At the LA premiere of Jackie Sandler's new Netflix rom-com, Office Romance, this week, her husband and fellow actor, Adam Sandler, accompanied her wearing a bright orange and blue tracksuit – and turquoise trainers, naturally.
Yes, it was quite clearly in celebration of the New York Knicks making it to the NBA finals for the first time since 1999 (the logo on his hoodie being the main giveaway). And yes, the Happy Gilmore star has long had a rep for wearing baggy tees, basketball jerseys and shorts, along with the odd Hawaiian shirt. But compared to his spouse's chic black Schiaparelli mini dress (or, indeed, J-Lo's bellowing Versace gown) he looked more than a little underdressed.
In response, people on the Internet have complained that Sandler needs to step up his fashion game, at least at major events where he is meant to be supporting his wife. One person on Reddit, for example, wrote: “It must be so cool to be a man and be allowed to look like sh*t." Another fan on Instagram simply commented, “He have money but no fashion sense.” Ouch.
Others, however, have applauded how “down to earth” the actor is and how he is “the best” for simply not giving a f*ck – a sentiment that has inspired the Adam Sandler ‘senior slump’ fit trend on social media, with users replicating his… laid-back looks on TikTok and the like.
But Adam Sandler aside, the rise in the so-called ‘senior slump’ trend has become more prominent in recent years – with Google searches for the term up +2300% in the past month alone.
So… what actually is the ‘senior slump’?
Senior slump. Senioritis. Senior slide. Whatever you call it, its meaning remains the same: it's that sensation where all your energy and motivation (typically for schoolwork and studies in your final year before graduation, but it can also relate to work and life admin in general) completely subsides and you favour procrastination and daydreaming over actual work.
“Feeling stuck or losing enthusiasm for work, study or everyday activities is something many people experience, and psychology suggests it is rarely about being ‘lazy’ or lacking ambition,” Dr Eleanor Bryant, associate professor of psychology at Bradford University, explains to Glamour. “Motivation naturally rises and falls depending on whether our psychological needs are being met. Research shows people feel most engaged when they experience a sense of choice and control, feel capable and valued, and have meaningful connections with others (Ryan & Deci, 2020).”
“When routines become repetitive, pressures build, or we feel disconnected from what we are doing, motivation can dip and a ‘senior slump’ can emerge,” she continues. “Recent research links lower motivation with increased burnout and disengagement, particularly when people feel they are running on obligation rather than purpose (Howard et al., 2021; McAnally & Hagger, 2024).”
Dr Bryant also says that boredom and feeling stuck can likewise play an important psychological role, “signalling that we may need greater challenge, variety or a renewed sense of progress (Kawada et al., 2023).”
“Rather than viewing a slump as failure, it may be more helpful to see it as useful feedback from our minds and bodies that something needs recalibrating – whether that is rest, new goals, or reconnecting with what feels meaningful.”
4 signs you've lost motivation – and how to fix it
According to career change coach Alice Stapleton, one of the main signs you've lost motivation is that you used to feel passionate about your company/work and its mission, but you've since lost your way.
“You used to want to perform well for your colleagues and clients," she tells Glamour. "You cared about the relationships at work. Now? Not so much.”
How to overcome it: “It may be that your values and priorities have changed,” she notes. “Scan your life for topics, scenarios and interactions that do matter to you. How could you build more of this into your work? If that feels impossible, it may be time to consider moving into a new industry or role that does matter to you.”
“Another key sign is that you put off even the smallest of tasks,” the expert continues. “You can’t be bothered, or don’t feel like it. You don’t see the point anyway.”
How to overcome it: Stapleton says the trick here is to realise that you don’t need energy to start a task. "Simply starting something gives you the momentum to carry on and finish the task. Try to focus on the longer-term positive consequences of doing the task, and the short-term negative impact if you don’t.
"Break the task down into the easiest of steps, so that the first step feels so achieavable you can’t talk yourself out of it. Leave your phone in the other room, and turn off notifications on your computer. And reward yourself afterwards.”
Loose, mismatched and multicoloured, Adam Sandler's reign as the ultimate off-duty style inspo continues into summer 2026.
“You perhaps also find you lack energy and enthusiasm,” Stapleton says.
How to overcome it: “It goes without saying, but do check you’re getting at least 8 hours of sleep, eating healthily, and getting at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, ideally outside,” the career coach recommends. “Double check with your GP that all is well, too. Vitamins and supplements could help if something is out of balance.”
She adds: “Exhaustion can stem from a heavy workload, or simply doing work that doesn’t matter to you or align with your values for far too long. Reflect on what does give you energy in your life, where the sparks of joy are. Can you bring them into your life a little more? Perhaps you can steer your work towards these things in some way, too? You may wish to consider a short career break, or even a sabbatical, if only space and rest will bring back some of that motivation.”
Finally, a tell-tale sign you're suffering from the ‘senior slump’ is that you’d rather not have the responsibility.
How to overcome it: “It’s perfectly OK not to want a promotion,” Stapleton assures. “There is no pressure to take on more responsibility if you don’t want to. Ambition levels change throughout our life. Sometimes we’re the main character, sometimes we’re happy being in the sidelines. It’s totally up to you. If you feel you do have ambition, but really don’t want your boss' job, start to reflect on what department or business you would like to lead. Perhaps new goals in a different field would bring back your mojo.”
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