5 Ways to Stay Motivated During the Last Months of School

Then end of the school year is approaching very quickly. This is the time when many students start slowing down or falling behind in classes. Think of this as the final leg of a race – you want to end strong! Projects, assignments and tests can start adding up and many students become disengaged and just want the school year to be done with. How do you stay motivated to continue to do well in school through the last couple of months? Below are 5 tips for you:

1. Stay Positive
The school year is almost done and you’ve come this far already. Don’t give up! It’s very easy to start sinking, stop doing your homework and to stop studying. Don’t! Stay positive and focused and remember all of the hard work that you’ve put in this school year. Think of how great you will feel when the school year ends and you look back to how well you have done. You don’t want to finish school in two months and look back and think that you should have completed your homework assignments or studied harder for one of your tests. The final stretch is here and you can do this. Be optimistic and put forth 110% effort!

2. Stay Organized and Plan Ahead
Remember that assignment notebook that you got way back at the beginning of school? Hopefully you’ve been using it and if not, now’s the time to take it out so that you can map out the next couple of months! There is probably going to be many upcoming tests and projects and you want to make sure that you are ahead of the game. Also, take apart your backpack and make sure all of your papers are in the right folder or binder. Most likely you’re going to need these papers for upcoming assessments or final exams. Pick one day a week, preferably Sunday, to take a look at the upcoming week and plan. If you have a test coming up that week, set aside time to study or go in for help. If you have a project coming up, break it up into smaller chunks so that you don’t procrastinate or feel overwhelmed.

3. Seek Out Help!
The end of the school year is usually when the material in all classes is the hardest. If you find yourself struggling in a particular class, make sure you get the help that you need right away. Don’t wait for weeks to pass or the day before a test to go in and get help, because that’s going to stress you out even more and you’ll be that much behind. You also don’t want to have to cram right before final exams or testing at the end of the year. Communicate with your teachers by either emailing them or stopping in before or after school. Many schools also have tutoring centers during the school day or programs that are available before or after school to get help.

4. Find a Balance Between School and Play
As school comes to a close, there is most likely going to be many tests, projects and major assignments due. It can be overwhelming and some students might get into the mindset that they have to spend many hours working on school assignments to get them all done. This may be true but it’s also very important to remember your health and well-being. Try to find a balance between schoolwork and play. If you know that you have to spend 4 hours working on a project on the weekend, then maybe set aside a couple of hours to work on it on a Saturday afternoon and then take a break and do something fun afterwards. Your mind needs some rest and you can’t expect to function 100% for hours on end.

5. Study with Friends
Form a study group with friends that you have in your classes. Students learn best when they recite things aloud and also when they teach concepts to other students. Find a day during the week or on the weekend when your study group can meet and this can really motivate and energize you to do well in your class and finish off the school year on a good foot! You are not alone in this so work with others around you! Together you and your friends can meet the goals that you want to achieve.

Written by Sarah Kochan