A new semester brings plenty of change: new classes, teachers and friends—but most notably, a different work ethic. Why does finishing assignments midway through the school year feel more challenging than at the start? Spring semesters at Wakefield High School are known to bring a sense of burnout to students across all grade levels. Feelings of procrastination, lack of motivation and even sadness all fall into this category.
Returning from winter break is always a difficult adjustment. After exams, that second break only makes it harder to get back into a routine. Natalie Howard, a sophomore, weighs in on the factors that make up second-semester exhaustion. Howard emphasizes the lingering effects of cold weather and post-holiday blues.
“The [winter] weather definitely plays a large role because nobody likes January and February,” Howard said. “The second that the Christmas lights are taken down, everybody’s mood is also going down.”
The most common signs of burnout include sleeping in, procrastination and a drop in grades. It is crucial to catch these symptoms early so they can be proactively acted upon. Counselor Jessica OBerto at Wakefield has seen many students experience a decline in motivation during the second semester. She recommends a change in routine to counter the feeling of redundancy in students’ lives.
“[Try to] switch up the way you’re doing things, whether it’s switching up when you’re going to bed or how you’re studying,” OBerto said. “Maybe instead of going home right after school and taking a nap, you go to the library or you go to the gym.”
While counselors recommend changes in routine, students also have their own strategies for staying motivated. Setting aside some time in the evening to rest is crucial to be able to complete assignments. Junior Grace Dowdy gives out a piece of advice on staying motivated during the spring semester.
“I try to make sure that every night I’m not just doing homework for hours and hours straight,” Dowdy said. “I preserve time for myself, whether it is to read or go on my phone.”
Some students, despite the fatigue, remain committed to pushing through. Crysta Mosher, a senior at Wakefield, understands that school can be exhausting but emphasizes its importance in achieving long term goals.
“School is never going to be my favorite place to be, but at the end of the day, it’s going to help me reach my goals, so it doesn’t need to be fun,” Mosher said. “It needs to be an effective learning space.”
