Into a Rythm
Posted October 13, 2025 by Will Romey
I biked to the Northampton Forbes Library yesterday morning, and was struck by the autumnal colors –
yellow maples, bright red poison ivy, and sumac all whizzed past me on the rail trail. I’m enjoying these signs of fall as the nights get colder. Four weeks of classes have rushed by, and I’m starting to get into the academic rhythm.
Saturday feels like the start of my academic week – I have two classes back-to-back at SLIS West. I get an early start with my usual chemex of coffee (No. 6 Depot Coffee Roasters, usually) and a PB&J (homemade buckwheat sourdough, Skippy Super Chunk, Bonne Maman Mixed Berry). Then a scenic drive to Greenfield – last week’s commute was foggy, with a hot air balloon lurking above the highway. I like to listen to a podcast on the way up, as I try to kick my brain into gear – No Such Thing As A Fish has been my go-to lately.
I’ve been doing my best to keep Sunday reserved as a day off – taking some deliberate space away from work and school helps me decompress. Besides, the libraries are all closed on Sunday. It’s a good day for bike rides and day trips. Monday and Tuesday are my primary days for schoolwork. If I’m home, I’ll set up a study station on the dining room table, surrounding myself with books and a laptop or two while playing records. I like the flow of records with studying – getting up every 24 minutes to flip it over helps keep the momentum and makes me take a regular short break. It’s also a good time to do some baking projects – I’ll get a loaf of bread rising in the morning, bake it in the evening, and do my reading in between.
I also like to mix it up by studying at the Forbes Library in Northampton. It’s a short bike ride away, and
has lots of nooks where I can ensconce myself and read. Plus, it’s the pick-up location for my interlibrary loans – a system I’ve been fully taking advantage of. I haven’t been able to get every book I want through the system, but I’ve been able to find a lot of them!
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are all work days – bartending and table service at a beer bar downtown. There’s more Simmons students and Simmons grads working there then seems statistically likely, but let’s attribute that to the hiring team’s good taste in people. I can squeeze in some school work before clocking in, but those days are mostly for grinding out the necessary capital. There is something to having some time to ruminate on readings done earlier in the week . In the dissociative chaos management that is bartending comes a certain thoughtfulness as I assimilate readings done earlier in the week while pouring IPAs. Friday night comes quickly, and then I’m suddenly back to class – four weeks have flown by already! I’m surfing on the waves of deadlines and piles of books, and I suspect the end of this semester will be in sight soon.