Working through tough times
TODAY’S TOPIC:
In this episode Emily and Annie reflect on this year and take a moment to talk about working through anxiety and how to deal with ever changing events.
“IF YOU HAVE GOT TO THIS PART OF THE YEAR AND YOU ARE STILL FEELING LIKE YOU ARE SCRAMBLING, COMPARING YOURSELF AND FEELING LIKE YOU ARE FAILING... JUST PRESS PAUSE.
MAYBE TURN AWAY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA FOR A WHILE AND DIVE DEEPER INTO WHAT IS CAUSING YOUR FEELINGS AND LITTLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR MOOD.”
Introduction
Emily: Hello and welcome to the Learn Medical Art podcast we share our tips, tricks and advice on the medical illustration and animation industry. Welcome to episode 1! Our very first podcast episode! I’m Emily Holden, a medical illustrator and animator.
Annie: And I’m Annie Campbell, also a medical illustrator and animator. You can find our show notes and resources from this episode and more educational content (such as industry interviews and tutorials and more) at www.LearnMedical.art.
Emily: So...what are we discussing today Annie?
What we want to discuss
EH: Today we just wanted to take a moment to reflect on this year so far and take a moment to say "Hey, it's okay..."
AC: Yeah, it's ok. Hey! Hey! It’s ok.
EH: This has been a completely crazy and unexpected year for us all. Nobody was ready and no one could plan for this complete shift in our lives.
I know that I personally have been in a whirlwind and it feels like I am just starting to come out of it now. This pandemic has shaken our lives up both personally and professionally. Even though lockdown restrictions are continuing to lift and it seems there may be some sort of 'normal life' at the end of it... we just don't know what lies ahead and many of us are still very anxious. Already there are cities, regions, countries around the world are bringing back some restrictions... and we just have to sit and take it. We cannot get comfortable... SIGH
Sooo... how have you been doing Annie?
AC: It's been a big emotional year for me. I feel like I have this constant level of anxiety that is now my new norm and I'm that meme where the dog is sitting in a burning room going "it's okay". I'm not quite sure if I'm coping well with what's been happening in the world and also personally. At this point I'm just trying to take it day by day and I've slowly started to recognize things that really affect my mental health and I can now catch myself before I go towards a downward spiral.
EH: Oh I completely echo that. It’s like there is just this cloud of anxiety floating around that just won’t go away. I think that is one of the main reasons why I think we need talk today and just begin to break down one of the things we maybe can tackle during these times.
AC: Definitely Emily, many people are now kind of coming out of this heavy cloud, some people need a little more help than others. Many of us are finding that we need to continue to work from home for the rest of the year and it’s the same with lots of students, where their classes are being moved online and they now have to study from home too.
So Emily, what kind of things have you affected you throughout this crisis?
Comparison trap
EH: Well Annie... I could probably go on for ages answering that question. But I want to just briefly talk about some of the things that I really struggled with at the start as I know I am not alone in these feelings. A lot of us struggle with it on a day to day basis anyway... and that is the comparison trap. Social media was not a healthy place for me earlier this year. To me it seemed that I was just watching everyone I followed just burst into productivity. People were drawing, painting, working out, relaunching their websites... all these things that I could not do whilst childcare was now gone and I was scrambling to try and fit a full weeks work hours into a part time schedule. I was probably already feeling a lot of that anyway still navigating life and work as a new mum and then boom. My anxiety was at 100 and I would try to distract myself from that anxiety by playing on my phone... then end up on social media because I was stuck in the house and wanted to see something else... and then the cycle would just continue.
AC: Yeah I think many people experienced the same thing and I can’t even begin to imagine the weight of being a parent on top of all that. I think you did super, Emily. And you are definitely a person I look up to. You have such a positive outlook, it really upsets me to hear that you were struggling.
EH: Aww...stop it! It’s okay, it could have been worse I guess. I dodged the whole home schooling thing but at the same time my son is too young to occupy himself or follow instructions haha!
Now, on reflection I see that this constant comparing my situation to others was really adding fuel to my struggles. I think that this comparison trap can go in two ways. It can either spring you into action and give you that push to do some of the things that have maybe been lying on your to-do list for a little too long - fuelling your inner fire! I know for sure that when I am in a good mood I am spurred on my others productivity.
On the flipside... comparing your work to others can make you feel like you are not as good as other people... that you are failing, you’re falling behind... your not good enough full stop. So you do nothing.
So, lets add a global pandemic into the mix... yeah, you can imagine. Add Anxiety, frustration, anger... general panic and isolation. Then try to find the motivation to be creative!? No... some days you are maybe lucky if you brush your hair let alone create a masterpiece, start a huge side project... get that dream beach bod - haha whatever you’re goals may be!!
But these negative feelings...these are not feelings only you were, or are, experiencing. This is the trap of social media. The people who are struggling may still be posting stuff. They may have that panic-fuelled fire running through them and they are posting to desperately try and keep up with the next person who is also constantly posting. It doesn't mean they aren't struggling... they are maybe just putting that mask up to the world. Others who have been struggling may have fallen off your Instagram feed all together because they are struggling and you may have not noticed. Instagram is not a reflection of real life... it is a collection of snapshots of the best parts of people's lives. I’ve noticed as as time has gone by this year the post have settled down... I’m no longer feeling like a failure for not attempting to create amazing work in my spare time...or the best sour dough loaf of bread... like...everyone seemed to be making bread! I would never do that, why would I do it during a global pandemic!? And Why am I using that as ammunition to beat myself up?
One thing that I have found comfort from is that now more than ever, we are all united in this experience. We may never have anything else in our lifetimes that makes us have so much in common with our peers, our neighbours... the person living at the other side of the world.
Connect with others
AC: Yessssss. One thing I’ve always found comfort in is reaching out to others and staying connected, even if I am not actually posting content.
It is at times like this that we should be reaching out to other people, supporting our fellow artists and being open and honest about how we really are.
It is okay to press pause and focus on yourself. If you needed permission... there you go! Take it!
If you have got to this part of the year and you are still feeling like you are scrambling and comparing yourself and feeling like you are failing... just press pause. Maybe turn away from social media for a while and dive deeper into what is causing your feelings and little things you can do to improve your mood. I know I took a massive break from social media at the beginning of the year and throughout summer and it’s really helped.
EH: Absolutely. Professionally as well it is important that we can step back and reflect. Now I don’t want to deny that some people may be under a heavy financial burden caused by COVID, it could be so so tough... there is no way to sugar coat the situation in any way but we need to try and drag ANY positives we can out of what we are having to go through.
If your work has dried up you can take this breathing space as an opportunity to start looking at the bigger picture, your goals and strategies. One thing you could do is to look at that 'dream big' to do list and let yourself work on it. If you don’t have the list, make one. This situation won't feel great to start and you may be extremely stressed about not having a pile of work to get through. But it may give you a chance to think new creative ways you can help to find new clients. Maybe you have a passion project that you've always wanted to try any make into something... go and focus on that if it gives you joy. Maybe some good will come from it down the line.
On the otherhand you may be overwhelmed under the pile of work that has built up while you are frantically juggling working from home, parenting, struggling with your mental health... whatever it may have been. I must confess I am more in this club!! It is at this point that you need to just take that 'dream big' to-do list and lock it up in a box somewhere. This is not the year for anyone to have their 'best year ever'... lets be honest, 2020 is just the year to survive. You can do little bits of those “big dream plans” at a time, and only do them if they are making you feel better and energising you. Like this, this is a little bit of something out with the daily workload that makes me feel a little spark!
Fill your life with sparks of joy
AC: So... speaking of sparks... what else can we do to help ourselves and what are ways that we have found have helped us or that we know have helped others.
A lot of the resources we have been reading have advised things like meditation, journaling, and device detoxes - things like avoiding the news and social media in general! I had to take a couple of months off from social media myself at the beginning of the year.
I think it is good to keep reflecting on yourself and maybe that's where journaling or self reflection comes in? Try and remember your goals you had at the start of the year and think of what you want from the rest of the year. Are any of these goals still achievable? It's ok if not. Can you pivot and give yourself a boost by setting new goals?
We reached out to our Instagram community and asked them a couple of questions about what they have done to look after their well-being during this time. And we got some great answers. Some people have been taking time to get absorbed with work doing things like daily drawing challenges, getting absorbed in 3D projects or making coronavirus themed sciart!
Others have taken the opportunity to spend time with family and loved ones and put work on the back burner for a while. Finding new ways to spend time with friends like playing co-op video games - I have been loving spending time with people on Animal Crossing and also World War Z where I kill lots and lots of Zombies and it's glorious!
Others are finding comfort in their religion or going out for walks in nature.
Thank you to everyone who shared their well being tips with us. It’s always great to get some new ideas and ask others how they are looking after their mental and physical health right now.
EH: yes, I think when I am stuck for ideas, just reaching out and asking for advice from friends. I think at this point I have tried EVERY self care app on the App Store hahah...
One bit of advice I got from someone was to try and spend time in other rooms. I realised that I was spending most of my day in the same parts of my home every single day. One evening I sat in the kitchen all night instead of the living room and it was great - such a small thing but it helped to break the cabin fever.
AC: Yes I totally agree about using your space. One thing I wanted to add to that, and this might be something that I got from my mother, who said you should always have a dedicated space for work. This makes the separation between work and home life a lot easier. By having this dedicated space where you work every day, it could be a desk or your dining room table, means that you can focus more easily. Your brain will automatically switch into work mode whenever you sit in that space. Avoid working in parts of your home where you relax (like your bed or couch), that's your space to get away from work. It's important to separate the two spaces to help you unwind or step away if you need to. So like you, Emily, I go to my kitchen when I have a lunch break, I step away from my computer and I watch Fresh Prince on my iPad, because Will Smith brings me joy and shows like that brings a little brightness to my day.
What else do you do Emily?
EH: Also exercise... I know I feel way better when I’ve gone out for a run... I should have really done that this week!
AC: Yes! Emily I still can't quite figure out how you manage to run so far. I'm super impressed with your running abilities.
For me I feel that exercise releases endorphins, tricks your brain into being happy. I kind of need that boost sometimes. Going outside is so SO important for those working from home right now. If your government allows for it, then try to go outside at least once a day to get some fresh air into your lungs. If you can't then try and open your windows and sit next to some sunlight. If you know you're prone to seasonal affective disorder, then these small daily routines might help. When I started freelancing and working from home for a year I realized that my happiness was affected a lot if I didn't leave the house. So I made myself take daily walks before work and during my lunch breaks.
EH: Definitely. So let’s think about working from home. What has helped everyone stay productive? Again we reached out on our Instagram and got some great tips.
I really like this one which is The 1% rule. If you are getting overwhelmed with all the things you want to do, as long as you can do something to get better by 1% every day then you will improve and feel less overwhelmed.
AC: ooh I love that, it's the baby steps we talked about in our first episode.
EH: Another good tip is keeping my environment cosy with plants, music and anything else with positive vibes.
AC: Yes your environment is so so important to maintaining your mental health. If you're working from home, at the end of the day make sure you tidy that dedicated work space. Clean any mugs, organize your papers, dust a little, so that it's ready for you to start again the next day. This way you don't have a constant reminder of projects after work hours.
But enough about work stuff. What else can help Emily?
EH: Don’t forget to keep in touch with loved ones, even just checking in to say hello can make a big difference!
AC: I think that's probably a lot small things to try out. We're still navigating through this time of uncertainty but please know that you're not alone, there will always be a group or network for you out there.
If you ever want to connect with other medical illustrators or people who are interested in entering the field of medical illustration, there are so many great groups and organizations out there. I wanted to take this moment to give a shout out to free facebook groups like BioCommHive and Medical Illustration who have brought together so many medical illustrators around the world. These groups are also super supportive for people looking to enter the field of medical illustration. If you are looking for more in depth resources or to network and speak with professional medical illustrators then the Association of Medical Illustrators is a great organization to join.
Emily: Great thanks Annie and thanks everyone for tuning in to the Learn Medical Art podcast. You can find show notes and resources from this episode on our website www.learnmedical.art. Give us a follow on social media @learnmedicalart and if you want to get in touch you can reach us via our website or send us a DM.
