by Amelia Chong
COVID-19, Black Lives Matter movement, Hong Kong Protest, Beirut Explosion, Australian Wildfires; to name only a few out of many, many events that have taken place this year alone. It is no secret that 2020 has been one massive roller coaster and it does not seem like the hills and drops are over just yet.
Living in the age of the Internet, we are constantly bombarded with information, be it regarding entertainment, the environment, or politics. With 2020 being the year lacking social interaction, we can assume that anyone who owns a device will be spending more time on social media and the internet than usual, so saying that we would be getting pumped with more information than normal is valid.
As I am writing this, many well-known names are paying their respects to Chadwick Boseman, who was known to portray King T’Challa in Marvel’s Black Panther. To say that the news devastated the world would be an understatement: he was an inspiring role model for everyone around the world, and even more so within children in black communities. 2020 is sadly also a year full of passings, with big names like Kobe Bryant to regular people who became prominent like George Floyd; adding an emotional surge to the rocky road.
It would not come as a surprise that many of us are overwhelmed by the events happening around us and it may be too much to handle. With the number of issues and tragedies at hand we keep up with, it is as if each of us have countless computer tabs open in our minds, the notifications springing from every one of them restlessly. So, is there a magical fix to this overwhelming sensation? And if there is, what is it?
First, understand that everyone is feeling the same way. The sensation of giving attention to every little event is overwhelming, and so is the responsibility of having to spread awareness about equality and basic rights. We still only have 24 hours a day, yet our to-do lists expand to require more time than given. It’s easy to tune into Twitter and be bombarded with a screen full of upsetting news and get sucked into a whirlpool of confusion. Here’s the thing: We get so emotional and traumatized by these events because they are rare. No events in any given year will total up to match 2020’s, so it is perfectly normal to be overwhelmed. Everyone is.
Second, step back and focus on yourself. Take some time for yourself each day to unwind and get away from the mess the year has so unkindly descended upon us. Be it treating yourself to a spa day or a good meal, find time to do activities that bring you joy – your health and mental state always comes first. Ultimately, one has to be in tip-top shape before one can fight the world’s battles.
Third, talk to somebody. Text a friend or call up a sibling. Discuss global issues with somebody else to lessen the feeling of being in this alone. By sharing, the load on our shoulders will be lightened, which makes for more productive activities later on. Getting to know that somebody else is temporarily stuck in the same quicksand we’re in can be comforting at times.
Last but not least, know that it’s okay to close some of the tabs in your mind. After all, tabs don’t vanish upon closing, they’re just a “Ctrl + Shift + T” away when you’re feeling better to take on the world.