How to combat the Cambridge week five blues

Nothing like week five to get you down… but we have some solutions!


Week five is known in Cambridge as a bit of a turning point in the term. The essays and problem sheets have piled up, days are getting darker and it can all feel a bit gloomy. Here are our favourite ways to wind down and relax.

Go home for a day or two

This one comes with a big disclaimer – this is not an option for everyone, myself included. However, if you can, spending even a day outside of the Cambridge bubble can be a wonderful reset and put things into perspective a little bit.

Plan a day with no work

We all need a break from nights like these

Yes, really. As a final year student myself, this may sound slightly patronising but genuinely do not underestimate the power of switching off your academic mind. Read for fun, pick up a hobby you have let fall by the wayside, anything that gives that big brain of yours a big break.

Take a walk to Grantchester

The walk to Grantchester

Not a hidden secret at all, but the walk to Grantchester from the centre of town is one of the most idyllic around Cambridge. The benefit of getting outside and doing some some light exercise is unmatched- it really can be transformational.

And once you’ve made it there, nothing is stopping you from popping by the Blue Ball, one of my absolute favourite pubs.

Have a proper dinner with your friends

Katsu curry night was a hit!

Throw a little dinner party! It does not have to be anything fancy – it could even be a ready meal you eat together with your housemates. Breaking bread with the people you love most can soothe your soul.

Treat yourself

The sweetest matcha latte from Harvey’s Coffee House!

I do not mean go completely off the rails! I’m talking get a nice coffee, a sweet treat or that new trinket you’ve been eyeing. Retail therapy is one thing, but allowing yourself to enjoy the little things in life is another.

And there are many more options to choose from. Just know that you are not alone and that it is okay to relax a bit, even when you are super busy. Reaching out to someone is also always an option, but good luck everyone for the rest of term – you’ve got this <3