By Poorvi Roopesh

The holidays are creeping in just like the cold. With fall and winter breaks approaching, many students are already in the mood to relax and spend time with family. However, as the festive season draws near, a familiar problem begins to surface almost every year. The vicious cycle of procrastination traps many students. By this time of year, students are mentally exhausted from the constant workload and testing. Even though we are only four months into the school year, most students have already started to let go of some priorities. It is not about laziness or lack of ambition. It is burnout and academic pressure building up and bubbling over. At this point, students feel that pushing tasks aside until the last minute is the easiest option.

Amira Vanjaria (10), explains, “Sophomore slump is very real. I deal with it too. Most students are just genuinely tired by this time of year and everyone wants to go home for break.” As the semester nears its end, teachers assign more projects and deadlines pile up, leaving students overwhelmed and stressed.

The consequences of this can be tremendous. End-of-semester procrastination often leads to rushed work, lower grades, and sleepless nights. It also takes a toll on mental health, creating a cycle of exhaustion and anxiety that is hard to break. It is important to recognize this pattern early.

Another sophomore, Sana Naveen, said, “I think procrastination at the beginning of the year is a lot worse since people think they have more time to save their grade.”

So before you put off that assignment for later, remember that procrastination now means more stress later. Finish strong and you will enjoy the holidays so much more when the weight is off your shoulders.