HIGH SCHOOL–GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE LAST WEEKS

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Four weeks until finals, and so much to do! My high school clients are at such different stages–Grade XII students face diploma exams, graduation, and the end of K-12. The long-term prospect of next year may seem fuzzy, and is probably not the focus right now. Grade X and XI students face finals (and sometimes grad dates), and the long term prospect of next year is . . . more high school. Everyone has a short-term focus on what they’re doing for the summer–work, academic catchup, travel, chill.

And everyone has the issue of staying focused until the end of this term. I’m going to assume your goals include maximizing your marks this term (or you wouldn’t be reading this blog), maintaining your social life, AND maintaining your mental health.

What could get in the way?

First, we’ll look at the distractions. Then we’ll look at how to deal.

Distractions and Goals:

Choose your distractions:

  • Gaming
  • Social media
  • Good weather
  • Hanging out
  • Planning for grad–the tux, the limo, which friends, the after party, the guests, the date, . . .
  • ___________________________
  • ___________________________
  • ___________________________

Choose your Goals: Take a sheet of paper or a large index card and write your top three goals at the top–be brief!

They might be

Pass my diplomas

Get grad organized

Spend time with xxx

How to deal with distractions

You might think that grinding down and determining to do zero gaming, shutting off your phone, staying inside, and not hanging out for the next six weeks is the way to get the best grades.

Probably not. The key here is control–where you control your distractions, rather than your distractions controlling you.

There are two key elements to controlling distractions: First, give yourself permission to game, text, etc. Then, for each distraction, schedule when you are going to do that activity, and how you are going to change from that activity to another. For example, let’s say that gaming is your thing. Decide when you are going to play and when you are going to switch to something else. Hint: Be time limited, not score determined. Decide ahead of time what activity is going to follow–walking the dog, making a call, stretching–something that is a change of activity, a change of location. If your next activity is reviewing trig functions, physically do something not at your computer for five minutes before switching into hyperbolic functions.

Use a timer. Put the timer where you have to get away from your computer to turn it off.

And endorse each time you set the timer, each time you switch away from the activity.

Now apply that same technique to each distraction. Social media is a big one. Get creative. We can share what works for you and what has worked for others.

Other tips for these last weeks

Each day:

  • Have your goal sheet where you can see it. Move it around. Touch it.
  • Discuss with your friends how you are going to keep control and boost each other these last weeks. Maybe you have a “no-phone-time-zone.”
  • Schedule breaks, distractions, study time, exam times, social times. Schedule in pencil. Be flexible. You are the master of your time, except when life happens and you have to erase and scramble a bit.
  • Know what counts most in each course. Some diploma exams in one province, for example, only count for10% of your grade.
  • Review study technique and plan your approach for each subject. Again, be flexible.
  • Take advantage of peer review study groups, if they are available.
  • Eat.
  • Sleep.
  • Hydrate.
  • Meditate, if you have that skill.
  • Spend time outside.
  • Review your schedule each night. Then put it away and switch activities. 
  • Find one spot of joy each day, even if only for five minutes.
  • Time for pets.
  • Time for friends.
  • Time for family.
  • And endorse for maintaining a program of balance and control. Forgive yourself when you fall off, and endorse yourself when you get back on.

As with all strategic advice, take what seems to fit, try it out, and adapt as needed.

Let me know what works for you! [email protected] 


The information in this blog cannot take the place of support from your own mental health professional or community health resources. Reach out to them. And IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS PLEASE DIAL 911