How do you get out of an academic funk?

<p>I've found myself gradually caring less and less about doing my homework and studying since about a year ago. I'm so apathetic that my grades just aren't what they used to be. Not terrible, just mediocre. People have given me the advice 'Don't get lazy in your Junior year!'. But I'm doing just that. </p>

<p>So my grades aren't all that hot and I'm not looking forward to my standardized test scores either. I feel like my sub-par grades are a sign that I won't do well my senior year or in college. Basically, my confidence in my intellectual abilities is at an all time low.</p>

<p>So how do I get out of this 'funk'? How do I get myself to start caring about school in time to salvage the rest of my junior year?</p>

<p>Find something to inspire you. If the looming shadow of college isn't enough, try to explore other activities or something to rejuvenate you and excite you in everything again. If you are passionate about something, that passion tends to leak into other aspects of your life (in my experience). Good luck! This is certainly one of the hardest hurdles to overcome in life - as well as one of the most prevalent!</p>

<p>I need help with this too!</p>

<p>well, I was through this the beginning of junior year (november-jan), so hopefully I can help:</p>

<p>first of all, get a calendar. now, on today's date (assuming it's night), draw a black bar around is so it's like date] then on the next date, you put [tommorow, so today][tommorow. It's a trick that major sports people use to get out of their funks, and its a way to tell yourself that the "bad parts" are now over.</p>

<p>also, try to think of a higher goal. For me, I really didn't want to study for SATs or ANYTHING. So I looked up all my dream colleges, and realized that 100-200 points would make me a better candidate, and I studied A LOT. So, I would suggest that you look up colleges and just imagine yourself working towards a goal. Don't pin your academic success on (a) particular college(s), though. Just think: I'll have more options of where I want to go the better I do in junior year and on standardized tests. For me, just thinking that highschool would be over soon enough gave me perspective!</p>

<p>also, try to do something completely different (like altheiometer said). I got a part-time job, and though it doesn't sound like much, I love the fact that I don't have to be 100% perfect and that my time means SOMETHING. It isn't just a hopeless, study 6 hours for a test kind of schedule. It gives me a new range of people to hang out with too. </p>

<p>Good luck fellow '09er :)</p>

<p>Ugh, I'm suffering from the same thing. And I'm making a B in Calculus which, far from inspiring me to work harder, has caused me to completely give up. At this point, I'm just hoping I can hang on till the end of the school year-- without failing all my AP tests.</p>

<p>That happened 2 me 2 if u look @ colleges u want to go to and look @ what they require then maybe you will be inspired.</p>

<p>imagine yourself going to your dream school. now think 'this can ONLY happen if i get myself out of this funk!'</p>

<p>imagine yourself going to your "safety school" or imagine yourself getting rejected from your safety school. think 'this is the end of the path i am following...'</p>

<p>not sure if it will work, but it's worth a try, right?</p>