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As you begin the final semester of your senior year, it still may not be sinking in that you’ll be GRADUATING in 4-5 months…or you may be painfully aware. You may start to feel the pressure of waiting for acceptance letters, saving for college, keeping up your grades, and juggling everything you have going on – it can be completely overwhelming!
Most people create New Year’s Resolutions that have to do with productivity, making a “better” version of themselves by exercising more or eating better, and while none of those are bad things, the pressure to “do better, be better” on top of your other responsibilities can actually bring more negativity into your life that is not helpful.

Here are some positive resolutions I hope you’ll try in 2020:

Find a reason to love yourself, daily

This is me telling you that you matter, and you have value, no matter what grades you get, what colleges you do or don’t get into, or what other people think of you.

Name at least one thing about yourself that you love, every single day. Make it your alarm notification. Put it on a sticky note. Tattoo it on your forehead and then send me a picture (disclaimer: I am not responsible for people who actually tattoo this on their foreheads).

Do something that makes you happy this year

We can get so caught up with doing what we HAVE to do, that sometimes we forget to do things because we WANT to. I am so guilty of overworking and getting burned out – but taking a break to do something fun is so worth it!

When you think back on your senior year, do you only want to associate this time with stress and being overwhelmed, or do you want to look back and smile because you remember that the fun things you took time to do??? 

Reward yourself for reaching a big goal

Similarly, you should reward yourself for kicking butt and reaching your goals! Whether that goal is just making it through the week, or getting the scholarship of your dreams, visualize a reward and save up for it if you have to! Also ask your parents if they’ll chip in, it never hurts to ask 🙂 Plan an end of year senior trip with friends, treat yourself to a day of self-care, shop, splurge on a good meal, or take a night off to reward yourself.

I like to use Futureme to write a letter to myself when I’m planning out my goals and rewards (this is also amazing for showing yourself love). Write a letter to yourself as if you had reached that goal, congratulate yourself and tell yourself to celebrate. You can pick a date to have it delivered to you – I am always surprised when I get one in my inbox and it is honestly so cool to read these.

Discover a new way to relax

Maybe relaxing for you just looks like watching Netflix. Find other things that make your soul happy and your spirit relaxed, like meditation, ASMR, outdoor walks, an old fashioned bubble bath, treating yourself to a spa day. Do something a little different and you’ll be amazed at how refreshing it can be.

Coconut sugar foot scrub (this smells and feels AMAZING):

• Mix 2 tbsp. of coconut oil with some sugar (you can mix with a spoon or in your hands)
• Fill up your bathtub with enough warm water to cover your feet
• Wet your feet, then with your hands, scoop some of the coconut sugar scrub in your hands and massage your feet, adding more water onto your feet when needed.

I cannot explain just HOW relaxing this feels, and after you rinse your feet off in the warm water, your feet will feel impossibly soft and smooth!

Make memories with the people that matter to you, especially ones you won’t see as often after high school

This can be tough during a pandemic, but if you can do this safely with masks, you absolutely should. Go for walks with friends and laugh, vent, just enjoy each other’s company. Have a small group of close friends sit on someone’s porch and bring old yearbooks and childhood photos and relive the memories. Don’t forget about your family!!! Suggest family movie or game nights, ask your parents to teach you how to cook your favorite meals for when you’re on your own, invite them to go shopping for college dorm supplies with you – these are once in a lifetime opportunities that you never know when you’ll have again.

Give yourself permission to not have it all together or be perfect all the time

Learning to accept that no one is perfect (not even you or me!) is a humbling and really important life lesson. What areas do you put a lot of pressure on yourself where it ends up stressing you out? Your friends and family love you for who you are right now, not for an idealized perfect version of you. Just be you 🙂

Wishing you only positive vibes for this new year, see what’s coming in the next few months below!

February: The senior flatlay

March: Professional hair + makeup for my senior portraits – is it for me?

April: Graduation announcements + parent/grandparent gifts!

May: The final countdown – make the most of your last few weeks

June: What’s next? // WELCOME the class of 2022

Interested in Senior Portrait Experiences for Spring 2021? Fill out a contact form and I’ll be in touch!

johanna elise