In light of the current state of affairs surrounding the COVID-19 virus, I’ve opted to switch out my original idea for this month’s post for my personal take on self-isolation, self-quarantine, and social distancing during this pandemic. As someone who has been practicing all three for a while (for various reasons not to do with communicable diseases), I’m experiencing this shift in social consciousness along with everyone else, and have observations – not necessarily solutions – that I hope can be helpful. Because one of -if not the – biggest reason I’ve been drawn to writing/storytelling since I was old enough to read, was to add another (my) perspective to a larger conversation.
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I saw the pictures before I experienced it myself – first in Twitter and Instagram feeds, then from a friend of mine who lives in the town just north of me. I’m single, without children or a partner, and have been dealing with a spinal disc protrusion / sciatica issues for the past six months, so I’ve not been able to be in a rush to get anything from anywhere.
Empty, unreplenished shelves from stores across one of the most wealthy countries in the world. More than anything, it’s the hoarding of toilet paper and its continued absence that shocked me the most. It reminded me of being a kid in the 80s and seeing pictures from Soviet Russia and the Eastern Bloc – the stories of long lines for government-issued staple items, rationing and having to make things last, not knowing when or whether or not they would be replenished. I’m well aware my current situation isn’t analogous, but the bare shelves sparked memories of childhood, which took me in another direction: limitations, “making do” and settling.
When I finally went grocery shopping, I found myself looking for what I would normally purchase and found almost none of it anywhere. There were definitely other things to buy, but not my mindless, routine go-tos – eggs, tofu, frozen meats, fruits, meals – I buy mostly frozen food. It’s easier to dole out single servings and won’t spoil the way fresh food does.
I reassessed, made new decisions, purchased some fresh produce and headed to a different store, just to see what was there. Again, lots of empty shelves of longer-lasting food. There were some Cream-of soups and vegan beef bouillon available, but not exactly what I was used to.
I wasn’t unnerved, I realized, because, I’m used to not being able to get everything I need when I need it. It’s usually for financial reasons, not for lack of availability. I’ve spent my entire life “making do,” settling, and improvising, so this trip to the store was just another trip to the store, adjusting and dealing with what I have to work with. dealing with extenuating limitations.
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A few weeks back I saw some posts regarding AWP and the addition of streaming for some of the panel presentations to accommodate for those who weren’t able to attend due to health concerns as COVID-19 began to spread throughout the U.S. The annual literary conference has been under fire in recent years due to allegations of ableism.
As someone who’s not been able to afford to attend the conference to date, I’ve observed this discussion over the past few years and am particularly interested in how concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus has brought ableism – in this context and beyond – further into the fore.
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With the rise in social distancing and self-quarantining comes an exponential shift towards remote working, primarily from home. Freelancers, gig professionals, artists, and other entrepreneur types have had the jump on this life for a while. However, since it existed outside of the “normal,” “secure,” “stable” job, it often hasn’t been considered “real work” by those who have only worked the traditional 9-5 jobs (and are a bit on the judgemental side). For those who have either had to or chosen to take on that self-guided, self-disciplined lifestyle, they have had to find a way to organize their lives without a corporate structure to buoy them.
For as many folks out there who need the stability of a 9-5 job and everything that it has and can entail, there are those who need the flexibility of a working model that allows them to maximize their best working times and allows them to attend to their priorities in a way that works best for them. To that end, there are as many resources currently being shared across the internet and beyond as those who need them.
For example, Women Who Submit member Kate Maruyama, who has been working from home for years, posted her personal schedule and a few tips on how she maintains her discipline (and sanity):
For those of us whose anxiety rises at the thought of structure and discipline – especially if it’s never been a thing you’re good at – here’s another POV on how to go with the flow and prevent burn-out while working from home (thanks Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo for tweeting this thread!):
As someone who’s been stuck in between these two places – wanting to work remotely but not having enough faith in that avenue or feeling informed/experienced enough, I am seeing a huge influx (forgive the hyperbole, it’s just more than I usually see, which is exciting) of resources for freelance, gig-based, artist and self-employed folks:
- There’s a whole WordPress site dedicated to COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources
- This list of arts resources from Creative Capital, a non-profit that “supports innovative and adventurous artists across the country through funding, counsel, gatherings, and career development services.”
- For those based in Los Angeles County, there is this Google Doc that has been making the rounds, which has resources for virtually all immediate needs and also highlights resources that are generally available.
I’ve come across some newsletters and podcasts in the past few years that I’m also leaning on now for helpful solutions and general positive outlook assistance. I don’t always remember how I came across them, but they’re specifically geared for the self-employed and freelance / gig-based writer and artist life:
- Nikki Carter’s newsletter Will & Way which focuses on “creative + tech job opportunities to women of color.”
- The Create Daily newsletter, curated by Queen Sugar writer and TV& Film Director Felicia Pride
- The Future Thinkers Podcast, which focuses on “evolving technology, society, and consciousness” was one of the first places I’d heard of the idea of “remote living” or “digital nomadism.” It’s a great resource for those who may find it challenging to conceive of a sustainable work-life outside of a traditional work structure.
- Don’t Keep Your Day Job is from Cathy Heller for aspiring and working creative entrepreneurs and is great for those who are curious and looking for different, practical perspectives on the realities of “following your passion.”
- The Writers Panel highlights TV writers and can be particularly inspirational if that’s an avenue you’d like to go into.
For those feeling increased anxiety or dips into depression during this present situation, may I suggest reaching out to those you know who live with anxiety and depression (if you know anyone) on a regular basis? People! It’s what we’ve been (unintentionally) training for! Feelings of impending doom? Waiting for the other shoe to drop? Managing feelings of near-incapacitation due to bleak hopelessness at the state of the world? We know this playlist!
Not to be glib or make light of depression and anxiety (in a bad way) but this is familiar territory, for better or worse, for some of us. For some folks, I’m not naming names, managing those feelings and concerns is a (multiple times daily) reality. There is a wealth of techniques that folks have acquired to manage them:
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If nothing else, this current viral state of affairs has the potential to further assist the collective “we” in deepening awareness and/or finding commonalities in new places, developing a more nuanced understanding of systemic flaws in local and national infrastructures, the drawbacks to healthcare as a business model as opposed to a human right, our collective draw to want to be of assistance, and our need to believe that we can.
Ramona Pilar Gonzales writes, produces, and publishes plays, prose, and songs. Her works have been produced around Los Angeles, published online and in print, and performed across Southern California. Her dramatized essay “Del Plato a la Boca” was produced via a grant from La Plaza Cultura y Artes Foundation.