Black Mirror: EP 2020

by Cindy Guerrero-Munguia

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I can’t be the only one who feels like we’re stuck in an episode of Black Mirror. I keep thinking back to life a week ago. A month ago. Shit, even a year ago. Who would’ve ever thought we would be living through something like this? It’s hard to cope when there are so many unknowns, so if you’ve been struggling like me, IT’S OK. It’s important to remember that we’re not superheroes, and that all we can do is take things day by day. Although I’d love to just hibernate until everything goes back to normal, we can’t lose sight of ourselves. It’s important to acknowledge our emotions and give ourselves the time and space to process, so that we can keep moving forward!

Even though my job is shut down, I’m still teleworking Monday through Friday while also making the shift to distance learning. I just went back to college this semester, woot woooot! Although I gotta say, this timing SUCKS lol. The year I decided to get my shit together, is when the universe so conveniently decided to throw us one hell of a curve ball. However, I’m extremely grateful that I at least have something to keep myself busy so I don’t go completely crazy. Now, teleworking and distance learning has always sounded great and all but, I never realized how hard it is to maintain self-discipline when your bed and Netflix are constantly calling your name! Besides that, I miss being social!!!!! I also miss the little things, like watching the sunrise on my commute to work, being silly with my coworkers, exploring coffee shops to study in, and obviously MY FRIENDS AND FAM.

Now let’s move on to keeping our sanity. How the hell are we expected NOT to go crazy with everything going on?! It’s extremely easy to fall into an unproductive and unhealthy routine being at home all day. It’s also very easy (at least for me), to start to slip into a black hole of worry and despair! A few things I’ve been doing to battle this:

Communication! Although we should all be staying home, it’s important to remember that this doesn’t mean we should be isolating ourselves mentally/emotionally. If you’re feeling down, for any of the many reasons we all may be right now, keep in mind that you’re not alone and your loved ones more than likely feel this way too. CHECK IN WITH THEM, whether it’s a quick text, a call, FaceTime, or even a virtual happy-hour with the whole gang! Pour up and take virtual shots together. Cry together. Laugh together. It’s not something we’re used to, but hey, we do with what we can so let’s make the best of it.

Journaling. This is a crucial point in time, and we’re living and seeing it with our very own eyes. Imagine looking back to this moment in six months, a year, five years, etc. We might not even believe that we lived through it ourselves! Journaling is a nice way to release the many emotions we may be feeling during this pandemic, while also documenting literal history. I’ve always loved journaling, but going back and reading what you wrote is always great. Sometimes you realize you were overreacting and being dramatic, while other times you see how much you were going through at the time and realize you’re stronger than you know. Journaling is therapeutic and we stan!

Coloring! Anyone who knows me, knows I love coloring and drawing and painting and all that artsy shit. I mean, no one said I’m good at it, but fuck it who cares. Who gon’ check me?! Thankfully, I’ve got a variety of coloring books ranging from Vogue, to Harry Potter, and now I’ve got all the time in the world to bring the kid out in me. If you don’t have any coloring books but you have a printer, google is your best friend! There’s plenty of coloring pages you can print out in whatever theme you prefer. You can even take it a step further and create your own mandala or other geometric shapes from scratch, and color them in! This is a great way to spend some quality time with yourself while also practicing concentration, tuning your fine motor skills, and just having fun.

In this time of confusion, remember to take care of yourself. As much as we’d all love to save the world, it starts with ourselves. STAY HOME. It’s annoying and can make us feel helpless, but it’s the best thing we can do right now. This doesn’t mean to stay locked up in your room though. Go for a walk, read a book on your deck, lay in the grass with your dog, I don’t know. Whatever floats your boat. But get outside. Stay informed, but don’t over-inform yourself. What do I mean by that? It’s important to know the facts, but for the sake of our mental health, we must limit the amount of news we watch and read. It’s a slippery slope, and you don’t wanna find yourself spiraling into a never-ending black hole. Maintaining tunnel vision is a must right now. This WILL have an end. We WILL make it through this, together. Remember that you are not alone.

OK, this is the part where I’m beyond tempted to say XOXO, Gossip Girl. But I’ll spare you all. Until next time!