When Graduation Feels Close, but Motivation Feels Far: 5 Tips for 2026 Seniors

Bailey Nolen - Editor

    For many students, the third quarter can feel agonizingly slow. This sentiment hits even harder for the seniors of Dyersburg High School. As graduation grows closer, motivation grows smaller. Here are some tips for the 2026 seniors to stay strong through the end of their senior year! 

Tip Number 1: Count down the “lasts.”

   Remember those handmade paper chains from Elementary school?

Make them. Well, mentally at least. Count down those lasts. Any last things you can think of. Last dentist appointment of senior year? Great, count down to it. Build up a sequence of lasts to look forward to. Before you know it, you will be counting down only a handful of days to Graduation Day.

Tip Number 2: Turn assignments into mini challenges.

   This one might be a little cheesy for some, but for others, it provides just the right amount of mental stimulation to get a much-needed motivation boost. You know those videos where people speed clean for an hour? That concept does not have to only apply to cleaning. Use it for studying, homework or whatever else you need to get done (looking at you, seniors who have not even started their FAFSA). Set a timer for one hour, eliminate any distractions and get as much done as you can before the timer goes off. You will be surprised by just how productive you can really be. 

Tip Number 3: Reward yourself.

   Senior year can be overwhelming, and it is easy to forget about the importance of letting loose sometimes. After you finish your hour of immense productivity, make sure to give your brain an essential break by doing something you enjoy. Watch an episode of your favorite show, take a nap, doom-scroll on TikTok, hang out with your friends or whatever else fulfills your heart’s desire. These rewards show your brain that the periods of hard work are all worth it in the end because of the dopamine boost that is coming later. After a while of using this tip, your brain will begin to associate hardcore study sessions with a dopamine hit. 

Tip Number 4: Make school social again.

   No, not during class. Please do not torment your teachers during your last semester. Instead, use your time outside of school to build up a community with your fellow seniors. You are all in this together, so use that to your advantage. When you feel stuck and unmotivated, reach out to one of your classmates. It is almost guaranteed that they will not only understand your struggles but will also be in the same boat. If you want to take this tip a step further, gather up your friends before big tests and have a study date. It does not have to be fancy, but hanging out with friends can make studying much less unbearable. 

Tip Number 5: Give yourself grace.

   Throughout the remainder of your senior year, be sure to remind yourself that it is okay to struggle or be unmotivated. In fact, it is expected. When you hit these dead spots, be gentle with yourself. Let yourself take those breaks and let loose. The best thing to do when you feel down is to remember what all of this is for. Graduation (and the next exciting chapter) is just around the corner. Imagine what it will be like walking across that stage with all of your classmates, tossing your caps in the air and officially putting high school in the past. You have got this!