Some Ways To Keep Calm & Resist In The Second Trump Era

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The second presidential term of Donald Trump has become more overwhelming, but we’ve assembled a quick list of things to do to thrive in the days ahead.

It’s only the second week of President Donald Trump’s second presidential term, and it has already become more bewildering than the opening of his first term. From the signing of executive orders aimed at eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the federal government to a sharp increase in raids and deportations by the Department of Homeland Security in cities such as Chicago, New York City, and Austin among others, it has been a lot. If you’ve been feeling stressed out about the bombardment of news and the policies that Trump is seeking to enact, we’ve come up with a quick list of things you can do to help yourself and others.

First, if you’re finding yourself “doom-scrolling” on social media, do yourself a favor and stop. Doing so has been proven to have serious health effects, such as high levels of cortisol and anxiety.

“It’s the real, biological phenomenon of feeling your brain is popping because you’re being overstimulated online,” says Harvard Medical School lecturer Dr. Aditi Nerurkar. “Then it’s hard to engage with the real world, which moves at a much slower pace.” Limit your news consumption each day, and don’t check the news the moment you wake up. Conversely, make a list of verified news sources that are consistent and full of information that you can share easily with family and friends.

The “pause” on health alerts being provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. pulling out of working with the World Health Organization means you won’t be getting the usual updates on upticks in outbreaks such as COVID and RSV as well as potential developments with the H5N1 virus, otherwise known as “bird flu.” The WHO has an entire page that allows you to sign up for their newsletters on every health and medical development worldwide. Make it a point to bookmark your state’s medical portal.

The need to crowdfund will only grow as individuals and organizations are threatened by the present and future actions of Trump’s administration. If your budget allows, pick out one or two causes you’d like to donate to, if it’s only one-time or monthly. You can also opt to spend that money at Black-owned small businesses, as stores such as Amazon, Walmart, and Target have rolled back their DEI practices to appease Trump’s stance. Lastly, make it a point to “reclaim your time” a la California Representative Maxine Waters. Incorporate more time offline with your loved ones. Engage in activities that will help you hold onto your joy, such as yoga, and dancing, Join book clubs such as Cafe Con Libros and Literary Swag. This way, you can endure and thrive and help your community to do the same.