Now that the fourth quarter has finally arrived, in the mind of the student body, it’s basically summer. While this may make the fourth and final quarter seem like a quick breeze, it is anything but. It is actually the longest period of time that we attend school without a break.

This injustice just adds to the growing feelings of senioritis within the student body. For those who don’t know, senioritis is a decline in motivation towards the completion of school. With the school year coming to a close in nearly a month, summer is all students can think about. After a long, tough school year, many students find their minds drifting to their exciting summer plans instead of focussing on their work. 

Although a lack of focus and motivation is never good, it is especially harmful towards the end of the year because summer vacation comes hand in hand with final exams. But don’t worry, here are some tips to help you stay focused and finish off the 2021-2022 school year on a high note.

1. Set small goals to help get you motivated: there is no better way to encourage yourself to complete your work than to feel accomplished. When you feel like you are making progress it is much easier to stay motivated.
2. Reward yourself: after completing some of your goals, it is important to reward yourself. If you know that you are motivated by certain outcomes, then use them as rewards for completing work. For example, reward yourself for studying for a math test by going out to dinner with some friends.
3. Take breaks: while this one may seem counterproductive, it’s not. If you are tired and overworked, you won’t be able to focus or submit your best work for any assignment, so it is necessary to take much-needed breaks in order to relax your mind and refocus.
4. Create a schedule/ to-do list: structure leads to productivity. Planning out times to complete your work will lead to you finishing it more quickly and leave you with more free time. Creating a schedule or to-do list will also allow you to keep track of what work you have and when it’s due in order to prevent forgetting any assignments.
5. Change your surroundings: switching things up such as your location can greatly improve productivity. Try heading over to a cafe next time you find yourself lacking motivation. A change in scenery can greatly improve your productivity.