Most of us here at Tufts can summarize our lives in a veritable laundry list of academic, social, athletic, religious and charity commitments. And there is a daily struggle to prioritize and re-prioritize all of these commitments so that we can maintain some semblance of a well-rounded, yet productive and fun life.
During midterms and finals especially, our to-do lists grow as fast as the piles of dirty clothing on our floors, and in the name of prioritizing, doing laundry is usually the first chore to get the boot. In these times of stress - when you have too much on your plate and too little in your closet - I can't necessarily help you get by, but I can help you get dressed.
So don't start digging through the hamper just yet. Follow these three tips to make the most of what little clothing you have left and tide you over till laundry day:
1. When running low, go commando. As with many other things in our lives, choosing an outfit when nearly all of one's clothes are dirty requires priorities. Hygiene should be the number one priority in this situation. For your own sake, do not wear dirty underwear! Put yesterday's briefs back where you found them and try going bare down there for the day. It's comfortable, it's natural and it definitely beats the gross alternative.
2. Think before you stink. A garment is technically dirty only if it smells bad or has any visible signs of filth. So if you're one of those people who wears something for only a few hours and then lumps it in with the rest of the laundry, think again. Desperate times call for desperate measures. So as long as there's no bad scent and no stain, put it on again and no one will be the wiser.
However, if your so-called dirty clothes really do stink, you'll need an alternate plan. Don't try to mask the smell of the t-shirt you've been wearing for the past three days by bathing it in cologne; because whether your scent is B.O. or D&G, no one wants to sit next to someone who reeks. Try wearing a wife-beater or tank top instead. They don't sit as close to your armpits or hold sweat and odor the same way things with sleeves do.
3. Wear it, don't bare it. Except in the case of underwear, I don't believe you should ever forgo an important piece of clothing simply because it is dirty. Socks are a perfect example. The only thing grosser than wearing dirty socks is not wearing socks at all and sweating all over the inside of your shoes. Furthermore, going barefoot in close-toed shoes can cause athlete's foot and a downright nasty stench. If your sock drawer is empty, get a second wearing out of a dirty pair by turning it inside out. It's not entirely sanitary, but it's certainly a quick fix.
4. If you can't face it, replace it. This is definitely my favorite solution to the laundry crisis, but by no means the most practical. If the thought of making do with dirty clothes really creeps you out, take yourself to the Tufts Bookstore and do a little shopping. Socks, sweats, shirts - you name it, the bookstore has it. Plus, they take points. Thanks, Daddy.
In college, we have an uncanny way of surviving on the bare minimum. We do the bare minimum amount of reading necessary to write our papers; we get the bare minimum amount of sleep necessary to function the next day; and we do the bare minimum amount of house chores necessary to keep our living environment disease-free.
We use our time sparingly in certain areas of life so that we can spend the maximum on others. How you spend your time is all a matter of priorities. But remember, school work is like laundry: it piles up faster than you think. So stay ahead of the game, and don't make laziness a lifestyle - it's not the Jumbo way.
