It’s the end of the year… and your child is depleted
We’re so close to the end of the year.
And yet… this is when I start hearing the same concerns from parents:
Missing assignments.
Waiting until the last minute.
It feels like they’ve checked out.
And the question is always the same:
Why now?
Years ago, I worked with a student who said something that has stayed with me.
“I’m just finished. I don’t have any more energy to focus on school.”
At first, it sounded like frustration.
But the more we talked, the more it became clear:
He had been using a tremendous amount of effort just to stay on track all year long.
And by this point… he didn’t have the same capacity left.
What’s Actually Happening
We often think finishing the year should be easier.
But from an executive function perspective, it’s often the opposite.
Because finishing requires:
Sustained attention when energy is already low
Continued planning even when routines are slipping
Emotional regulation under pressure and fatigue
Task initiation when everything feels harder to start
So what looks like: “They’ve checked out”
may actually be: “Their system is overloaded”
This isn’t about students suddenly caring less.
It’s about what it takes to keep going when the tank is low.
And for many students, that last stretch can feel like it takes twice the effort it did at the beginning of the year.
What Helps When a Student Is Running Out of Energy
When a student is this depleted, adding more pressure rarely works.
What often helps more is reducing the load of starting.
One of the simplest and most effective ways to do that is through something called body doubling.
What is Body Doubling?
Body doubling is when someone sits with a student while they work.
They are not teaching. They are not correcting. They are simply present.
That presence does something important:
It reduces the mental effort it takes to get started
It increases follow-through
It provides a quiet layer of accountability
This doesn’t have to be complicated.
You can: Sit next to your child while they begin Work on your own task nearby Set a simple starting point: “Let’s just work for 10 minutes together”
You are not hovering. You are not managing.
You are sharing the space so their brain doesn’t have to do it alone.
An Important Shift for Parents
At this point in the year, your child may not need more reminders.
They may need less independence in the starting moment.
Because starting is often the hardest part when energy is low.
If You’re Feeling This Too
And if you’re reading this and thinking, “I don’t even have the energy to do that right now…”
You’re not alone.
This time of year is heavy for families, too.
This is exactly why we offer structured body doubling sessions, so students have consistent support to get started and follow through, even when parents are stretched thin.
If you’re interested in body doubling support or our 8-week End-of-Year Reset program for your child, please email us at support@cpccoaching.com.
We’ll help you find the right level of support for this final stretch of the year.
Warmly,
Crista
Owner and Founder of Connected Pathways Coaching & Academy
