First and foremost, take care of yourself. In airplanes, they tell you to secure your own oxygen mask before helping others, and the same principle applies here. Eat well. Go outdoors. Make time for joy and play. Get enough sleep. Drink water.
The concept of self-care has roots in Black activism and resistance. When Audre Lorde first used the phrase in A Burst of Light, she had been diagnosed with cancer for a second time. “I had to examine,” she wrote, “in my dreams as well as in my immune-function tests, the devastating effects of overextension. Overextending myself is not stretching myself. I had to accept how difficult it is to monitor the difference. Necessary for me as cutting down on sugar. Crucial. Physically. Psychically. Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, that is an act of political warfare.”
Self-care has been warped into spa visits and scented candles, but its history is in resistance to oppression. When society is trying to undermine your well-being and suppress your happiness, joy is an act of resistance. So, find the activities, people, and food that make you joyful and invest in your own happiness. Only when you are rested will you have the energy you need to fight injustice.
If you’re afraid of what may happen in the years ahead, your fears are justified. Not only do we have the new administration’s 920-page game plan (If you want to know how Project 2025 will impact anti-racist efforts and historically marginalized communities, Alexis has written an excellent breakdown of the document.), we also have records from Trump’s first administration, including not only what he accomplished but what he wanted to do.
Large-scale efforts are great in the fight for equity; indeed, it is only resistance on a massive scale that will bring change. If you plan to attend a protest, take some common-sense precautions. Buy a faraday bag, if you can, or remember to shut off your phone completely before you reach the gathering site.
Also, heed this excellent advice from the National Lawyers Guild of Detroit/Michigan: shut the **** up. Don’t answer questions; don’t give anyone your name. Remember that the incoming president has called for “one real rough, nasty [and] violent day…One rough hour—and I mean ‘real rough’—the word will get out.” When BLM protests erupted after George Floyd’s murder, a member of Trump’s team asked, “Can’t you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something?”
Trump has vowed to invoke the Insurrection Act, deploying members of the military to quell protests and in 2020, discussed the use of a sound cannon (Long Range Acoustic Device) or an Active Denial System, or heat ray, on protestors. You can read up on the excruciating pain caused by these devices, but the descriptions are not for the faint of heart. I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from protesting, just driving in the point that you have to protect yourself from what could be violent and deadly responses from the military and law enforcement.
There are many things you can do on a smaller scale, though, that are also effective. Here’s a list of micro-activist actions you can take that help others and support those who are doing the work. You’ll notice that many of the suggestions could be viewed as trivial—things like baking for community meetings or establishing book groups or filming police—but research shows that these types of behaviors have a ripple effect, with impacts far beyond the size of the task.
What’s more, any time that you spend volunteering or helping others in a tangible way is a form of self-care. One of my favorite words is “confelicity,” which means to find joy and satisfaction in the happiness and success of other people. Research shows that helping others can lower blood pressure and cortisol levels, protecting your heart with similar effectiveness as with exercise and a healthy diet.
In the short term, I strongly recommend that you leave Twitter (X). As Ali Breland wrote in this excellent piece for The Atlantic,
“The reason right-wing politicians & influencers such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, Nick Fuentes, & Candace Owens keep posting on X instead of on conservative platforms is because they want what Rufo wants: a chance to push their perspectives into the mainstream… The nature of reactionary politics demands constant confrontations to the left. “Triggering the libs” sounds like a joke, but it’s often essential for the right. This explains the popularity of some X accounts with millions of followers, such as Libs of TikTok, whose purpose is to troll liberals… The more liberals leave X, the less value it offers to the right, both in terms of cultural relevance and in opportunities for trolling… It’s not a given that a platform has to last. Old habits die hard, but they can die.”
If someone posts an outrageous, inaccurate, or offensive statement, do not screenshot it or quote it, even to express your disapproval. After all, the first three-quarters of “Look at this a**hole,” is “Look at this.” (Credit to Guy Kelly) Don’t repeat lies or offensive comments in order to debunk them, mythbust, or fact check. Paraphrase what was said and repeat the truth.
While I am a professional journalist and will be objective in my reporting, I will never be neutral. As a Black Jewish woman who works every day for equity and inclusion, many of Donald Trump’s campaign promises threaten me and my family. He has also made explicit threats to jail reporters who refuse to obey his demands and to pull the broadcast licenses of networks who fact check him. It would be pure folly to pretend that I don’t have an opinion on these issues.
However, my job is to present relevant information to the public in an accurate, clear, and fair way. The threats posed by the next administration, especially to the poor, the non-white, the non-straight, and other vulnerable communities are real. On the other hand, there are some safeguards built into the system that could help curb Trump’s worst impulses. David Cole wrote that “we ought not discount the headwinds he is likely to face if people oppose his initiatives. Our worst enemy is not Trump himself, but fatalism about our ability to stop him. The Constitution’s checks and balances are not self-enforcing; they work only where citizens and civil society institutions fight back. Trump’s first term showed that when we do, we can limit the damage and turn the tide.”
As reporters, that means refusing to normalize what is not normal. Have discussions now about what that means so you’re not arguing in the moment while trying to get a show on the air or push “publish” on a story.
As citizens, make a list of contact information for all of your elected representatives and set aside time every week to make sure they are representing you. Activists have long said that phone calls and emails are much more effective than people expect. “Every single call helps your senator know how much of a priority this issue is for their constituents,” Katherine Hamilton writes. “It’s all about building pressure, and calls are one of the most efficient ways to do so.”
Finally, avoid speculation both in your professional work and in your personal life. Anyone who has covered politics for any length of time knows that it’s silly to predict what will happen on Capitol Hill. Plus, negativity bias means you’ll likely imagine the worst possible outcomes and feel miserable about something that may never occur. Let it go.
We are not powerless. We have more influence than we think, and we can wield that power in ways that help others and support ourselves. But first, and always, be kind to yourself.
