Congratulations! You’ve successfully made it to reading week. Reading week is an exciting milestone. Not only is it indicative of the halfway mark in this semester, but your hard work thus far is rewarded with a well-deserved rest. You probably won’t be travelling much due to COVID-19 restrictions, so many of you will likely be spending much of the break at home. But we have to remember that time is precious and opportunities like this don’t come very often, so it’s important to make the most of it. Here are some tips, ideas, and food for thought on how to maximize your time this reading week. Complete your schoolwork. If you only do one thing this upcoming reading week, this should be it. Now is the perfect time to get any work done, whether it’s catching up on past assignments or getting ahead in your coursework. Make sure that you do your readings, study for tests, prepare for upcoming presentations, and whatever else you need to do to succeed in your classes. This will make the remainder of your semester just that much easier. Get organized. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably accumulated a lot of course material in the last several weeks. Normally by this time of the semester, we all have piles of study notes, computers with desktops amess with files, assignments and projects in various stages of completion, etc. – and you’ve probably been far too busy to clean it all up. Now that you have some time, maybe you can use this opportunity to sort through the disarray. Throw away pieces of paper and delete computer files you don’t need anymore, archive your past work, and prepare all the material you’ll need for the remainder of your semester. Academic life can be chaotic, but at least we can mitigate it with a little effort in organization. Plan ahead. With the whirlwind of the first half of your semester now in the past, it’s the perfect time to start looking into the future. Take a look at your course outline. What upcoming coursework do you have? What upcoming commitments do you have? What needs to be done between now and the end of the semester? What can you do to balance your personal, professional, and academic lives? If you’re one of many who needs help in gaining clear foresight in the neverending hustle and bustle of life, I strongly suggest making a schedule to manage all your commitments, important dates, and tasks. This should include everything important in your life, not just your academic itinerary. Don’t be afraid to write ‘presentation at 11 a.m.’ adjacent to ‘lunch with bestie.’ The life of a university student is a busy one, but with a defined schedule and a proactive attitude, you can set yourself up for a successful latter half and a strong finish. Exercise. With remote learning, you’ve almost certainly been doing a lot of sitting and staring at a screen. Being in the comforts of your own home is a wonderful thing, but being inert for extended periods of time can be damaging to your physical and mental health. Now is your chance to get in some physical activity. Whether you’re playing sports, undertaking an intense fitness regimen, or just going for a walk, you’ll certainly feel an increase in energy, productivity, and morale. Sometimes, a little sweat is all you need to feel better. Rest. As counterintuitive as it may sound, resting can be the most productive thing you do this week. This doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping in (although you should definitely get enough shut-eye when you get the chance). Resting is anything that relaxes and reenergizes you. Spend some time doing the things you love. You probably have pastimes and hobbies that you haven’t been able to do since the semester began, and reading week provides ample time for you to reignite your pursuits. Personally, this is the time for me to play a lot of guitar, a passion of mine that is often neglected during the busy academic year. For you, it might be finishing that book, watching films, playing video games, or spending time with your loved ones. Whatever it is that recharges you, make sure you take the time to do at least some of it this upcoming reading week. Reaching reading week is an accomplishment on its own, and it is worthwhile acknowledging how far you’ve come this semester. Take the time to congratulate yourself for all your hard work, treat yourself well, and you’ll be ready to take on whatever the rest of this semester has in store for you. We at GH360 wish you all a fruitful, enjoyable, and safe reading week.