I am sure by now most of you have caught up with the terrible events in Charlottesville and the aftermath that followed, including the disastrous press conference held yesterday. I watched it live in the middle of the night and I must admit I wasn’t able to sleep afterwards. To be fair, I think most of us haven’t really been able to catch a restful night in a while, as we have been continuously forced to process live the horrendous debacle of the Trump presidency. But I am not here to discuss this disastrous waste of a man. I am here to share a few little tips to keep our heads above the water and make it through the work day, when relentless breaking news and political turmoil are threatening our daily sanity.

 

I recognize that this might feel like a very simplistic answer compared to the gruesome extent of what is happening across the Atlantic. But as I am not qualified to offer an insightful journalistic piece or a well-thought political editorial, this is all I can offer for now. Let’s hope it is of some help for you, unknown reader who was kind enough to open my post.

 

Never take breaking news for granted. Get the full story from different and well respected sources. Confront opinions. Force yourself to subscribe to journalist “burst your bubble” initiatives so that you hear both sides of a story. Know the facts before getting to the analyses. If there is a reference to a speech or a text, listen or read it fully.

 

You are not the only one feeling like this right now. If you can - call, Skype, FaceTime, text, write or even visit your friends and loved ones. Share your thoughts with them. Discuss, find solutions and take action together. Inspire yourselves enough to ground your shared frustration and anger in something bigger that is worth fighting for. Have a look at this great thread started by Clare Lucas on coping strategies!

 

Grab your agenda and start filling. March every weekend, take part in night vigils, print and distribute flyers, organize debates, write a blog post, create a podcast or a mailing list, meet people you think can help or provide you with advice, start a political book club, volunteer your free time at any charity of your choice.

 

On the day the US election results were announced, I subscribed to the donations schemes of three American charities and one American newspaper, in addition of the organisations I already support in the UK and in France. I don’t donate a lot each month, but I believe regularity will help give a longer and bigger impact to the actions of these organisations.

 

Keep at hand small ways to quickly bring a smile on your face and inspire you to do good (“When they go low, we go high.” – Michelle Obama). It can be anything, a hobby, a meditation exercise, a book or movie you love, a YouTube channel, a podcast, even a website link! Here I used to illustrate this article is the website of American illustrator Liz Climo who I like very much. You can also have a look at the wonderful In An Heartbeat video Laura Croudace shared earlier on CharityConnect – a little gem of feel-good animation!

 

 

I know it has been very difficult to not feel overwhelmed over this past year. I can’t remember how many times I have almost cried watching the news. I do not expect these small steps to change this. It is important that we keep reacting strongly and emotionally when terrifying and abnormal things happen in the world. But it is also important not to drown and feel helpless in the midst of all this craziness. This is why I hope this little list will help, even in the slightest way, to raise your chin up and face the rest of your work day.

 

*Cue the music - Don’t Stop by Fleetwood Mac*