How I'm Coping Right Now

here's some ideas if you need help coping, too (and one idea I definitely don't recommend)

Jan 29, 2025

This year so far (we’re still in January 2025, right?) has certainly kept me on my toes. It feels like everyone I know in L.A. is dealing with a constant state of flight or fight (or freeze) right now. We are not okay after years of not being okay, and are tired of pretending it’s okay. I’ve likened things to feeling like being a hamster in one of those depressing little wheels right now. I’m running as fast as I can, but getting nowhere.

But life spins on. My therapist asked me this week how I’m coping with everything going on, and the answer was SURPRISINGLY WELL. Here’s some things I’m doing, and hopefully some of these are helpful for you, too.

Keeping flagpole “rituals” like meditating, journaling, planning, exercising and sticking to them. It’s a reminder that there’s a few things that I can still control. We all have these— brushing teeth, taking a shower, going for a walk after lunch. What are some of your little rituals that you can do every day, no matter the circumstance?
Reading “The Let Them” Theory by Mel Robbins. For some reason the “forget you” mindset is helpful right now and easily weeds through hurt feelings. People are going to have their big feelings and strange reactions right now. LET THEM.
Art and Crafts projects. I know not everyone has the time or the resources, but even if it’s doodling once a week, spending some time making SOMETHING, no matter how small, feels very rewarding right now. I’ve been pressing flowers, painting, and making collages.

Reading Bess Kalb’s Grudge Report and Peter Hedges’ substack. They are providing levity and sanity, and are this week’s Substack recommendations.
Making a difference where we can. We can’t solve all the world’s problems right now. I can barely solve my own! But, putting our efforts where we can make a difference is where I’m focusing my energy. That means, staying on top of local happenings (school-level, city-level, community-level, family-level) and taking direct action. That means avoiding people whose moral compasses aren’t aligned with yours. That means spending your money wisely and at places that aren’t going to compromise your values.
DISTRACTION AKA WORK 16-HOUR-DAYS AND MULTIPLE JOBS AND TRY NOT TO LOSE YOUR MIND IN THE PROCESS (okay, this last one I can’t actually recommend because it turns out it is awful working multiple part-time jobs that somehow still don’t total a full-time salary in a scary world where the cost-of-living continues to go up… but what choice do we have here?)

How are you coping right now? I’ll open up the subscriber chat this weekend, if anyone wants to share!

Keeping things short and sweet this week. Sending lots of love to everyone.

Cautiously Optimistic

Discussion about this post