{shortcode-61bf2b712144d69f1a73140fc422d89e168c4342}Reading period is a sacred time. I’d argue that it’s Harvard students at their peak. Nothing says bonding, studying, and sheer panic like being the first through the door to Widener and marinating in Lamont for weeks on end. You think you know how bad the Lamont second floor bathrooms smell during midterms? Think again. Just as the Boston weather decides to stop being insecure and consistently serve spring, we all get to enjoy it… but only from the stacks!

As we binge hours of Panopto lectures, abuse all of Canvas’s possible features, and leave scathing QGuide reviews, here are a few affirmations to help make this unbearable season just a little less miserable. When you emerge from your heinous nap and journey to CVS to buy five more cans of Celsius, keep these sayings on hand to run through your head and silence the voices in your head.

“Chat and I are locked in.”

“Lock in” is so last semester. I think we are all a little more honest with ourselves now. Yes we are locking in for finals, but we’re also locked in more than ever with our bestie ChatGPT. In an academically integral way of course. One of the biggest things I’ve learned this semester is that ChatGPT truly is such a tool. From interview prep to making study guides to quite literally teaching the content to me as if I were a five-year-old, Chat will no doubt be helpful. Chat and I will be walking the stage together during commencement.

“The work always gets done.”

Ok, we all say this, but if you think about it, it’s true. The work will always get done. On time? Maybe, maybe not. Gracefully? Sure, somewhat. But it does get done. We don’t really have a choice, but hey, remember this when it feels like you can never truly escape the trenches.

“You win some, you lose some.”

To be quite frank, it usually feels like you win some, you lose more. But that is not the mindset to have during reading period. Yes, it seems as though we face many, many, many losses during reading period, from not getting a seat in the library to moving every single thing on today’s to-do list to tomorrow’s, it is just as important, if not more, to recognize the small wins throughout the week to come. Waking up for the day is a big enough win. Drinking enough water for the day, also a win. We take what we can get.

“Doing it for my mental health.”

This one needs no explanation. If the decision is always between studying more or doing something for your mental health, listen to me loud and clear: Do it for your mental health. Take that 30-minute walk around the river for your mental health. DoorDash every day for your mental health. Buy your nightly sweet treats for your mental health. Protect your peace, please!

“Life is worth living.”

This is the best affirmation to tell yourself. Sing it to yourself in your sleep. Repetition in studying works, so repetition must work here too. If you say it enough, then you will eventually believe it. Just imagine yourself at the finish line, breathing actual air and enjoying what summer has in store for you. You got this!