Showing posts with label quarantine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quarantine. Show all posts
A Virtual Fashion Show: Zoom Quarantine Lookbook
Reporting, photography: Robyn De Leon, Maeve Sullivan
Layout design: Nicholas Canchola
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| PHOTO: ASHLEY SERYN, GRAPHIC: RAVEN YAMAMOTO |
Q&A with Story Nineteen: Capturing Life via FaceTime
By Raven Yamamoto
Agency's own Raven Yamamoto was able to interview Ashley Seryn, one of the two creators of Story Nineteen—an Instagram account dedicated to “sharing our stories during COVID-19 through FaceTime shoots and handwritten notes.” The project is one of many seeking to document how the world has undergone change on an individual level in the age of social distancing. We were excited to have the opportunity to talk more with Seryn about how Story Nineteen aims to capture people in such a raw way.
Raven Yamamoto (RY): What inspired you to start this project? Do you take influence from any other Instagram accounts or projects?
Ashley Seryn (AS): I was planning a video project before COVID-19 hit, so I was pretty bummed that shooting wasn’t really an option anymore. It was hard for me and hearing from others about all the jobs and creative projects that were canceled or put on hold. But a friend suggested I try shooting over FaceTime, and I was very inspired after seeing @alessioalbi’s post. I started Story Nineteen as a modified version of that video project and a way to stay creative and connected while encouraging others to do the same.
RY: How did you come up with the title of your project? Why Story Nineteen?
Ashley: I wanted to allude to COVID-19 in some way, and since the project is about sharing stories during the crisis, I decided that Story Nineteen worked out!
RY: How do you collect the material for your posts?
RY: How do you collect the material for your posts?
AS: Many of the initial posts were taken by me, and the people I shot with sent me their notes. I started encouraging submissions to crowdsource content, so more people began to tag us and send their photos and notes. The FaceTime shoot trend really took off with Alessio and later Vogue and Bella Hadid, so I always see so many beautiful renditions on social media. Since it’s impossible to share them all, I just want to provide a small platform to showcase a few of them, while providing context and a deeper connection through the handwritten notes.
RY: What are you trying to capture with Story Nineteen?
AS: I’m hoping to capture a snippet of an individual’s quarantine to paint a larger context for people’s experience of it. Photos are just a snapshot, and the notes are almost like a one-day journal entry. I think seeing these little moments connects us and [offers] us a way to try to make sense of what’s happening.
AS: I think having a creative outlet is super important, even though you may not feel creative every day. I found FaceTime shoots to be a great way to do that! I’m always a fan of writing—I think it provides a way to make sense of your emotions and a personal account to look back on. I also made sure to include a question asking about a goal or project the individual is working on. Writing about goals is so important in actualizing them.
RY: Do you think there’s an element of human vulnerability to your project and the submissions you receive? Why or why not?
AS: Of course! Writing is often a personal thing, so sharing your handwritten notes online can feel vulnerable. [If you aren’t] having the best day, even voicing a goal can be scary if you’re unsure of it. For the webcam photos, getting your picture taken may be a bit uncomfortable for some people, especially without that in-person connection. Overall, I think this unprecedented time is making us all feel a bit more vulnerable, but it’s making us realize how important this is in connecting with others.
RY: How have people reacted to your work? Has there been a lot of support for the project since you started it?
AS: I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback since I created the account with Alexa Losey, which was very motivating for me to hear. People liked the concept and just seeing a bit of positivity and creativity in their day, and some who did the written note said it was a therapeutic experience and that they enjoyed doing it. The account itself is still very small, but I’m glad to be able to share and reach the people that I can, with hopes to reach more!
RY: How has this project affected you during lockdown?
RY: How has this project affected you during lockdown?
AS: Like many other freelancers, my upcoming shoots and jobs were all canceled or postponed, and like the majority of students, my lectures are all on Zoom now (I’m a grad student at USC). Right now, I’m back home in Orange County with my family. Overall, I’m thankful for the privilege to be able to use this time to focus on myself as it’s really helped me to slow down and realize that life isn’t about what you’ve accomplished, but how you impact others.
RY: Do you plan to continue Story Nineteen after quarantine is eventually lifted?
AS: I think it’ll be a gradual process for things to go back to normal after quarantine is lifted, so I want to play it by ear to see if there’s other kinds of innovative content we can share as things change. When things do settle down, I’m planning to create a zine to sell with the photos and notes and donate all the proceeds to a COVID-19 relief charity.
RY: Would you encourage others to start their own FaceTime/webcam photography series/accounts/projects? Why or why not?
AS: Yes! I’ve seen so many people try FaceTime shoots and start other projects, from creating a platform to share quarantine drama to raise money for coronavirus-related causes (@the_socialdistanceproject), to big companies creating campaigns using at-home content. I think there’s so much potential for innovative, digitized content. Now is a great opportunity to get creative with ways to make old things work by finding new solutions.
This article was originally published on April 23, 2020 with Adolescent Content.
This article was originally published on April 23, 2020 with Adolescent Content.
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| Photo: Megan Loreto |
10 Tips for Productivity in Quarantine
by Megan Loreto
I know I’m not alone when I say that quarantine and the global pandemic brought to us by COVID-19 has completely disintegrated my motivation for getting schoolwork done. Maybe it’s the distraction of my newsfeed, the stress of moving, the strange flow of time that occurs when I’m indoors for the majority of the day or just Zoom learning itself but, whatever the cause, I’m left feeling sluggish and unproductive.
This morning, after several hours of playing Animal Crossing, I decided that it was about time I got it together (at least until my fruit trees blossomed). School is continuing on and, despite my internal resentment, that’s something to be grateful for. We may have to wait in line at grocery stores for milk and it’s absurd and bizarre, but we also need to make sure we get a reasonable grade on that online open book test next week to pass our classes. At least one of those two stressors is normal and familiar. Being more productive is about giving yourself a little bit more control and one less thing to worry about in a future where things are uncertain. I guess what I’m trying to say is that, in a way, doing your homework is kind of, almost self care right now... like an at-home facial for your stress. It’s like working out: we don’t want to but we feel better afterwards.
Here are some things that work for me:
10. Get Dressed
I talked about this a lot on Instagram when the Safer at Home initiatives were gearing up and I’ve seen a lot of other people post about it since. Getting dressed for your day, taking a shower, going through the motions of your skincare routine and putting on makeup (optional) really boost your productivity and overall well being. Some of it is about the ritual, some of it is about glancing at yourself in the mirror and feeling okay, and some of it is just that if your clothes are too comfy you will nap.
9. Make a List
Most people probably already do this, but I have a pseudo-bullet journal where I write my daily to-dos in the morning and check them off as I go. I like putting easy, small tasks in the mix with the daunting stuff. It is also a good way to make sure that tasks don’t fall through the cracks.
8. Create an Organized Workspace
Take five minutes in the morning or evening before you work to tidy your desk up. Make it look nice. Maybe light a candle or pick out a nice pen to use before you get started. If you want a mini-project, redo your desk completely so that it becomes a space that inspires you or calms you down. A lot of productivity gurus will tell you not to work in bed, but I think it’s also a huge no to always do your work in the same spot. Give yourself some variety.
7. Figure Out the Times of Day You’re Most Productive
My workflow doesn’t really lock into place until like 7 or 8 p.m. I’m not very productive in the morning or even the afternoon as far as schoolwork goes. Find the time of day when it’s easiest to convince yourself to get work done and tap into that time frame. If you know you aren’t going to actually start your paper at 10 a.m. because you’ll be scrolling on your phone until 3 p.m., just be honest and go do something else with your morning until the afternoon.
6. Set Up a Reward System
We all deserve to cut ourselves slack right now and we definitely deserve rewards, so be kind to yourself. Take breaks; long ones if you need them. If you need an extension, email your professor and ask for one. You know how to best reward yourself. Here are some of my personal suggestions: drinking coffee or tea, eating a fruit or a small bowl of a salty snack, blasting a well-curated playlist, reading a chapter of a fun book, drawing, embroidering, journaling, editing photos, going for a walk, making a phone call, watching a twenty minutes of TV, staring into the void.
5. Try the Pomodoro Method
If you like the idea of a more structured reward system, try the Pomodoro Method. Set a timer for 25 minutes and do work. Set another timer for five and this is your reward. So on and so forth. I have tried it and it does work, especially for projects that I feel bored with (which is everything right now).
4. The Two Minute Rule
This rule applies to everything and anything. If there is a task you don’t want to do right then and there, ask yourself how long it will take. If the answer is two minutes or less? Just do it. For example: instead of setting the empty coffee cup down in the sink, just wash it off and let it dry. By deferring small tasks, we let them build up and create larger problems. This method of thinking can be applied to your space (keeping it clean), school work and menial tasks like sending emails.
3. Set Timers
Setting timers helps me if all else fails. Tell yourself you will work for 30 minutes or set a timer for 20 more minutes of procrastination. Either way, this sometimes gives me the push I need to get started.
2. Stress Clean
If you have been working and working and working while staring at a screen, get up and clean. If you don’t feel like doing work, get up and clean. Tidy your workspace, do the dishes, or vacuum. This is a productive task that doesn’t involve schoolwork, but will either make you feel better or it will make you want to do anything besides clean—that’s where homework comes in.
1. Synthesize the Weekends
Let’s be honest, school can’t exist without the weekends. The whole key to college is maintaining the balance between working hard and doing things you want to do. Although the days of the week don’t mean a ton right now, let Saturdays and Sundays be the space you need to live and process. Put away your school books. Bake something, have a virtual coffee date with your friends or start a new creative project.
These aren’t expert tips and they won’t do the work for you. The truth is, all of us are doing the best we can right now. While productivity is a great thing, there is no need to feel guilty if some days are less productive than others. We get through this by focusing on doing what we can one day at a time.
An Ode to the Outside World
By Isha Gounder
A note from the author: The inspiration for these poems comes mostly from the fact that it feels like the whole world is passing by right now. Being at home, I’ve had time to explore my experience of the world as it was at one point. These poems are a reflection of what our world used to be and a reminder of how transient our lives can be. These poems are an ode to the outside world in the age of social distancing.
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