that can help you overcome senioritis:
Set goals to get you motivated
What is important to you, and what do you want to accomplish?
This will help you keep your mind on your goals and give you a sense of purpose.
Start by setting short-term goals, like reading two chapters of your book or getting your paper outline done.
Then set long-term goals like getting the top grade in the class or getting accepted into graduate school.
Writing your goals will help you feel in control of your life and in the end increase your motivation!
Reward yourself
It is easier to complete your tasks if you reward yourself every time you cross them off.
For example, if you just finished your essay, buy yourself an ice cream cone or see a movie with your friends.
If you completed all of your work for the week, get a manicure/pedicure at your favorite spa or have a nice dinner with your family.
Get yourself organized and on a schedule
Create a daily schedule that works for you.
Make lists of things that need to be done during the week, month and the year.
Create separate lists for personal tasks like visiting colleges or figuring out your financial aid options and academic tasks like studying for finals or completing senior projects.
Putting everything in writing will make it easier to see what needs to be done and when it needs to be done.
Surround yourself with support
If you confide in someone about your struggles with senioritis, they can help you stay motivated and on track to reach your goals.
Tell someone who will not let you get away with slacking off.
It could be a family member, teacher, or friend.
Whatever you do, don’t tell someone who will enable your procrastination tendencies!
Remember what you are working toward
That may sound like obvious advice, but there’s more than one way to look at it.
If you are heading to graduate school, then you want to finish strong so that you’ll get into the program you want.
If you’re in college and looking for a job, then remember that employers are looking for students who have good grades right up until graduation.
You have worked hard to get where you are. Don’t let a few weeks of low motivation tarnish all your accomplishments.
Remember why you decided to go to college in the first place — whether it was to get a better job or go after your dream career.
Take a break
If it seems like all your teachers are yelling at you at once and everything is due tomorrow, take a break.
Go off-campus for lunch or get away from your classroom area for a few hours.
It doesn’t have to be a long break.
You can also participate in the things that bring your motivation back like running, going to the gym, walking a pet, visiting galleries, a solo drive, etc.
This will help clear your head and focus on getting things done.
Final Thoughts
The hardest part about trying to combat senioritis is admitting that you are suffering from it.
Once you accept that you’re dealing with senioritis, the rest is easy.
You just need to apply some of the strategies presented above, and senioritis in college may soon be a thing of the past.