The Harvard Crimson Blog

{shortcode-d3657177ec4cd556f915b10aa742f7fa8a02d356} Let’s face it: Fall has arrived and your days of AC craving are over. Not too dark here – pun intended – but winter is coming. You should probably enjoy the vitamin D and fresh air before we all go into hibernation, and your only glimpse of sunlight is on your frantic run from the Science Center to Berg. The thing is, you should try ~studying away~, but if you’re anything like me, you know that figuring out the perfect study situation outside is nearly impossible. There’s nothing worse than packing up your things, walking to the river and then realizing you forgot something or your laptop is about to die. Or maybe you’ve chosen to study in the backyard, but the only thing you can focus on is being the perfect muse for the cameras waiting for #can’thelpit tourists. But fear not because this is Flyby’s guide to studying outdoors this fall!

load it up

This tip, arguably the most important of all, requires some forethought. But… I believe in you. Charge your devices. That means your laptop and iPad should be full of juice when you embark on your journey. And if, for some mysterious reason, your devices run out of battery, what a shame: you’ve found the perfect excuse to take a nap in the sun or immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Cambridge’s nature.

Fuel and hydration

We all know that studying when you’re hungry is a slippery slope that always results in periods of suspension and half-asses. So make sure you have enough Trader Joe’s Snacks in your bag to feed a monster before you sit down and realize you’re that monster and you’re starving. Don’t have time to go to TJ’s? Grab a fruit and yogurt from FlyBy, or maybe a cup of off-brand cereal to snack on from the dhall. Do you feel bujee? Stop at Black Sheep or Tatte and sample some top-notch food for the day. And don’t forget hydration! Your water bottle better be filled, and no, your pumpkin spice latte is no substitute for water (although I approve of drinking both at the same time).

Preparing for the elements

Looking out the window, it might seem like a scorching day, but don’t let that fool you. As soon as you let your guard down, that crisp autumn breeze will hit you with a nice reality check. Winter is coming, baby. Bring a jacket! Even if you sweat leaving your dorm, put a hoodie in your bag because when you finally sit down to study, the sun won’t be so high in the sky and the goosebumps will start to set in. on the other hand, make sure that you are also ready for the sun. We can’t have these UV rays that give us wrinkles for 30 years! Here we manifest J.Lo’s lack of age. Pack sunscreen or maybe a baseball cap. Also sunglasses! I can’t squint into the sun trying to decipher your super important Gened paper which you certainly didn’t hand over at the last minute – so take shade.

Location

So the question of where this outdoor study will take place… the options are nearly endless. If you’re feeling photogenic, I suggest you study anywhere near the John Harvard statue. Want to catch the traffic between Berg and the Science Center? You should probably sit on one of those red chairs in the square. Want to see runners fighting for their lives along the Charles? Get out a picnic blanket or plant one of the benches along the river. Do you want to be part of a “big community?” » Go to the Quad Lawn. If you’re really in the mood for adventure, take the hike across the river and sit at a picnic table behind the SEC – you can even spend some BoardPlus while you’re at it (don’t let that free cash go to lose !).

And with that, you’re now fully equipped to brave the great outdoors and maybe even study a little while you’re there. Don’t let the turkeys and tourists scare you away! Procrastinating – I mean working – outdoors is good for the soul (seasonal depression who?). You could productively skip your mid-term prep anywhere, so might as well do it outdoors 🙂