Staples, Are You There? It’s Me, a Laminating Fanatic.

 My new laminator is godsent.

There’s no other way to put it. There’s no exaggeration to the statement. 

When my laminator seals plastic packets around the papers that I feed it, it also seals my sanity into place. The first time I used it, I laminated one-hundred things in a row—it felt wondrous. It felt more than wondrous. . . . it felt revitalizing. Because, let’s be real, social distancing and lockdown have steadily become exasperating. Luckily, I’ve found my new mantra to get me through this calamity: laminate, laminate, laminate! 

My best friend convinced me to get my own after she found so much pleasure in using hers. Luckily, I was able to buy mine when Staples still allowed customers inside their stores. And although I could dwell how much it cost me to purchase my new laminator ($125 from Staples, which now offers curbside pickup at most locations), it’s a truly moot point since the experience, practicality, and joy that my laminator provides is downright priceless—especially right now. 

Like most college students around the country, I did not sign up for online classes this semester. It’s been difficult to keep track of abrupt policy changes and new modes of teaching (although, shoutout to The New School and our faculty for being so understanding). Without classes to physically attend, sketchy internet bandwidth, and socialization with classmates out of the relative question, I’ve struggled to manage my widely open quarantine days. 

But, I still have things to accomplish if I want to pass my classes or maintain a healthy mental state (well, as healthy a state as possible). For me, a routine is a great way to combat such openness; it recreates structure and thus, provides an element of comfort. And maybe that’s why I find such solace in my laminator: it helps me accomplish all of that and more. 

So, I’ve compiled a couple of lists, so you can experience your own laminating pleasure.

What to Laminate During Lockdown/Societal Time-out:

  • Skeletal Schedules
    • Create an outline of a daily routine that can be filled in every morning (or evening—whatever works best for you) with dry-erase markers. Block out the times you want to work, eat, exercise, or have personal time for whatever you want to do (Netflix binges, video games, naps, facetime with friends). 
      • My skeletal schedule is the only reason I’ve accomplished anything this quarantine. To be transparent, it’s probably the only reason I’m still passing my classes instead of binge-watching Boy Meets World all day long.
  • Collages
    • Cut out magazine pictures or print aesthetic pictures from Pinterest, glue them together, and laminate the final product. The lamination will protect your artwork against falling apart, time, wine stains, tears, etc. It will also make the collage easier to tape up on walls without damaging the cardstock base. 
  • Photos
    • Print out old Instagram posts or dig through the family archives. Use the photos you find to reminisce on the feeling of human connection while practicing gratitude for your relationships. 
  • Affirmations or inspiring poetry
    • Needing some words of encouragement? Find some mantras or sayings that you love, laminate them, and tape them on your wall so they’re the first thing that you see when you wake up. Or create a fill-in sheet of your personal affirmations sprinkled with hope and spirituality to remind yourself about the silver linings. 
      • Personally, laminating poems to recite out loud is my favorite use so far. . . . my therapist says it counts as practicing mindfulness, which is a largely beneficial outlook amid this pandemic!
        • Mindfulness: letting go of any negative judgments or thoughts to focus on the present moment; accepting reality for what it is rather than what one might wish it could be.
  • List of Goals 
    • What needs to get done? What needs to get done first, and what could wait until later? Prioritizing goals can help manage any stress you might be feeling over your To-Do list. Plus, it’s easy to cross off your accomplishments or rearrange them using dry erase markers. I find that it is nice to have a visual representation of productivity. 
  • Recipes
    • Now is a great time to get funky in the kitchen. Save the edible experiments that actually taste good for future reference. 

Things To Laminate After Lockdown/Societal Time-out:

  • Syllabi for new semesters
    • Always great to have around.
  • Car registrations and other important documents like contracts or leases
    • I mean if you have a car. . . . 
  • Weekly and/or daily schedules 
    • Jot down classes, meetings, appointments, or any other obligations, and carry them in your bag for reference.
  • Chores list
    • What chores need to get done around the house/apartment and who’s going to do them? How will you keep track of various roommate agreements and divisions of responsibility? Answer: a laminated plan. 
    • Tip: use checkboxes to mark off what’s been cleaned so far and what still needs to be done.
  • Written boundaries for a shared space
    • Roommate agreements
      • To share or not to share clothes? Or, what is generally considered alright to share without immediate inquiry?
      • What items should be asked about before using them?
      • What is OFF LIMITS in the bathroom, kitchen cabinets, or any other common area?
  • Anything to memorize or commit to the subconscious; no need to worry about smudged ink
    • Flashcards
    • Study guides
    • Speech or presentation notes
    • Scripts
    • Greeting cards from loved ones

 Laminating in itself is an uplifting activity. It provides satisfaction and a sense of productivity. It subtly unlocks and preserves creativity in stifling environments. The calming and repetitive motion can rid oneself of anxiety or stress and is ultimately a productive way to spend “free” time. Laminating is basically a face mask for the invisible worry warts plaguing otherwise clear skin. It doesn’t require internet, for those with limited bandwidth. Plus, laminators are compact enough to store in small spaces and easy to transport.

But, perhaps the best part about laminating is that it’s entirely customizable and controllable. We all need some sense of control right now. You create the documents to immortalize and protect from elements like coffee stains or makeup smudges. You choose the information to fill forms out with dry-erase markers or eventually scrub out with sharpies, and you change the content by your own design and whim. That’s the beauty of lamination: the power to be flexible and mindful at the same time.