Ways to survive the wait until summer vacation
Most people consider the third quarter the most difficult part of the school year. The fourth quarter is expected to be easier, but with AP exams and finals on the horizon, a break can hardly be expected as the school year comes to a close.
As we get closer to summer vacation, it becomes easier than ever to zone out in class and avoid homework at home. Even though there are still many worksheets to be filled out and tests to be taken, it’s easy to remember how the last seven months have been full of studying and working. After working so much, we deserve a break, right?
Motivation can be hard to find in the spring months. Even though we all have to make it through the push to summer, there are some ways to boost your mood on days when motivation seems like a pipe dream.
First, a great way to boost your mood is playing with animals. Being with animals has the ability to lower stress levels, making it a good escape when you get sick of studying. In fact, many college campuses bring in dogs around finals week to help students destress. Plus, taking a few minutes to run around with your dog or cuddle your cat gives them something to do instead of watching you study.
Spring may bring exams, but it also brings warm weather. Studies have shown that taking advantage of nature’s beauty and spending some time in fresh air can lower your stress levels. This can be done by walking around your neighborhood, going to a local park such as Sunny Lake, or cheering on Aurora’s baseball, softball, track, and tennis teams.
With so many papers to write, tests to study for, and worksheets to fill out, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with things to do. Writing out all your assignments and creating a schedule to complete them can help you visualize all the work you have. It’s also satisfying to be able to cross things off your list. Luckily, Aurora High provides planners for this reason. If you’ve lost yours, you can buy them pretty much anywhere, and there are many apps you can use to create schedules.
Making a countdown to summer is a fun way to keep track of how much time you have left in the school year. Watching the numbers dwindle over time is certain to make you feel more sure summer is actually on its way.
Be sure to reward yourself. It takes a lot of work to power through the last couple months of school, and giving yourself little treats for completing your work is a great way to keep you going. Whether it be an ice cream run with your friends, buying yourself a small gift, or even taking a nap when you get home from school, make sure to give yourself credit for all of the work you’re doing.
Lastly, don’t overdo it. It can be easy to exhaust yourself, and without taking small breaks and treating yourself every once and awhile, the little motivation you have left will quickly turn to nothing.
Believe it or not, summer is on its way. Even though there is much to be done, there are ways to make the process easier. After all, there’s only seven more weeks until summer. But who’s counting?
