when the finish line feels too far: helping your teen beat the end-of-year slump (even if they’re not a senior)
It’s that time of year. Sunshine is showing up more often, the countdown to summer is on every whiteboard, and motivation is melting faster than a popsicle in July.
If you’ve got a high schooler—senior or not—chances are you’ve seen the signs: homework half-done, study habits slipping, and an overall vibe of “do I really have to?” You might think this kind of burnout is reserved for seniors, but let’s be real: end-of-year fatigue is an equal opportunity mood.
This season is a strange mix of exhaustion and celebration. The stakes feel high, but so do the hopes. And in between the eye rolls and late-night cramming and half-hearted goodbyes, there’s this wild, beautiful chance to help our teens build resilience and joy. We get to guide them not just toward a finish line, but toward becoming the kind of people who know how to keep going when things feel hard—and still find a way to laugh, connect, and live it up along the way.
So how do we help our teens stay the course, finish strong, and still enjoy these fleeting, memory-rich days of the school year?
Here’s what’s helping us at our house:
Name It, Normalize It
We talk openly about the slump. I’ll say, “You seem kind of done with school. Are you feeling that end-of-year burnout?” When they nod or shrug in exhausted agreement, I don’t jump into lecture mode. I validate it: “That makes sense. It’s been a long year.” Sometimes just naming the feeling helps them feel less stuck in it.
Shift the Goal
By this point in the year, it's less about chasing straight A’s and more about building character. I’ve started asking:
“What kind of person do you want to be at the finish line?”
This helps my teen think about finishing with integrity, not just surviving. It’s not about perfection—it’s about perseverance.
Build in Micro-Motivation
We work in short bursts. One assignment, then a break. One study session, then a little reward (even if it’s just a TikTok scroll or a favorite snack). I remind them: progress over perfection. Little wins still count.
Celebrate the Moments
Field days, final concerts, yearbooks, goofy class traditions—these are the glue of high school memories. I try to let go a bit. That last-minute sleepover or spontaneous drive to get slushies? It matters. Fun isn’t a distraction from life—it’s part of it.
Model Digging Deep
Some days, I feel like quitting too. I let them see that. I say, “I didn’t feel like showing up today, either, but I did. And I’m proud of that.” We’re not asking them to do something we aren’t doing ourselves: showing up tired, but showing up anyway.
So yes, it’s a tough stretch. But it’s also full of little chances to cheer them on—not just academically, but emotionally. Let’s remind them (and ourselves): you can be tired and still finish well. You can struggle and still make space for joy. The finish line may feel far, but the growth that happens in these final weeks? It’s something worth remembering.
