Safe Haven

BY VERONICA MONTALVO

Sweater Old Navy

Sweaters (top to bottom) Michael Kors, H&M, Gap, H&M, Zara

The scene: string lights with burned out bulbs drape four walls painted a Claire’s lavender, a collection of taunting diaries narrating years of teenage theatrics, a bookshelf dedicated to scarcely-read and predominantly-skimmed summer reading literature, and projects from high school art elective collecting dust in the corner awaiting their fate: to be repurposed or discarded. These are the relics of a hometown bedroom.

It’s undoubtedly an odd time to return to an adolescent bedroom as an adult. Self-isolation during the coronavirus pandemic drove some to roll up their sleeves and embark on extensive, TikTok-worthy renovations. As for the rest, the démodé aesthetic isn’t bothersome but rather familiar and comforting. Living among adorning fossils can provide a sense of safety–a feeling currently in high demand.

No matter the style of the room, there’s one essential every personal space has in common. No, it’s not a succulent or collage wall. Nor is it the prized record collection or poster of that one indie band argued to have been discovered before becoming mainstream. It’s far more mundane and, therefore, quite underrated.

A chair. Whether it’s an armchair, desk chair, recliner, or ladderback, this one piece of furniture is the pillar of a safe haven. It carries its sitter during intense Netflix binges, FaceTimes with family members and friends, amateur manicures during Blackboard Collaborate classes, and three-hour breaks after 20 “productive” minutes of Most are sitting for 17 hours a day–rightfully so, comfort is vital in this time of isolation. One can’t endure this sedentary lifestyle if the chair is rigid, too low, or its seat too deep. Yet not everyone can afford a premium chair of superior material accessorized with advanced adjustment features. It’s possible to perfect an ergonomic set up with the proper modifications: one can introduce a seat cushion or footrest to adjust the chair to the appropriate height; alternate seating positions so as to not reduce blood flow or cause muscle fatigue; and, if necessary, tend to one’s posture with a lumbar support pillow. The ideal sitting position is with both feet flat on the ground, hips and knees at a 90° angle, and one’s back flat against the chair and slightly reclined. Alignment is key to a healthy relationship with a chair.

Once comfortability is secured, however, it can be difficult to venture outside of the haven. The pandemic forced the change from a dynamic lifestyle to one that’s homebound. In response, the public burrowed away and succumbed to indolence. Entire modern-day lives are happening in the cushion of seats. Yet it’s now time to progress because life, no matter if confined, must be lived to the fullest. Stretch, garden, take a walk even if it’s carrying days-old dishes to the kitchen. Find an excuse to rise from the seat. But do not fret. The chair will remain patient in its designated spot for when it’s to resume its physical as well as emotional and mental weightlifting.

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