10 Tips to Survive Junior Year
Author: Mollie deGeneres
Do not get a job or play a sport that you (or your schedule) can’t handle. Keeping a schedule that is manageable, regular, and flexible is one of the best tips I can give you. For example, if you have a hard day at school and all you want to do is relax and unwind, but you have to go to work or practice from 2:30-6:00 pm, you’re going to be overworked and filled with stress and anxiety. Having a job as a 16-17 year old can be a lot, especially on top of school, homework, a social life, sports, and home life, so if you are thinking about getting a job, consider how it will affect your bad days. However, if your sport or job brings you happiness and relieves the day’s stress, I would keep it in your schedule.
Use your weekends to your advantage. Yes, sometimes you will want to go to that party or spend the night with your best friend, but take at least one day to reset for the week. Complete all of your homework, study for tests and quizzes, prep your lunches for the week, write out what your week will look like, and finally just do nothing. Let your mind and body rest from the stress of the week and I promise you will feel better and ready to grind Monday morning. Even if you go out Friday night, maybe take Saturday night and Sunday to relax. Make it fit your schedule.
Take care of yourself. Continuing on Tip #2, it is so important to make sure you’re keeping up with your physical and mental health during junior year. A few suggestions include getting at least 7 hours of sleep, eating 3 balanced meals, exercising a few times a week, taking a long bath, and watching your favorite Disney movie. You deserve to do things that make you happy in the midst of the chaos!
Use your class time wisely. Focusing more on the academic aspect, occupying your time in the classroom is essential for junior year success. Truly paying attention to what your teacher is talking about is extremely rewarding. Ask your teacher questions! They are there to help you learn in a challenging manner, not to fail you. If you’re lucky, you may be able to get your homework done in class.
Try the 25-5 study method. If you find yourself feeling unmotivated to study, try studying for 25 minutes, rest for 5 minutes. If something is distracting you, write it down and it can wait until your break. This is a method that I personally use all the time, even as a senior. Everyone gets unmotivated at times, but the work is still there to do. This method is helpful because it gives plenty of breaks while also remaining productive.
Remind yourself that it’s a bad day, not a bad life. Life is hard. Junior year is hard. Being a teenager is hard. There’s no sugarcoating it. But there is so much good in life that you will miss out on if you are stuck in the negative mindset of hating your life. Everyone– including myself – has struggles that happen behind the scenes. Whether it’s anxiety, depression, insecurity, severe stress, or whatever it may be, you will get through it and will be a stronger person for it. Making the best of each day is an asset that not only will carry you through junior year, but through life.
Get organized. Start a to-do list. Mark your calendar. Purchase a planner. Organize your room. Deep clean your room. Clean out your closet. These little housekeeping tasks make such a big difference when it comes down to it. Having your space tidy makes a bad day so much better. Keeping an outline of what you need to do helps you to stay focused.
Have someone to talk to about things in your life, whether it’s God, mom, dad, therapist, best friend, sibling, or even just keeping a journal. This is another one that will help you through life as well. Sharing what you struggle with, the experiences you’ve had, things you’re excited about, what you’re looking forward to, and so much more is something that I believe is so important. Not only is it a relief lifted off of your shoulders, talking about your life in detail to someone is a great way to receive advice that will help you through each phase of your life. Like I mentioned earlier, life is not easy but reflecting on it gives you so much clarity.
Explore college choices. Being on the hunt for the perfect college for you makes the work right now you’re doing seem worthwhile. It gives you something to look forward to while keeping you focused on the tasks at hand. Make a list of schools you find intriguing and get more information about them either from your school counselor, the internet, or a friend. Having college to look forward to will give you motivation and will remind you to keep your head up on the days you feel like giving up.
Make the best of it! Have fun <3 Last, but definitely not least. While doing well in school is certainly a leading priority, the most important thing is your happiness. Go out, take risks, make new friends, watch the sunrise, stay up all night, or do whatever floats your boat. High school is supposed to be one of the greatest times of your life, don’t spend it away locked in your room scrolling through TikTok. The memories you make now will be the stories you will tell your kids in 30 years. There will always be bad days, but continue to push through because the best is yet to come!