Despite the orange crane protruding from the trees, and the innocent prelim-ers strolling carefree down the pavement, the view from my window is a lovely tonic for the misery of revision.

In the last week I have found myself appreciating the freshly-painted railings outside the Fitzwilliam Museum, studying the pattern of bricks in the wall across the road, and trying to match up the trees’ greens with my stash of highlighters – all from my desk chair, in place of any work…

Procrastination in its simplest, most natural form, yes… but even a hint of summer goes a long way to refreshing your tired, overworked head. Easy as it is to slide into a pit of panic this term, don’t let the cheery clichés of Cambridge pass you by. Consider the following an exercise in positivity this exam term:

Tan-tastic Revision Spots:

Why not fill your iPod with tenuously relevant lectures from iTunes U and head to Jesus Green or Midsummer Common? You too could be that girl sitting against a tree, working, tanning and looking super poised and relaxed all at once. For the more intrepid, dodge the cowpats and try Coe Fen for a more country vibe…

Alternatively, bring the Sun to you…

Admittedly, getting much work done outside is a little ambitious, so head to the market instead to pick up a bunch of tulips and some strawberries while you’re at it (two punnets for £3), to lighten up your desk of doom inside.

Before you embark on the obligatory Rymans trip, browse John Lewis for ladybird post-its or a pet fish for your pencil to add a touch of life to your revision. For something more realistic, check out the electronic butterflies in jars – available on amazon.com – for endless distractions!

Try Tiger for all those bits and bobs you never knew you needed - not least the blocks of plastic grass (yes, really) and every colour pencil a Geographer could ever desire. My favourite are the bright yellow files (four of which are now lined up on my shelves) for extra optimism. Warning: do allow yourself enough time to pick up, marvel at and debate the use for each weird and wonderful item…

After a productive afternoon, treat yourself to a trip to Oliver Bonas and rejoice in the plethora of accessories and decorations. Whilst the bright furniture may be just a smidge outside of your student budget, consider spending the money you’re saving by not going to Cindies on one of these funky clocks to do your timed questions by. Or push the boat out, for the sake of your sanity, and invest in this beautiful rug to ensure your room remains a happy place these next few weeks…

Stay sweet and upbeat:

Download the SelfControl app, find a loud upbeat playlist on 8tracks.com, snack on strawberries, drink from Tiger’s funky glasses, and get back to work, surrounded by summer.

Don’t forget, May Week is coming…