It's the last semester of senior year
It may be "crunch time," but senioritis has set in.
Your teen has already been accepted to college and now they're giving themselves permission to coast a bit.
“It’s senior year,” they say.
“I’m going to enjoy it,” they say.
But with the senior project work piling up and the assignment on top of assignment that every single teacher is throwing their way, they're beginning to feel like they've dug a hole that they'll never get out of by the end of May.
You worry as a parent that your teen's lack of worry has led to fudging that awesome GPA they worked their whole high school career to achieve.
There’s a nagging concern in the back of your mind that they could actually revoke that college acceptance if they don’t pull it all together.
But now that they cycle has started, you both feel a lack of control.
Where do you start?
How do you pull yourself out of this now?
How does your teen even find the time to get all the past due assignments done when school and activities just keep on going on top of it?
When work piles up, it can be easy for your teen to give in to paralysis and the belief that they will start doing better once they get to college because they'll care more then.
We hear it all the time…
I’ll be paying for it so I’ll care more…. Lie
I’ll only be taking classes that I like, so I’ll be more interested in school…. Lie
These are examples of magical thinking at it's finest. And they’re the lies that many high school seniors are telling themselves to give them permission to coast through the rest of the school year.
But here's the truth
Unless you COMMIT to a routine that brings you success right now, it's going to be super hard to change your internal motivation or day-to-day work ethic just because you've had a change of location (even when there's more money involved.)
IT'S TIME TO DEVELOP A SCHEDULE TO GET YOUR LIFE ON TRACK. (now, not then.)
Here's how...
SET SMALL GOALS
People tend to get overwhelmed with big responsibilities, so it helps to break them down into smaller steps. Make a list of overall goals, then schedule smaller objectives directly into your calendar. Small wins lead to big successes.
CREATE AN ONGOING STRUCTURE
Having a daily routine allows you to wash, rinse and repeat success in a way that feels normal and keeps you from getting stuck. Write down your weekly routine. Of course you can allow yourself to be flexible within this routine, but committing to an hour of studying per day, or physical activity daily is a way of creating a strong foundation for a happy and healthy life.
REMEMBER TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE
Productivity is great, but when you ignore what makes you happy, tasks and responsibilities get more difficult to complete. Build in time for fun and self-care every single day. Make a list of activities that you feel confident when you're engaging in and that you feel happy when you complete. Make doing at least one per day as routine as brushing your teeth.
When you can be mindful of how routines help you build a more satisfying life and you commit to taking the time to make routine a habit, you'll soon be soaring towards your goals and ready for college now, not crossing your fingers and hoping it happens when you get there.
If your teen is a high school senior, there are 28 weeks between them and college. Get out that agenda book and start making a plan!
And, if your teen needs support overcoming the barriers between high school and college success, we’re here to support you.
Click HERE to apply for a complimentary parent call so that we can connect and explore together the next best steps for your high school senior. We look forward to speaking with you soon.