Why do I use the clothes steamer every day: A detail habit of a study abroad consultant's workplace
If you ask me what the true essence of the job as a study abroad consultant is, I wouldn't say "busy" or "professional". Instead, I would use two more specific words - frequent interactions with people and continuous output of judgments.
These two things have determined that I must maintain a stable external state every day. It's not about being overly meticulous, but rather ensuring there are no mistakes.
It was in this working environment that I gradually developed a very consistent habit: Before going out every day, or before each important communication, I would quickly iron my clothes with a clothes steamer.
This action was very small, but it almost ran through the entire rhythm of my career.
What this job truly "consumes" is actually one's state of mind.
Many people think that the most challenging aspects of being a Study Abroad Consultant are choosing schools, writing application essays, and developing application strategies for students. But after doing it for a while, you will realize that those are actually "controllable" parts.
The truly difficult aspects are these:
- In a single day, I may need to communicate with people from different backgrounds more than ten times.
- Each time, I must quickly establish trust.
- Every decision may have an impact on a student's future several years ahead.
I can't appear tired during the third consultation, or lose patience during the seventh communication.
And "state" has an external manifestation.
Whether the clothes are tidy is one of the most obvious aspects.
Why has a clothes steamer become a regular tool in my work?
I'm not a person who pays particular attention to fashion, but I have a basic requirement for "clean and neat".
I used to use an iron, but soon realized it was not feasible:
- There isn't enough time in the morning.
- There are too many operation steps.
- It's almost impossible to use while traveling for work.
Later, it was replaced by a clothes steamer, which truly fit my working rhythm.
Its greatest value is not "the amazing effect", but rather -
It can restore clothes to a state where they won't hinder performance within an extremely short period of time.
Several specific work scenarios: How does it integrate into my day?
1. Quick adjustments between consecutive consultations
Sometimes I have to meet with 6–8 groups of students and parents in a day, with the intervals between meetings being only ten minutes.
Under this kind of pace, it's simply impossible for you to "rebuild yourself".
But after sitting and walking for a whole day, clothes are prone to develop small wrinkles.
I will use the clothes steamer to simply clean my shirts during my spare time.
It doesn't need to be perfect, but at least it should be "in good condition".
2. Temporarily added video call
Applying for a study abroad program involves many uncertainties and there are often temporary communications involved.
Once, during the evening, an additional video call was added. The person on the other end was a professor from an overseas university.
I had just finished organizing the materials at that time and was in a "working state", but my clothes were obviously a bit messy.
I spent about two minutes treating the shirt with steam and then put it on right away.
At such times, you will clearly feel that -
The tool helps you maintain the rhythm, rather than interrupting you.
3. Assist students in preparing for interviews
Interview coaching is an important part of my job.
Students often spend a lot of time preparing their responses, but they often overlook one crucial point:
Whether their overall presentation matches the content.
Before the mock interview, I will help them tidy up their clothes.
Often, just by using a clothes steamer to smooth out the wrinkles, the overall appearance of the person will change completely.
This isn't "packaging", but rather a way to make the expression more complete.
From a professional perspective: Why is "wardrobe management" so crucial?
The profession of a study-abroad consultant has a very unique aspect -
You are both an "information provider" and a "reference point for judgment".
When parents and students are making decisions, they will unconsciously observe you:
- Are you stable?
- Are you meticulous?
- Are you worthy of long-term trust?
These judgments are not made based on what you said, but rather on your overall state.
The function of the clothes steamer here is actually quite simple:
It helped me deal with the "minor problems that might be magnified" in advance.
How can I determine whether a clothes steamer is worth using for a long time?
After using several products, my standards became very practical:
Can it be used at will?
If I have to prepare every time I use it, I won't really stick to it.
Is the steam output stable?
Unstable steam can make certain parts of the clothes get wet, which is even more troublesome.
Is it suitable for mobile scenarios?
I frequently move between the office, my home and the place where I'm on a business trip.
If the equipment is too heavy or takes up too much space, it will soon be abandoned.
The Nesugar clothes steamer I'm currently using gives me a rather "neutral" impression -
It doesn't have particularly aggressive features, but it rarely causes any problems during daily use.
This stability is more important to me than the parameters.
Is it "capable of maintaining the rhythm without interruption"?
This is a rather subjective but crucial standard.
A good tool is one that you don't notice its existence when you are busy, but it is always helping you maintain your condition.
Some details of habits formed over a long period of use
These are all things that I gradually developed during my work:
- Give priority to handling the upper body clothing (as most communication takes place in this area)
- When on a business trip, it is always placed on the side of the luggage and can be easily accessed at any time.
- Before the meeting, only carry out "necessary handling" without overly pursuing perfection.
- After steaming, give the clothes some time to return naturally and do not immediately fold them up.
When these habits are combined together, the entire process will become very smooth.
This job has enabled me to re-understand the concept of "professionalism".
When I first started in this field, I thought the sense of professionalism came from experience and knowledge.
Later it was discovered that that was just the foundation.
What truly earns people's trust in you is the ability to consistently deliver results -
no matter how many people you meet in a day, you can maintain a consistent state.
The clothes steamer won't make you more professional, but it will help you accomplish a very important task:
Make sure your appearance doesn't hinder your professionalism.
Conclusion: It is not a necessity, but it can easily become a habit.
I wouldn't say that everyone needs a clothes steamer.
But if your job is like mine:
High-frequency communication
Rhythmic and compact
Has requirements regarding the status
Then you will probably understand why I use it every day.
Because once you get used to solving a small problem in just a few minutes, it becomes very difficult to return to the "make-do" mode.
And this change is not ostentatious, but it will persist for a long time.
