Reflecting on the mental gymnastics of 2020
Written by Elise Mullen, Photo by Elise Mullen
“The university has made the proactive decision — out of concern for the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff — that all classes at SCAD Atlanta, SCAD Savannah, and SCAD Lacoste will be held virtually for the Spring 2020 quarter.” That was the email received on Mar. 12, 2020. Almost a full year later and I am sitting in my childhood bedroom, about to start my virtual classes for the day. Cheers to senior year.
It has turned into a cliche, everyone can remember exactly where they were, what they were doing and the events that followed Mar. 12. I remember waking up for my last day of classes of the winter 2020 quarter before I was supposed to leave to study abroad for the remainder of my junior year. Immediately overwhelmed by texts and emails about the changes due to COVID-19, and that was that, time to head home.
It’s a weird period of reflection to think about the last ten months. Everything in my life revolves around the four walls of my childhood bedroom. I roll out of my bed and take one step to my desk to log on for class, dress code as everyone knows is sweatpants accompanied by a sweater, on a good day.
Besides classes, essentially everything has turned virtual in my life. My aunts and I have gotten into a good routine of virtual yoga classes over zoom and if it’s not for stretching it’s for checking in on each other, and maintaining the connections that so many are lacking and suffering from. During one class in particular, focused on yoga for stress, the instructor used the term ‘mental gymnastics’ as a reference to how so many of us are feeling these days. Which is the best way I could describe how so many feel.
These past ten months have completely shifted our lives in just about every way. Dealing with the day to day struggles of feeling in control of your circumstances one day, and waking up with an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty and worry about the world the next. That’s a lot to deal with for people in their twenties, and there isn’t a rule book on how to perfectly go about this. The mental gymnastics of this is confusing and frustrating. For those who are also struggling with the day-to-day mental gymnastics, I have some ideas for you to take care of yourself and create as much normalcy as you can.
The best piece of unqualified advice I can give to anyone who is struggling or has been home for a while is to find something, anything, that makes you happy. Whether it be a daily walk, a call to a friend or family member, listening to your favorite musician or podcast or a Netflix series. Whatever it may be, find something that makes you forget about the complexities and uncertainties and reminds you of the power you have to wake up everyday to create.
As art students especially, we have a superpower in these circumstances that allows us to take these complexities and make something out of that. Even when creative is the last thing you want to be, trust me I have been there these past few months, I encourage you to reflect and if not tapping into yourself tap into what is happening in the world and use that as a drive for your work.
My hope for many things has diminished over the past few months, but my realization that creativity prevails has been overwhelming. Watching society get creative with school, family gatherings, holidays, virtual trivia, yoga and so much more has restored faith in me that we will be OK after this, and we are all there for each other.
