If you’re like me, you’re already yearning for summer, and school is starting to get in your way. It’s been a long academic year: the election, the TikTok ban, and a whirlwind of other global and personal events have made the last few months feel like a century, and I’m ready for a break. But alas, a few weeks of classes, final exams, and other end-of-term activities remain, so we have to stay locked in and see it through.
Depending on when your exams begin, it might be a good idea to start studying now. Make a study plan, start working on flashcards, and go over some of the older class materials. Don’t stress yourself out about it, but keeping your exams in the back of your mind can be a good way to stay in school mode until the end of the semester.
Another good way to get through the home stretch is to finalize your summer plans. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to start looking for internships, jobs, or other ways to spend your time. They don’t have to be glamorous, but solidifying your summer plans can help make that transition out of school (and back into school, once fall comes) much smoother.
If these aren’t doing it for you, another option to fight off the burnout might just be some self-care. Do some spring cleaning, get some menial tasks out of the way, and relax. Take a day to just care for yourself—take a bath, watch a movie, or spend time with loved ones. A day or a weekend off might be all you need to come back and finish the semester strong.
It can also be nice to spend some time outside. With winter ending, a lot of us haven’t seen the sun in a while, and taking a stroll in the warm sunshine can be just what you need. There’s no better time than spring to cure the winter blues with some much-needed vitamin D. Take a walk, do homework outside, or just explore the town a bit—it might give you the refreshing burst of energy you need to close out the term.
Another option to really hammer home this last month is to plan everything out. This can be a daunting task, and you can take it at whatever increments or detail you find best, but a calendar or planner to schedule all your events, classes, meetings, and finals might help keep you on track and motivated. Plus, nothing beats the feeling of crossing out another day on a calendar, marking one step closer to summer.
Regardless of whatever methods you find best to finish the semester, it’s important to cheer yourself on and take care of yourself along the way. Summer is near—hang in there until you can officially say you have one more year of schooling under your belt!