You’ve all heard the word before. Senioritis—the term used to describe the burnout seniors feel—is once again plaguing the halls of Manheim Township High School. This term has held true for so long that Merriam-Webster has defined it as more than a simple colloquial expression, even citing skipping school, lateness and missing work as symptoms of this condition. But what exactly sparks this often uncharacteristic lack of motivation among even the brightest seniors, and how can we cure this?

What causes Senioritis? 

As seniors begin to be accepted into colleges, they often look ahead to graduation, which makes them fall behind in the present. Seniors start to feel “checked out” and as if the months leading up to their diploma are meaningless. A TEDtalk by Joshua Silberman, a high school teacher at Challenge Early College High School and an AP capstone instructor, elaborates on what senioritis is and how to cure it. He states that following the same schedule for all four years of high school causes burnout amongst seniors. The dry repetition of the school day with lengthy classes is something that most seniors feel they have outgrown. Silberman also blames the public school system itself by stating that school is designed to prepare you for the next year of education. For seniors, this “next year” in question simply does not exist. Here, the question tends to become: What even is the point of school anymore?

Senior Jack Reynolds sees senioritis as a general disinterest in school. “While I do believe in senioritis, I don’t think it’s as prevalent as people make it seem. Most students will visibly not show interest in school, but they will still get their work done on time,” he said.

This general disinterest in school is the main symptom of senioritis. However, what many do not realize is that many of the symptoms of senioritis tend to overlap with mental health disorders, such as depression. The symptoms of depression include a noticeable change in sleep and eating habits, lack of interest and energy and overall sadness—eerily similar to the condition experienced by many seniors. The parallels between depression and senioritis is something that cannot be overlooked, and should be addressed in conversation surrounding the yearly lack of motivation amongst seniors.

How do I deal with Senioritis? 

While there is no “one size fits all” cure for this ailment, I have compiled a list of things that have personally helped me find motivation as I approach the final months of my senior year.

1. Getting the recommended eight hours of sleep

While this advice may be a no-brainer, the CDC states that around 70% of teenagers in the US get less than eight hours of sleep a night. Sleep has many hidden benefits. Among those is a boost in focus, concentration and alertness. In addition to getting eight hours of sleep, I have also been going to sleep earlier in order to wake up earlier. Waking up around two hours before the beginning of school has personally allowed me to de-stress before school, and have more time to myself to do activities I enjoy or to work ahead on any assignments. This way, I dread the school day significantly less and am able to focus in my classes like never before.

2. Setting a reward system for yourself

Senior year is demotivating. Getting accepted into college was the end goal of these four years, right? While it can be easy to slack off, seniors have to keep grades up. Many colleges can and have withdrawn decisions to students in their final year of high school due to grades dropping a tremendous amount.

The stress of colleges and keeping grades up weighs on the minds of many. Senior Paige Long has experienced this firsthand, and expresses that, “It is hard because so much of high school is people that have different mindsets than yours, especially when people start to care less about assignments,” she says, “I try to stay ahead because I know if I don’t, I may regret it.”

In order to combat this, the solution I propose is to set up a reward system. The reward system, as deemed by many behavioral psychologists, is driven by positive reinforcement. You can go out for ice cream for every A on a test, or let yourself spend $20 dollars at your favorite store for every A on your report card. Simple rewards like this, as long as they are personally enticing, can motivate you to work and study harder. After all, it is important to keep in mind that senior year does not end with college decisions.

3. Restrict use of any addicting apps, such as social media

It can become easy to get lost in the digital world as a way to deal with burnout and depression. Distracting yourself from your real problems with social media apps has become a normal coping mechanism amongst our generation. However, the more you scroll on these apps, the more damage they can actually be doing to your psyche. The very same apps you use to combat anxiety and depression can actually cause more mental health issues. What is important to recognize is that social media addiction is a serious issue, producing dopamine from the same reward center as gambling does.

I found myself distracted from the real world by social media apps, and made the move to delete TikTok and Instagram altogether. Talking to my friends who have gone without social media has made me more secure in my decision. I’ve felt more productive as a result, and have found solace in mentally-refreshing hobbies such as baking and journaling. While you do not have to quit social media cold turkey, it is important to be mindful of your usage of these apps. Setting time limits on apps you typically use to doom scroll can improve mental health and productivity, as we usually do not take into account how much time we truly waste.

4. Join that club you never got the chance to join

The first three years of high school are the most chaotic. In the blur of taking challenging classes, students tend to forget about joining interesting extracurriculars. By finally becoming a part of the extracurriculars you never had the chance to join, you can immerse yourself in a brand new experience for your final year of high school. This will make your school year feel a little less like something you’ve been doing for 12 years and more like something you have control over. In Silberman’s TEDtalk, he brings up a great point: the four-minute passing period between classes is the only time in the school day where they have autonomy. They can visit their lockers, talk with friends and listen to music.

In classes, students get no authority over what they would like to learn, and there is a lack of preparation for the real world. School may not be very exciting, so make the most of every moment and opportunity.

5. Let yourself rest

When you feel burnt out, sometimes the best thing is to indulge in not wanting to do anything. Taking power naps, which tend to last anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, can be a great way to recharge after a long day at school. These naps can aid in boosting concentration and short-term memory after a short night of sleep. Additionally, allow yourself to take short and frequent breaks throughout your study sessions. It is important to not be too hard on yourself, as longer study sessions without rest in between can worsen burnout.

6. Set goals for yourself

Where do you see yourself in five years? This is a worthwhile question to ask when finding yourself falling victim to senioritis. It is important to think of the long-run, and of what goals you have for yourself.

Think about what you would like to accomplish before or after graduation. After you’ve visualized your goal, write or draw this on a sticky note to then hang up on your mirror or desk. A visual reminder of your goal can help in remembering what you are working towards, and how to not lose sight of it when you feel burnt out.

Trying to unlock intrinsic motivation, or the act of doing something because it is internally rewarding, is important to avoid burnout. If your goals are the end of a maze, intrinsic motivation is the clue that guides you there. Senior Gracie Clawson reflected on this idea.

“I try to motivate intrinsically—meaning I create motivation from within rather than just doing something for a grade. I try to remember that I’m doing this work to learn the content, because it gets easy to just memorize facts in order to get my college credit,” she said.

In short, finding what makes you “tick” will ultimately aid in avoiding burnout not just in high school, but in life.

The last few months of high school are like a tortoise: insanely slow-moving. You want to be a part of the real world, yet feel trapped in the repetitive nature of classes. Everything starts blending together, and suddenly your homework begins to feel optional. It doesn’t have to be this way because I believe that with a little more self-care, senioritis can be conquered.