We’re in the depths of February. The semester has thoroughly settled in, and it’s finally time…

No, it is not the time for midterms yet (you’ll get plenty of that soon, in case anyone is looking forward to it). It’s time for blocking — Harvard’s most twisted social experiment.

Unlike upperclassmen who may be excited to storm the yard with loudspeakers, as a first-year, the idea of housing is dominated by uncertainty and anxiety. You want me to choose the people I will live with for the next three years based on three months?

Blocking as a concept is uncomfortable, and thus any and all conversations about it are, too. That is why, here, ironically, as a first-year, I attempt to impart some wisdom on how to soft-launch your blocking conversations, with a bit of advice from those who have gone through the process.

1. The Exposure Effect

If it’s too awkward or scary to ask bluntly, “Who are you blocking with?”, try asking that question to someone of your other acquaintances while your friend is next to you. After asking the other person, stare hard at the friend you might want to block with. Let your friend know telepathically that you want to block with them. They will surely receive the message.

Warning: if you don’t start the conversation with the right friend, or send your brainwaves to your desired candidate, you may earn a non-refundable ticket into a blocking group you don’t actually want.

2. Complaining

Instead of complaining about your twelfth problem set in just the fourth week of the semester (yes, Math 21a and 21b, we see you) or an Expos 20 paper that feels like it definitely shouldn’t be due this soon, try redirecting that energy toward complaining about blocking with your friends instead. There's plenty to talk about — speculating on where your group might end up, ranking houses that you want, or just venting together about the process. Shared misery is, after all, a time-honored bonding experience. Just be mindful of how much negativity you put out there, because nobody wants to spend a year living with someone who’s a Debbie Downer.

3. Out of Nowhere

If these strategies sound overwhelming on top of your 100 pages of reading and concerns about being in the top 20% of your classes, just yelling out, “Hey, do you have a blocking group?” or “Do YOU want to block with ME?” while walking to class, eating in Berg, or working on the silent floor of Cabot is always an option. Of course, this may incite some awkwardness if you blurt this out in section, but it’s quick at the very least.

4. All Jokes Aside…

If you already feel secure about your blocking plans, that’s awesome! Even if you don’t, there is still time left. Here, I’ve brought to you some extremely insightful advice from the Flyby’s upperclassmen who have all survived the trials of becoming a rising sophomore and are now on the other side (thankfully).

#1: Don’t soft-launch the conversation. HARD LAUNCH. You’re all adults, and clear communication matters for sustaining friendships! (This is too mature - Flupperclassmen #2)

#2: Don’t, I repeat, DO NOT have your blocking conversation in Annenberg. There are eyes and ears everywhere, so your conversations are not staying private. Also, it’s just awkward when you lock eyes with your campus celebrity as you are bawling your eyes out at table C17… totally hypothetical, of course.

#3: Be normal about the process and honest with yourself and your friends. Don’t create a Google Form application for people to join your blocking group. You’ll end up loving the house you get, as long as you buy into the community and culture — we promise.

#4: Don’t leave things for the last minute — be honest with your friends if you’re actually going to block with them (don’t leave five blocking groups in limbo). Blocking doesn’t equal rooming… but make sure there are one or two people you’d be willing to room with if necessary.

#5: Blocking is overrated. Don’t embarrass yourself, don’t play hard to get, don’t beg. Just get it over with.

#6: Blocking does not always have to be dramatic and life-altering. It’s guaranteed to bring up tough conversations and awkwardness for everyone, and it’s best that you don’t take or make anything personal.

Overall, great advice to keep in mind. Good luck with the process, and may the housing gods smile down on you and your blocking group come this Housing Day!