You’ve probably been there and you know the feeling. Of being burnt out and simply not feeling the vibe anymore. It’s kind of dragging along, but not really being completely satisfied with your high school life. Even the kinds of things that used to bring you joy and fulfillment like having an opportunity to meet new friends in a stunning new environment now feel dull and grey, or, a the very least, part of everyday routine. That is much more than simply being tired – you’re suffering from a case of what’s known as a sophomore slump.
It could very well be that you’re feeling guilty for what you’re experiencing and you’d do anything to bring back the buzz of the early days when everything felt so fresh and new. And yet it’s there, like a monkey on your back that doesn’t go away, leaving you feeling more like a robot than a young human being who’s supposed to be in the prime of their youth. You might be wondering if you’re the only one with these thoughts, being singled out while the rest of your peers are having the time of their lives. And as your coursework intensifies, so do your feelings.
If any of that sounds like you, you are likely suffering from a case of the sophomore slump. But what is this high school ailment, exactly? And, more importantly, is there anything you can do to make it go away? To break the routine and find inspiration and meaning in your sophomore year again? Short answer: yes! And that’s what we’re here to address.
What is the so-called sophomore slump?
Before restraining this life-draining demon, you’re going to need to identify it first. So what is a sophomore slump? In layman’s terms, the term describes a general lack of energy and motivation in your sophomore year (i.e. your second year in high school). Whether it be from extracurricular activities or the endlessly piling amounts of coursework, it’s a sense of exhaustion that you just can’t shake off. But the good news is, feeling like this might be more common than you think – and many students start feeling like this in their sophomore year.
Know that the sophomore blues is something that anyone can experience at this part of their lives. However, what triggers this phenomenon might be different for different individuals. It can be due to:
- Worrying about your future
- Being overburdened
- The thrill of a new experience slipping away
- Your expectations are not being met
- Disappointment with your relationships
- Carrying the weight of other people’s expectations
No matter what the case might be, it’s a good idea to tap into the power of introspection and attempt to diagnose the root cause of the issue. After all, it’s slowly chipping away at your motivation, and if you don’t do anything about it, maintaining a high GPA is going to become increasingly challenging. So without any further ado, here’s how to diagnose this mental anchor that you’re likely to come across in your second high school year.
How to diagnose the sophomore slump
Knowing what the sophomore slump is will be the step to take before even trying to overcome it. We’ve already illustrated the gist of it in the points above, but let’s dive deeper into what you’re feeling and what lies in the surface:
- A lack of motivation. Although this could occur due to a great number of things, it really is one of the hallmark attributes of the dreaded sophomore slump. If you think that a lack of motivation sounds harmless enough, think again. It’s not the feeling itself as much as what your state of mind could drag you into. This includes falling behind in class or losing the desire to participate in the extracurricular activities you used to love, which ultimately robs you of the experience. If you shut yourself in, this might also take a toll on the relationships that you’ve formed.
- A feeling of disappointment and disillusionment. Were you expecting more from your high school years but your expectations fell flat? A mismatch between expectations and reality could be what triggered your particular case of the sophomore slump. And on an emotional level, it’s not exactly an easy thing to go through.
- Stressing out about the future. Without a shred of doubt, the future is uncertain and there’s not a lot that any of us can do about it. But there are differences in how we experience it; some individuals are more prone to anxiety and others less so. Some would say the internal struggles come from within, while others will claim to be pushed by the expectations of their parents, society, etc. It’s during your high school years that anxiety can truly do a number on you in a myriad of ways.
Note that the above is more like subtle pointers rather than any kind of hard diagnostic criteria. Also, know that some students may experience certain symptoms of the sophomore slump but not others. This is why accurate self-assessment can be more challenging than some might imagine. To help you along and to make it somewhat easier to identify this elusive condition, we’ve prepared a few diagnostic questions to ask yourself:
- Do I find it hard to relax?
- Do I feel like my parents/society/friends are pressuring me to perform?
- Am I not having as much fun as I had last year?
- Am I losing my sense of purpose?
- Have I lost the path in front of me?
- Have my relationships started deteriorating?
- Do I feel overwhelmed?
- Do I feel like I’m not living up to other people’s expectations?
These are not meant to help you arrive at a definitive answer, but they should nudge you in the right direction.
How to beat the sophomore slump?
Before we even get started on how to get out of the situation and break this mental barrier, do know that progress likely won’t come overnight. The main idea is to be easy on yourself while slowly working on taking tiny steps in the right direction every single day. With that in mind, here’s what you can do:
- Design a plan for the future and decide on the college you’d like to go to. If you’re anxious you won’t be able to make it, why not take the path of least resistance and opt for colleges with low entry requirements? Since these requirements are public, go ahead and research them ahead of time. And, if you’re aiming for the stars and going after the likes of Harvard, taking the SAT is a good way to boost your chances.
- Get involved in an extracurricular activity. Just trying something new might be enough to get a fresh perspective and outlook on life. Perhaps you could discover something you never knew was missing from your life. And that should reignite the spark.
- Set aside some extra time for self-care. Get enough sleep, focus on the things that matter to you, spend extra time with friends and family, read a book, or curl up on the couch to watch a good movie. Indulge in that extra bowl of ice cream; in times like these, you need it.
- Explore your local area. Go out for a drive or for a walk, see what’s around the block. There doesn’t necessarily need to be a destination to reach, merely to cruise around, clear your head and unwind. Maybe you’ll discover a restaurant or a coffee shop you haven’t been to yet. It’s scientifically proven that some fresh air can do wonders for your mental health.
- Find ways to reduce your workload. Taking on too much can lead to burnout and exhaustion, whether you’re in your high school years or otherwise. While true that, as a student, you have little to no control over the regular high school curriculum, you still have plenty of say regarding how you’re going to spend your time.
- Put your faith in the process. Experiencing a sophomore slump is something many have gone through before, so you’re far from being alone in this. Although it may be hard to see this now, know that this, too, shall pass!
- Help out your local community. Sometimes feeling the sophomore slump is due to having a poor self-image or feeling like you’re a burden to society as you don’t meet their perceived expectations. Fortunately, there is a great fix for this – try volunteering, donating to charity, or helping a cause! It is genuinely hard to feel bad about yourself if you know you’re doing so much good by being a bright light in other people’s lives.
- Take care of your physical health and well-being. Too many people don’t give it the credit it deserves, but your physical fitness correlates with your psychological wellbeing. It’s easy to find excuses that exercising is inconvenient, that you don’t have access to the right facilities etc. But truth be told, everything you need for a good workout, you probably already have at your disposal at home.
- Have a talk about your issues at the student counseling center. After all, it’s there for a reason, and your school counselor is likely very much acquainted with the sophomore blues. Who knows, perhaps you might even learn some stress-coping techniques along the way that will be of use later.
- Participate in campus events. It’s a great way to socialize and meet new like-minded people! Having a cool new friend or perhaps entering a new romantic relationship can only be a good thing, and is bound to be a positive force for anything related to mental health.
- Work on your grades. Although this might go against some of the other things we’ve mentioned, it’s a way to get your mind to focus on something other than what it’s currently processing. If you feel like you haven’t been performing well lately in school, perhaps working with a high school tutor is exactly what you need to get over the hump.
- Try to find a way to live abroad as a high school student. Perhaps a change of scenery is all you need to find a new direction and drive. So research if any such arrangements are available in your local area and get in on the opportunity when one presents itself.
- Start daydreaming about your future academic and career path. What would you like to do later on in life once you graduate? Start thinking about it now so you’ll be able to prepare yourself accordingly. For instance, if you’re into ancient civilizations, you might want to consider taking AP History to get bonus AP class credits. Not only do you get to pursue your passions, but you also put yourself on the path to academic success. What’s cooler than that?
- Delve into preparing for your standardized exams. To avoid burning yourself out and taking on more than you can chew, SAT Prep and AP Prep programs are available. The idea is to lay out a roadmap and make things as easy on you as possible, so you won’t have to second-guess yourself. Focus on the things that matter most and choose to put your mind to work, chiseling away at something beneficial and productive!
Conclusion
Knowing what a sophomore slump is will put you on a path to recovery. It won’t be fast, it won’t be easy, but you’ll get there eventually. The important thing to remember is that we all get burnt out from time to time, whether in our high school years or at any point during our lives. So yes, that is completely normal and you shouldn’t be so harsh on yourself!
In times like these, being easy on yourself means allowing yourself that extra treat you’ve wanted, getting enough sleep, chatting with friends, or anything else that tends to have a positive effect on your mood. As for the pressures life puts on us, these tend to be very much a constant in one way or the other. The key lies in the approaches we take to manage them, and it is our hope we’ve shared a few that you’ll end up using.
