It’s been 2 months give or take since this quarantine began, and we’ve all been experiencing a plethora of emotions. For some of us, those emotions can be overwhelming and can overtake us to the point of feeling like we want to crawl out of our own skin. Trust us, you’re not alone in this.
Our lives have transformed in dramatic ways and each of us has been coping in our own way. May is mental health awareness month and with all that we are dealing with, it’s on our minds more than ever. That’s why I think the latest installment of Day By Day came at just the right time.
About Day By Day:
From Must B Nice comes Day By Day, a bi-weekly podcast series of narrative stories inspired by our new normal. Created and produced by Adam Faze and Jamie Dolan. For the best experience, listen with headphones. Follow us on Instagram @mustbnice + @daybyday and on Twitter @daybydaypod + @mustbnicefilms!
Episode eleven of Day By Day, titled ‘At the Peak of It All’ was written by Johanna Block and narrated by Josephine Langford (After). It tells the story of a young woman quarantining alone in New York City who battles against her own anxiety and the daily pressure to be productive. I think we can all identify with this. I know I could.
Unlike the character Lucy (Langford) I am not a writer, however since this quarantine started I have definitely been feeling so many of the emotions Lucy battles throughout the story. That feeling of anxiety because you’re not as productive as this person, or that person, can bring you down in a major way.
I have been dealing with this alot lately. When I just sit in my room on my bed or on the couch, that guilt sets in that it’s not what I should be doing. Then, like Lucy, I feel so angry with myself and frustrated I am not doing more. When we keep hearing people say “I started this new project or that new project,” it can make you feel like the laziest person on earth.
We demand so much of ourselves and because we now have all this extra time on our hands we feel like the world expects us to be doing so many things. That fear of the question “So what have you been doing with your time?” is something we all dread. Nobody wants to admit they haven’t done anything because we think we’ll be judged.
This isn’t how we should feel. Who made this rule that because we are stuck inside all day, we should be doing something? Seriously, who said that? It’s literally something we have all put into our minds because we live in a world where everyone thinks if you have free time, you should be doing something productive.
When Lucy says that she’s feeling “suffocated with the idea that she needs to be doing during a time of pause,” I felt that. This situation we’re in isn’t normal. We need to remove all the expectations we place on ourselves to do more. We’re all going through the same thing right now. We’re scared, angry, and worried about what comes next.
Taking the time to just stop and be, like Lucy says is so important. Allow yourself to feel. If you want to yell and scream or cry, do it. We need it. There is no shame in that. Reach out to the loved ones who make you feel good when you feel like you’re falling apart. The most important thing we all need to remember is we are not alone.
‘At the Peak of It All’ was incredibly beautiful, sad, and relatable. I enjoyed everything about this podcast. It’s recommended that you listen to it with headphones, and I agree. The sounds and music put you right into the story and Josephine’s narration is amazing. I felt every single emotion she conveyed. I was in tears by the end and I admit I cried again when I listened a second time.
Day By Day Podcasts release every Wednesday and Friday. Listen to Episode eleven ‘At the Peak of It All’ here.
