Without Losing Your Mind
Self-Care Lessons for the Resistance
Since the election, a lot of people not previously involved in activism have jumped in with both feet...you’re going to have to learn these strategies or else burn out in the first six months.1. Don’t Get Used to Trump —
Get Away From Him
... Stop refreshing Twitter and reading the news...at some point it will become too much to handle.
You can cope by shutting it out for a while — binge watching Netflix, playing with your dog, going to yoga...
People can get used to anything, and if you don’t take steps to prevent it, you will get used to Trump
2. Focus Your Energy on One or Two Issues
... Don’t tell people to stop talking about racism because climate change is more mportant, or that health care can wait because we have to focus on LGBTQ rights. It’s all important.
3. Make Activism Fun
...Volunteer for an immigrants’ rights clinic with a group of colleagues, and then go out for drinks afterwards and feel free to be proud of yourselves... activism is supposed to be fun for the protestors.
4. Take Care of the Basics... Go to therapy. Yes, really.
Get enough sleep. You’d be amazed what sleep-deprivation does to your body & mind.
Go to the doctor. And the dentist. It’s hard to focus on social justice when a toothache is keeping you up
Exercise. You don’t have to run a marathon, but do some yoga or go for a jog or at least take a long walk...
Make your bed. Seriously, it takes like two minutes max and makes such a difference.
Oh, and call your mother, if you can.
