This is a sponsored post as part of the Let your Natural Beauty Shine Through with Zeno & Her Campus program.
When I was younger, I lived for swimming, canoeing, hiking and horseback riding at camp every summer. The camp I attended was not religiously affiliated, but it did function around one central tenet: If you’re feeling bad for yourself, do something for someone else quick. Today, I was feeling bad for myself. In the next two days, I have a presentation, two papers and a writing portfolio due, all of which I have come to realize will not get finished in time for me to participate in some of my school’s traditional senior sendoff activities. A petty complaint, I know, and ultimately my fault for not planning my work schedule better, but, as my college career winds down, I am far more concerned with savoring last moments with those who have become closest to me over the last four years than with acing my last few classes—sorry I’m not sorry!
So this morning I was sitting at my laptop, sporting the universal “stressed” look (sweatshirt, no make up, side ponytail) and resenting the sunny day outside, when I realized I needed to gracefully exit this pity party—I needed to do something for somebody quick. The deed itself had to be quick, too: with so many looming deadlines, I didn’t have much time to dedicate to anything other than school. I considered ten minutes as a meter maid—I’ve accrued a hefty debt to parking services over four years, so I understand the plight of the poorly parked, and it would have given me an excuse to listen to “Lovely Rita” on repeat—but I decided to go a more personal route and play washer/dryer maid in my sorority house, instead.
Finishing my busy sister’s laundry took less than a minute per load, and her gleeful surprise at finding her laundry done upon returning from class made my small time sacrifice totally worth it. What is more, taking five minutes out of my finals-filled day to make someone else’s day easier made got me out of mope mode and gave me a reinvigorating burst of feel-good energy.
While my good deed didn’t necessarily make me feel beautiful—I’m still rocking the stressed-out side pony as I write this—it did wonders for my attitude, and it perked up someone else’s day as well. So when you find yourself deep in the finals doldrums in the coming weeks and want an uncaffinated pick-me-up, remember that doing something for someone else quick does the trick! Even if it’s something as small as a a five-minute favor for a friend.
Note of caution: if you choose to help someone with their laundry like I did, be sure to keep an eye out for items that can’t go in the dryer! Ruining someone’s linen sundress never goes over well, even when done with the best of intentions.