Overcoming the End of the School Year Slump

By: Mia Picciuca

There is less than a month left of school, yet so many students find their anticipation overshadowed by stress. With AP testing and finale exams looming overhead, it proves difficult to manage everything going on. Although the end of the school year can be a challenge, implementing strategies to manage your school responsibilities and your well being can help with the sprint to the June first finish line!

Take care of the basics:

• It’s typical to think that taking care of your basic needs is common sense, but it can be easy to neglect basic self care when so many other responsibilities are on your mind.

• Remember to drink plenty of water; it’s the most important nutrient!

• Also remember to fuel your body with the food it needs to function and thrive.

• Try to incorporate outside activities into your routine; studying outside can actually result in getting tasks done more efficiently.

• Prioritize your sleep schedule as much as possible. If you are sleep deprived, your daily tasks are immensely more challenging to complete.

• Try implementing physical activities into your daily routine. You can start small with just a walk around the block. Physically moving your body is one of the best ways to get out of your head.

Manage course work and tests:

• Effective time management, although challenging, greatly reduces future stress and work overload.

• Implementing focus strategies such as the pomodoro method can be a great help in managing your study time.

• Don’t overlook a classic to-do list, getting everything out on paper lets you organize your thoughts and keep track of everything you would like to accomplish.

• Once you have a clear idea of what needs to be done, begin to complete your tasks little by little. A huge to-do list can be overwhelming, however, once you begin working your way through you will gain momentum.

• It is easy to get caught up in rumination over everything that needs to be done, but just remember: less thinking, more doing.

• With AP testing and finales coming up, making a study schedule can be a helpful way to keep on track.

• Of course always make sure to take breaks as needed to prevent burn out. I find the pomodoro method especially helpful because it requires you to work in 25 minute increments with a 5 minute break in between.

Find things to look forward to:

• Incorporating activities to look forward to helps serve as a good refresher.

• Upperclassmen have prom at the Museum of Science Industry to look forward to!

• Attending or participating in the Spring Extrav talent show on May 21, which is also known as Art in the Park this year, is a great way to get involved and support fellow students.

• You can make plans with friends and family. These can be small things such as watching a movie, or grabbing lunch!

• You can also organize study sessions with your friends. Studying together makes the time pass faster (commiserating with friends over school stress helps sometimes too).

Even though the end of the school year slump can be discouraging, determination, grit, and self care will hopefully decrease the overwhelming feelings that are commonly faced by students. Coping with stress isn’t as simple as it looks on paper; everything listed is merely a suggestion (not all strategies work for everyone).You’ve made it this far; finish strong Falcons!