Find your quarters, throw in your laundry, add a Tide pod and hit start. Now what? Here are 10 ways to effectively use your time as you wait to switch your laundry!
- Relax and re-center
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Assignments feel endless, syllabi seem vague and the day seems so short. Need a break? Use your laundry time to re-center and relax with a few minutes of mediation or emotional journaling. UF’s Counseling and Wellness Center actually has a great list of apps for finding your equilibrium again and addressing issues such as anxiety. Deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation are also fabulous, very doable ways to relax while in the laundry room.
- Catch-up on the news
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Life gets hectic, but current events never stop. Do you ever walk through Weimer Hall midweek, glance at the TV news feed and feel behind on the top stories? Use that half-hour laundry wash cycle to catch up on the top domestic and international stories. Every UF student has free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Economist and The Wall Street Journal. Take advantage of these subscriptions and download the apps. Or would you rather listen to your news? Check out the podcast section of Spotify for an awesome collection of news podcasts that will bring you up to date on what is happening in the world or help you make sense of a complex issue in the news. Most major news outlets have at least one podcast.
- Read an actual novel
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Shout out to the book worms and the true nerds who miss the days they had time for fluffy novels, tantalizing biographies or too good memoirs. Don’t give up on your fun reading. Instead, throw a book on top of your dirty laundry and spend your time reading with the hum of laundry machines as white noise in the background. Audio books are also always an option. Pop in those headphones and find your happy place.
- Ugh, homework
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If you do need to do homework while you wait for your laundry, do so strategically. Think about the environment you are studying in and make sure you are setting realistic goals for yourself. Can you really accomplish this in that amount of time? Is this an important assignment that you need to study for in a less distracting environment? It should go without saying, but do not attempt to take a timed quiz or a proctored exam in the laundry room. Your GPA thanks you.
- Catch up with friends and family
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The half-hour or so as you wait for your laundry to wash can also be a great time to catch up with friends or family. Make a few unrushed phone calls, text your siblings or maybe even write a letter to your grandmother. Depending on where your laundry facilities are located, the letter box may be just around the hallway.
- Just stare
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Seriously. When is the last time you just sat still and did nothing for a while? This is your time. Try it out. Fully live in the moment. Get lost in the swirling pattern of the washing machines. Let your mind take a break.
- Organize yourself
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Laundry time can also be a great time to get organized. Pull out the felt-tip markers, planners, calendars and get to work. Have you added those dates for your next essay? What about your math test? Pull up your syllabi on Canvas and double-check dates and times in your calendar. Maybe laundry time is your time to make a game plan for the week. When can you carve out time to study? When can you steal time to relax? Any club meetings that you want to make sure not to miss? Organization is essential with busy schedules.
- Eat, shower, sleep: the necessities
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The Independent Florida Alligator actually ran a fascinating story on college students’ struggles with food during high-stress times and exam periods. Make laundry time your time to go eat a nutritious and balanced meal. Is sleep what you’re lacking? Try a nap instead. When is the last time you showered? For real? No, dry shampoo doesn’t count. Take care of basic needs that you may be neglecting during your laundry time. Other strange errands that can be accomplished with this time: prescription pick-up or getting the mail.
- Paint your nails & do a mask
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Okay, so maybe not in the laundry room but if your laundry facilities are close your room , set a timer and head back to your room for some quick self-care and beautification. Throw on a coat of quick dry nail polish or enjoy a face mask. You will return to the laundry room and the rest of your day feeling oh so glamorous.
- Game time!
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Ping-pong, online chess, solitaire, foosball, pool — the list of fun games goes on! Waiting on laundry is a great time to grab a few friends and play a fun game. There is also a myriad of awesome online strategy and logic games for all ages. Looking for a place to start? Check out the classic Sugar, Sugar logic game. It may be designed for kids, but it will stump you too! Some dorms may also have an X-Box or other game console that offers even more entertaining opportunities to get to know neighbors and to relax.
Don’t let laundry be a nuisance in your day, use it as a period of getting stuff done or letting yourself get nothing done for once!