Finishing the Year Strong

It’s common for students to lose interest in their work during the last few weeks of school. Here are a few tips to finish strong.

1. Get a healthy amount of sleep.

In the last few weeks of school, it might be tempting to stay up late to get your work done and study, but lack of sleep can cause additional stress, compromise your immune system, and leave you feeling tired in class. Set a wind-down alarm each night about 30 minutes before you want to go to bed.

2. Start where you want to end up. 

Use a calendar to list the due dates for exams or projects/assignments and work backwards. Break down larger assignments into smaller chunks and add those to the calendar as well. Starting small can give you the momentum you need to keep going. When getting started (initiation) is difficult, try working for just 5 minutes. You’ll likely be able to continue for another 5, and another, and so on.

3. Set realistic goals.

Once you’ve plotted out the final assignments and tests on your calendar, help set specific goals for each and again, start small. For example, one day you might create a study guide for an upcoming exam and plan on starting to study the next day. 

4. Build in incentives and breaks.

You may need help staying motivated during the last weeks of school. Build rewards into your study routine and take fun breaks for relaxing, exercising, or socializing to recharge. You might even add these to your calendar.

5. Focus on what you’re doing well.

If you've had a difficult school year or you feel overwhelmed, you may feel like giving up. During those times, focus on some positive accomplishments, even if very small. Perhaps last semester you didn’t make it to a lot of classes but this semester you made it to more. That’s a positive! Think about another time in your life, maybe even something non-school related, when you persevered and use that as fuel to keep going. Talking to friends, family, or professionals can also help when you feel defeated or unsure of how to move forward.

6. For parents…

At the end-of-year, students can feel overwhelmed and freeze. Your student might not be answering your texts as often or sleeping at unusual times. These can be signs that they need more of your help. Respect and reflect their feelings so they feel heard and understood, then ask “how can I help?”.