Six Ways to Tackle Senioritis
Photo by Julio Lopez on Unsplash
As most of our parents have probably said at some point: "It’s that phone of yours—that’s why you can’t focus!" (Also… why you’re going blind… apparently.)
While it’s not true that screens permanently damage your eyes (science has debunked that), they can get in the way of your focus—and if there’s one thing that truly puts this to the test, it’s senioritis.
So, what exactly is senioritis?
You know that weird, sluggish feeling that kicks in once post-secondary apps are in, finals are far off, and the idea of “cruising to graduation” becomes way too tempting? Your motivation? MIA. Your routines? Chaos. Suddenly, you’re doing math homework at 2:47 a.m. while eating cereal out of a mug.
Sure, for a lucky few, the job is mostly done, and it really can be a chill ride to graduation. But speaking from experience? Letting senioritis win ended up backfiring more times than I could count, turning what should’ve been fun and fulfilling months into ones full of unnecessary stress.
It’s totally okay (and healthy!) to rest. But when procrastination becomes the default, you start missing out—not just on marks, but on moments. So here are 6 ways I wished I tackled senioritis: no glue, no borax (someone please tell me they got that joke).
Six Ways I Tackled Senioritis
1. Separate Work and Rest Zones
Don’t study where you relax. If you do your homework in bed, your brain associates that space with work and sleep—and neither ends up working properly. Try sitting at a desk, cafe, or kitchen table when it's time to focus, and return to your cozy space when you’re ready to unwind.
2. Use “Do Not Disturb” Like Your Life Depends on It
Seriously. One notification is all it takes to derail your momentum. Turn on Do Not Disturb, and go a step further by turning off lock screen previews. Out of sight, out of mind = fewer distractions.
3. If To-Do Lists Don’t Work, Get Creative
To-do lists aren’t for everyone, and that’s okay. Try using a time block method or a priority matrix (even if that sounds fancy, it’s basically: what’s urgent vs. what can wait). You can even voice-note your tasks if writing them stresses you out.
Hot tip: A friend used Google Sheets to order her assignments by urgency and colour coded the tasks accordingly. If Google Sheets or Excel is your thing, go give it a try!
4. Set Your Own Screen Time Limits
You don’t have to delete every app—just chip away at the minutes with screen time limits found in the settings app. Challenge yourself to reduce your daily social media use by 10–15% each week. Small changes add up, and it’s honestly kind of fun to beat your own numbers.
5. Outsource Your Willpower
If the temptation is too real, give your phone or game console to someone you trust and beg them not to give it back until you’re done being productive. (No shame in that. You’re using strategy!)
6. Laptop Distractions? Try This:
Since most homework is online now, it’s way too easy to tab over to YouTube or start loading up that Amazon shopping cart (and suddenly it's 2 a.m.). Try using extensions like StayFocusd or Cold Turkey to block distracting sites while you work. Or, go full old-school and write essays in Google Docs offline.
Final Thought: Have fun. Seriously, this is your last year of high school. Don’t let senioritis eat away at the opportunities you’ve worked so hard for. There’s nothing wrong with slowing down a bit… just make sure you’re still steering the wheel.
So, enjoy your final chapter, take lots of photos, laugh at everything, and maybe put your phone on Do Not Disturb while you're at it.
You got this.
Katie Lam
JOMO Student Intern
