Small joys in the rhythm of postgrad life.
Hi everyone! 👋
I’m a current postgraduate at City St George’s (based around the Clerkenwell and Moorgate campus), and one thing I’ve really had to learn over the past year is how to properly balance studying with the small joys of the London life all happening at once!
1. The commute moments
There’s something very “City St George's postgrad” about reading journal articles on the Northern Line and pretending the train shaking isn’t ruining your focus. And the joy when you manage to get a seat? Peak academic luxury.
2. The coffee ritual
A lot of us end up with a favourite café near campus where we practically become regulars.
That “mid-afternoon coffee to survive your reading list” is a shared cultural experience at this point. My go-to is Brill Café or Department of Coffee and Social Affairs.
3. The ‘stolen’ hours between classes
Postgrads get very good at squeezing productivity into tiny spaces, 40 minutes before a seminar becomes:
4. Social life that happens in mini-episodes
With busy schedules all around, meeting another postgrad friend between sessions usually goes like:
“Are you free for a quick break?”
“No? Next week? Next month? March?”
And somehow you still manage to make great friendships in these short bursts.
5. The library evenings
There’s a special vibe in the library when the undergrads leave and the building goes quiet.
Postgrads spread out, work quietly on open laptops, and the mood hums with focused energy and shared purpose.
6. Packing your entire life into a backpack
Chargers, laptop, lunch, notes, water bottle, emergency snacks, umbrella, the usual postgrad mental load, all in one bag.
You start feeling like a travelling academic.
7. Learning to value micro-moments of rest
A 10-minute sit on a bench outside.
A quick walk around campus.
Listening to music before going inside.
Those tiny breathers are essential, and all postgrads seem to know it.
8. Group chats that save your life
Every course or group ends up with that one WhatsApp chat:
9. The “big shop” becomes a highlight
After a long week, shopping for groceries and cooking a proper meal feels like you’ve got your life sorted.
It’s the small wins that matter.
10. Finding comfort corners on campus
All postgrad student inevitably end up finding their own personal secret “thinking space”, a quiet seating area, a tiny nook in the library, a spot by a window.
Those spots start to feel like a second home by mid-semester.
11. The pride of finally understanding something complicated
That moment when a lecture or reading finally clicks after days of confusion hits differently as a postgrad.
It feels like unlocking a new part of your brain.
12. Balancing study with real life
Many postgrads juggle jobs, families, or big responsibilities, so half the experience is learning to carve out academic time in a real adult schedule.
You get incredibly good at prioritising what truly matters.
13. The joy of independent learning
One of the best but most challenging parts is realizing how self-directed postgrad study is.
It’s intimidating at first, but eventually feels empowering, like you’re becoming the expert rather than just learning from one.
14. Quiet weekends that feel sacred
Your Saturdays become your reset time:
slow breakfast, laundry, prep for the week, a peaceful walk, and maybe some light reading.
Those days make the whole workload feel manageable.
I’d love to hear how other postgrads at City St George’s (or anyone in London!) keep up with self-care. Do you have a go-to routine, campus space, or area nearby that helps you unwind after classes? 💬
I’m a current postgraduate at City St George’s (based around the Clerkenwell and Moorgate campus), and one thing I’ve really had to learn over the past year is how to properly balance studying with the small joys of the London life all happening at once!
1. The commute moments
There’s something very “City St George's postgrad” about reading journal articles on the Northern Line and pretending the train shaking isn’t ruining your focus. And the joy when you manage to get a seat? Peak academic luxury.
2. The coffee ritual
A lot of us end up with a favourite café near campus where we practically become regulars.
That “mid-afternoon coffee to survive your reading list” is a shared cultural experience at this point. My go-to is Brill Café or Department of Coffee and Social Affairs.
3. The ‘stolen’ hours between classes
Postgrads get very good at squeezing productivity into tiny spaces, 40 minutes before a seminar becomes:
•
A time to catch up on email replies
•
A chance to study quick readings
•
A break to organise your day tomorrow
Or sometimes… doing absolutely nothing and taking a well-deserved reprieve. Both count.
4. Social life that happens in mini-episodes
With busy schedules all around, meeting another postgrad friend between sessions usually goes like:
“Are you free for a quick break?”
“No? Next week? Next month? March?”
And somehow you still manage to make great friendships in these short bursts.
5. The library evenings
There’s a special vibe in the library when the undergrads leave and the building goes quiet.
Postgrads spread out, work quietly on open laptops, and the mood hums with focused energy and shared purpose.
6. Packing your entire life into a backpack
Chargers, laptop, lunch, notes, water bottle, emergency snacks, umbrella, the usual postgrad mental load, all in one bag.
You start feeling like a travelling academic.
7. Learning to value micro-moments of rest
A 10-minute sit on a bench outside.
A quick walk around campus.
Listening to music before going inside.
Those tiny breathers are essential, and all postgrads seem to know it.
8. Group chats that save your life
Every course or group ends up with that one WhatsApp chat:
•
Someone asking “Has the reading been uploaded yet?”
•
Someone panicking about deadlines.
•
Someone sending memes because we all need them.
It's Postgrad camaraderie in its purest form.
9. The “big shop” becomes a highlight
After a long week, shopping for groceries and cooking a proper meal feels like you’ve got your life sorted.
It’s the small wins that matter.
10. Finding comfort corners on campus
All postgrad student inevitably end up finding their own personal secret “thinking space”, a quiet seating area, a tiny nook in the library, a spot by a window.
Those spots start to feel like a second home by mid-semester.
11. The pride of finally understanding something complicated
That moment when a lecture or reading finally clicks after days of confusion hits differently as a postgrad.
It feels like unlocking a new part of your brain.
12. Balancing study with real life
Many postgrads juggle jobs, families, or big responsibilities, so half the experience is learning to carve out academic time in a real adult schedule.
You get incredibly good at prioritising what truly matters.
13. The joy of independent learning
One of the best but most challenging parts is realizing how self-directed postgrad study is.
It’s intimidating at first, but eventually feels empowering, like you’re becoming the expert rather than just learning from one.
14. Quiet weekends that feel sacred
Your Saturdays become your reset time:
slow breakfast, laundry, prep for the week, a peaceful walk, and maybe some light reading.
Those days make the whole workload feel manageable.
I’d love to hear how other postgrads at City St George’s (or anyone in London!) keep up with self-care. Do you have a go-to routine, campus space, or area nearby that helps you unwind after classes? 💬
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