Episode 226: How To Be Okay (in difficult times)

I love to cook. I like the instant gratification of it. The “mad scientist” energy of combining heat with sweet and fat.  I like that it can be as creative as you want it to be.

Almost every night, I cook a full-on dinner. This work is motivated by a few things: avoiding the packaging waste and cost of take out. The overall health implications of packaged/convenience food. The break from desk work. Back before Clotheshorse, cooking dinner was how I transitioned from my work day to relaxing until bedtime.  But cooking isn’t relaxing per se.  It’s work. And while the stakes are lower than most projects, there are still potential negative outcomes.  Also, you could straight up set your hair on fire, which did happen to me a few years ago. And for those of you who play The Sims and wonder why the Sims are always so terrible at dealing with kitchen fires…let me tell you that it turns out that their reactions are kinda scarily accurate to what happened when Dustin and I were both in our tiny kitchen and my hair and dress were literally burning.

The thing about cooking is that it’s kind of a master class in multitasking.  You’re doing a lot of different things at one time.  And you’re also managing a lot of information and reacting to at the same time. When it’s a full on holiday dinner party kind of situation, you’re managing different cooking times. Prepping different items. What can fit in the oven. What needs to go on the stove. What needs to be refrigerated. Setting the table. Taking out the trash. Managing the dirty dishes. It’s exhausting!

But let’s talk about a regular meal.  One meal I make pretty regularly is this pad thai recipe by The Minimalist Baker.  I’ve made it so many times that I have my own customizations: I air fry the tofu first.  I add more spice and extra peanut butter, along with a ton of broccoli.  But beyond the innovation of tweaking recipes, there’s a lot going on at the same time.  The tofu is in the air fryer. I’m cooking rice noodles.  I’m mixing up the sauce. I’m stir frying the vegetables. I’m also probably loading the dishwasher at the same time. 

I can handle all of these things at once because I know the recipe. And I’m used to juggling all of these moving parts at one time.  Everything feels balanced and manageable. But one added complication could make it overwhelming.

Let’s say something does happen that makes it just a little bit more intense.  Like I spill  the tea I’m drinking on the floor. Now everything is out of whack.  I have to clean the floor, so I can’t alternate between stirring the vegetables and monitoring the rice noodles. The vegetables might burn. The noodles might overcook and ruin the whole thing.  And then what? if I don’t have more rice noodles, the whole meal is ruined. If the vegetables are burnt, the meal is ruined.  Now what do we eat for dinner? And I’ve just wasted all of the ingredients.

And in the moment, this sense of panic and doom sets in.  Anger at myself. Probably anger at Dustin for not coming downstairs to help me.  And it’s like I can’t function. Like where do I start? Do I clean up the floor first? Check on the noodles first? Stir the vegetables first? I’m not even going to think about the tofu because it seems safe over in the air fryer…but if I really want to spiral, I guess I could also wonder if I set the time and temperature correctly?

But if I take 30 seconds to think it through (which feels like a lot in the moment) my perspective can change:

• For one, the noodles might not be overcooked. I could take a second to turn them off before cleaning the floor.
• I could take the wok off the burner so the vegetables don’t burn.
• If the rice noodles are already overcooked, I could make some rice and we could just have a stirfry. 
• If the vegetables are burned, well, we still have tofu and the sauce, so I have the start of a meal right there.
• If the tofu is burned…well, we can eat leftovers.  Or quesadillas. Or any number of other things that could be thrown together pretty fast.

The point is that all hope is not lost. I have the ability to change the trajectory of the situation (and save dinner), but in order to do that I need to have an accurate view of the current situation (the status of the noodles, the vegetables) AND clear ideas about what I CAN do to fix things if they truly have gone awry. I need to know what else I have in the pantry and refrigerator.  I need to know how much time I have.  I need to know if Dustin can come downstairs to help.

I also have to be engaged in wanting to improve the situation. I could just say “fuck it. Dinner’s ruined. We go to bed hungry.” Or I could say “hey, we need to eat. Let’s figure this out.” Both are a decision. I can be a dinner doomer or a dinner optimist.

Well, my friends, this is not a podcast about cooking.  And all of this cooking talk was really an elaborate metaphor to what we are experiencing right now in 2025: there’s a lot of news to digest, the news cycle is crazy fast, things can change within 12 hours (example: all of the tariff stuff over the last week), it’s hard to suss out reality from fiction, and we don’t know what we can do to help, 

And so…it’s hard to be okay right now.  But it sure is easy to be overwhelmed. Frightened. Angry. Trapped in a sense of powerlessness. 

So this week we’re going to talk about how to be okay: how to manage the flow of accurate information into your life.  How to take care of yourself. How to talk to people online. And how all of us can help out.  So Julie, you’re probably going to want to skip this episode. But for the rest of us, let’s get down to some important business.

elcome to Clotheshorse, the podcast that briefly considered taking up smoking cigarettes last week.  But then I realized how gross I would smell. Then I considered vaping, but I was freaked out and sad about all of the plastic waste.  So instead, I read a book.  It helped!

I’m your host, Amanda and this is episode 226. We’re going to be talking about how to be okay, whether you’re facing fascism, climate change, plastic pollution, the fast fashion crisis, or all of these at once. Show of hands for those of us who are dealing with all of this? Can I raise two hands?

So listen, you’re not going to be shocked to hear that I am a “chronically online” person. Meaning: I spend a lot of time reading the internet. I rarely watch videos. I am resistant to TikTok addiction.  But I read a ton of news sites and blogs, I read a lot of subreddits, I follow various Facebook groups, and obviously I’m on the other social media platforms sharing information and talking to all of you.

In fact, with so many people making the decision to leave the Meta apps (Instagram, Facebook, and Threads), I have found the amount of labor I have to do every day to share information has doubled.  Now in addition to designing the posts, writing the posts, and sharing them on Instagram, now I’m posting on TikTok, Threads, Blue Sky, Tumblr, and now, Substack. Because so many people have reached out asking me to offer these options.  And the thing about having to be on so many different platforms is that it is super easy to doomscroll in even more places.

If you’re like “WTF is doomscrolling,” well the good news is that it’s so prevalent that it has its own Wikipedia page where it is defined as “the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading large quantities of news, particularly negative news.”

Now you might open up an app with the express desire to NOT encounter large quantities of negative news, but the reality is that the algorithms tend to not favor that kind of thing.  Algorithms function from engagement: the more likes, comments, and shares a piece of content gets, the more people get to see it. And guess what gets the most engagement? Upsetting content.  Outrage posts.  Bad news.  Controversial “takes.” I don’t think anyone has woken up one morning and said “You know what? I’m going to become a content creator and I’m only going to share the most upsetting shit possible.  I’ll be famous overnight. It will be great!” But what does happen is this sort of feedback loop: a creator posts something upsetting, sees the great engagement, the follower count increasing..and of course they are motivated to post more of the same kind of thing.  It’s not necessarily done with ill intentions. It’s human nature to be rewarded for something…and then do that thing again and again.

And to be clear: platforms like Instagram, Threads, and TikTok ARE paying content creators to post high engagement content.  Not people like me who are in that liminal space of “wow I spend a lot of time creating content” and “wow this is my full time job.” But the big accounts out there are absolutely being paid.  I see people on Threads talking all the time about how much they are being paid each month by Threads and it feels…weird to me? Like on one hand I’m happy that they can make a living doing what they like, but on the other hand, I see how they are incentivized to post unverified information, hot takes, incendiary shit, and so much more.

The thing is…we are programmed to like bad news.  Part of this is “negativity bias,” basically negative things have a greater effect on our mental state, even when compared to good things of the same intensity.  Like, maybe you get a promotion you’ve worked hard for on the same day that someone on the internet gets into a fight with you. Even though the promotion should be the headline news in your brain that day, you’re going to spend a lot more time thinking about that internet argument. From an evolutionary perspective, we want to know bad possible outcomes so we can avoid them.  Early humans would want to know that a neighbor had been attacked by a tiger so that they could think through how to avoid their own tiger attack. In fact, early humans would actively seek out upsetting news so that they could protect themselves.

Today, we’re seeking out bad news without knowing it.  And our unconscious desire for this is still based in that evolutionary tendency to “survive via bad news.”

• FOMO: We don’t want to be the only person who doesn’t know the bad stuff because then we are more vulnerable.
• Control: We feel like we have more control over our lives if we know bad things.  Gathering information makes us feel less powerless in situations that tend to make us feel powerless (climate change, fascism, etc).  The big things feel more manageable.

Study after study has shown what we already know anecdotally as humans on the internet: doomscrolling exacerbates anxiety, fear, sadness, and even destructive behaviors like substance abuse, shopping addiction, gambling, and other harmful coping mechanisms.  Furthermore, doomscrolling eats up a lot of time.  It’s so easy to sit down for a few minutes on your phone and look up an hour later.  Not having the time we need to do other stuff (chores, work, talk to friends, eat, sleep) takes a major toll on our mental and physical heath. And this can only exacerbate our feeling of doom and powerlessness. Like if I’m stressing out because I’m out of clean socks because I didn’t have time to do laundry, how can I be expected to solve the world’s problems? It’s sort of like the bad feelings of doomscrolling lead to more bad feelings because there’s even more personal stuff to worry about.

So how do we manage the doomscrolling?

Well, there are a lot of different things you can do.

• There are a variety of apps that will shut down your access to social media based on the limits you put in place. I’m sharing an article that details all of them in the show notes.
• You can buy this device called “The Brick,” that will also allow you to put time limits on various apps and then cut you off when you hit those limits.  I have a friend who has one of these and she loves it. I’ll share the link in the show notes. 
• You can also just say “hey, I’m setting an alarm for fifteen minutes from now and then I’m going to put the phone down when it goes off.” 
• Other experts recommend picking a specific time each day when you do just get to sit down and scroll the internet.  Maybe while you are eating lunch or when you get home from work.  Once again, set aside a specific amount of time.  Stick to it. And do not choose first thing in the morning or right before bed.  Doomscrolling during those time periods is actually super bad for your brain and its health.

Even more important: think about controlling the input and output of your brain.  Writer Caitlin Kunkel writes about this on her Substack “Input and Output.” Basically, you can’t be creative or productive if you aren’t actively adding new sources of information, inspiration, and creativity into your brain. I’ve always believed this super strongly.  If you’re a painter, you need to also be reading books, spending time outside, seeing films, and experiencing life in order to grow and create better and better work.  The same goes for all of us.  Like, yeah, I read and think a lot about sustainability, but I’m also reading fiction books, listening to podcasts about history, going to museums, listening to music, talking to friends.  It helps me find inspiration for everything else I do. I’m not suggesting that you meet some sort of quota for this kind of stuff, but rather make it a point to read a book before bed (rather than jumping into your phone).  Spend Friday night watching a movie (Dustin has a Criterion subscription which has really upgraded our entertainment options here). Go check out a museum or learn about birds or try a new craft.  Make a music mix for a friend.  Play a board game. Do something that doesn’t involve your phone or social media. Something that has nothing to do with the news. 

Yes, this is important self care. We’ll come back to self care in a few minutes.

But first: let’s talk about news and how much we should consume.  

So listen…the weekend before last I went to NYC to see some clients who were at a trade show. And also to just get out and see something different, get some inspiration, spend some time somewhere different. NYC is only three hours away on the train, so it’s a pretty low impact trip and certainly the city offers endless varieties of art, information, good food, inspiration, and people watching.

I really wanted to enjoy that trip, but it was super fucking stressful because Trump’s executive order about tariffs was released.  And my phone was blowing up in every possible way, with texts from clients, DMs from internet friends and strangers, and everyone wanted to know what we should do.  Also: before you ask, I am not doing an episode about tariffs. That is so boring to me and any episode would instantly be obsolete because this is a constantly shifting topic.  But it is also a topic I know well thanks to my years in buying.  So I took it upon myself to explain the tariffs to people and why I know they were not going to stick.  (And btw I was right).  I also did research into the legality of an executive order about tariffs and what we could do as concerned citizens. I shared that information and got a lot of people involved in emailing and calling their representatives. That was great! I also got lots of panicked messages, people crying, Canadians low key menacing me (WTF guys I love Canada)…the whole thing was so exhausting and it ate up a ton of time that I was on this trip. And by Monday (as I predicted) the tariffs were no longer happening.  Meanwhile, many people cried, panicked, couldn’t sleep, probably had stress diarrhea, fought with strangers on the internet, worried that they would lose their businesses, and more.  And my trip…well, I didn’t do very much stuff that was on my list. 

For me, it was a phenomenal lesson (especially as an American with Trump in the White House): we can’t react to every single headline because everything is rapidly changing. The chaos and panic is intentional.  In fact, I’m going to share this incredible video by Ezra Klein in the show notes. Go watch it.  It made me feel more optimistic than I have been in months. And it helped me see how I can cope with the current news cycle. If you hate videos (like me) you can also read the transcript, which I will also share in the show notes. 

Klein talks about how the chaos of these executive orders is an intentional choice, something that Steve Bannon told PBS Frontline back in 2019. Bannon calls it “muzzle velocity.” This is how Klein explains it:

“People largely learn of what the government is doing through the media — be it mainstream media or social media. If you overwhelm the media — if you give it too many places it needs to look, all at once, if you keep it moving from one thing to the next — no coherent opposition can emerge. It is hard to even think coherently.”

Furthermore, this state of “overwhelm” makes us feel like Trump is super powerful, a king in the house of presidents. But the thing is, he’s not actually that powerful. Yes, he can pardon people. He can pull security protection for people like Dr. Fauci.  But he cannot rewrite the Constitution. In fact, just about every one of his executive orders is being shut down by courts around this country. States are filing lawsuits. The ACLU is working overtime to protect us. The Constitution is written to protect the country from the kinds of things Trump is doing.

Trump is a weak man. He is NOT surrounded by the best and brightest. He does NOT have a “mandate” from the people to do this stuff.  To quote Ezra Klein again, “ If you’re always consumed by the next outrage, you can’t look closely at the last one. The impression of Trump’s power remains; the fact that he keeps stepping on rakes is missed. The projection of strength obscures the reality of weakness. Don’t believe him.”

And in general, beyond United States current events, the outrage will prevent us from accomplishing anything.  And that’s troubling now that we know that social media is kinda fueled by outrage. The thing is, I also see how social media can bring people together, build community, help people find their people, their cause, their purpose…I saw it during the early years of the pandemic and I still see it now.  But it’s all about “curating our feed.”  I talked about this in the doomerism episode, but let’s touch on it again:

• Let yourself hear and receive good news. I promise that even in the midst of a crazy ass 2025, good things have happened too 
• Follow accounts and consume media that is just fun, makes you laugh, or even just gets a little smile.  I promise that fun and joy keep us energized and active. They are just as important as the serious shit.
• Avoid (and unfollow) accounts, news sources, etc that only share bad news without any actionable steps you can take in the face of it
• Regulate the flow of news into your life. And I’m not talking about turning off the faucet, just taking in as much as you can handle and process. News is changing so fast right now that what happens in the morning may not be relevant by evening. So pick a time when you consume news and stick to that. It doesn’t need (and shouldn’t be) an all day affair.  So maybe limit your news time. Unfollow accounts that just share content nonstop that is really designed to just keep you upset.
• Fact check outrageous things you see online. It’s free, it only takes a simple internet search, and as a concerned citizen and all around decent person, you want to know the facts! This week I’m recording an episode with a legit professional and highly regarded journalist and we are going to talk about how media (not social media) fact checks and ensures things are right to the best of their ability. I’ll talk more about how and why to fact check stuff you see online in that episode.
• But in the meantime, let me tell you this very VERY important piece of advice: do not get your news from social media.  If you want to stay up on what’s really happening, you’re going to have to listen to NPR or get a newspaper subscription.  Do not rely on social media because thanks to character limits, you’ll never get the full story.  A 90 second Reel or TikTok is not enough to capture the details.  And furthermore, there are a lot of accounts who are never fact checking things or presenting highly one-sided news that is heavily opinion based (@so.informed) or even just technically presenting facts but sharing them in completely inaccurate way in order to stir up outrage (that account seastersjones is a great example). I’m not saying that any of these accounts are intentionally trying to mislead people, but they are probably operating under the assumption that their followers have a more detailed view of current events that can keep their content in perspective.  Beyond all of that, content creators are not held to any standard of fact checking, so who knows where they are getting their info or if they are even checking its accuracy.
• I also want to be very clear with you: the version of the world and its events that you see on social media is very algorithm specific. In other words: the algorithm (no matter the platform) is showing you exactly what has engaged you previously.  For example, someone on Threads posted this week that they thought it was so weird that everyone was just posting normal stuff like outfits and trips when everything in the US is so chaotic right now.  And I was like “what, all I see is content along the lines of “OMG we are so fucked right now.” But that’s what the algorithm thinks I want to see.  So if you want to see a particular subject or type of content, engage with stuff that matches that.  Heart and comment. Save posts. It won’t perfectly curate your feed, but it will help a lot.
• Also, again: do not get your news from social media. I’ve seen a lot of posts in the last week along the lines of “why aren’t americans protesting?” which was wild to me because on Wednesday there were protests in every state  and DC.  Others were responding to say that it was because the mainstream media wasn’t covering the protests. But I had been reading about them on various news sites, ranging from my local newspaper to USA Today to The New Republic. Oh right, people aren’t getting their news from the media. And people were strategically NOT sharing photos of the protests on social media out of fear of identifying themselves.  So once again, remember that social media isn’t giving you the full picture because it’s not designed to do that. And I know it can be kinda confusing to say “don’t get your news from social media” when media outlets have social media accounts where they are sharing some stuff. But they are sharing stuff on social media as a marketing technique, not as a news sharing strategy. So they are choosing to post about the truly engaging articles and editorial pieces.  And furthermore, that algorithm is going to show you things that get the most engagement.
• And going back to this idea of input/output, be sure to give yourself some “inputs” that are positive.  
  • I have recently been a big fan of this subreddit called “Optimists Unite” where people share good news and even the facts around bad situations that can make you feel more hopeful.  Sometimes hope is really just seeing the whole picture and I think that subreddit does a good job.   
  • I also recommend following Alaina Wood (aka thegarbagequeen).  She is a sustainability scientist and climate communicator.  She has a great Substack called Good Climate News. I will also share that in the show notes.  If any of you know her personally, can you make an introduction? I would love to have her on the podcast.
  • I also like following Robert Reich on Substack (now also on TikTok) because he gives great pragmatic, but also motivating advice.
  • I also am loving “Letters from an American,” another great substack, this one by history professor Heather Cox Richardson.

I am going to tell you something that will most likely never be successful on social media (but maybe I’ll post it this week as an experiment): I believe in humanity’s ability to overcome any obstacle: climate change, fascism, the horrendous impact of overconsumption and late stage capitalism.  I believe it because I can look back at history and see how humanity has adapted and innovated, from polio vaccinations to antibiotics to going to the fucking moon to figuring out  electricity to designing buildings that survive earthquakes.  I almost died in childbirth because my blood pressure bottomed out…the machines invented by humans told doctors what the problem was, they gave me medication invented by humans, and I survived. I mean…guys…I had cancer as a kid and I’m still here talking to you.  Humans can get through this, but only if we’re all united in working together.

One thing I have been seeing a lot of on the internet lately is this idea that the best thing that can happen is just complete societal collapse, whether that’s the collapse of the United States or the world as a whole.  I want to be clear that is NOT the best solution. And people who are putting this idea out there are suffering from some major main character energy. Because the reality is that if we ignore everything until society “collapses,” lots of people will suffer and die. From violence. Starvation. Lack of access to medical care and medication. After the French Revolution, people starved more than they were before the revolution.  They were more likely to be the victims of crime and violence (and I’m not talking about the aristocrats here, just normal peasants). And packs of dogs wandered the streets, attacking people because they were starving.

Rooting for collapse is selfish at minimum, extremely destructive at its worst. After all, if you’re just sitting around waiting for the worst case scenario to play out, you don’t have to be responsible for anything.  You don’t owe anyone anything.  It’s destructive because if you share these ideas online, others will see them and maybe decide to give up and wait around for collapse, too. Yes, I believe that humans can overcome anything but only if they are actually working on it. 

So…should we be fighting with people online?

Well, I’m not sure that anyone’s mind has ever been changed by a conversation in the comments section, but I know others feel otherwise. So here is my advice as a chronically online content creator who has been talking to strangers about slow fashion for almost five years now:

First things first: what not to do (and I’m going to use talking to people about fast fashion as an example):

Start with “othering” or blame-y language.

• “People like you…”
• “It’s your fault…”
• “If you cared about anyone but yourself…”
• “It’s selfish of you.”

Use language that sounds like an ultimatum/condemnation.

• “If you’re not doing xyz, then you’re a bad person.”
• “If you’re buying fast fashion, I don’t want to talk to you.”
• “Unfollow me if you shop from Shein.”
• “We’re not friends if you’re not posting about this.”

Do not position yourself as superior to others. Ultimately, we are all in this together.  We’re all facing the same challenges as humans, so let’s stick with “we and us” not “you and me.” Meaning, rather than saying, “when you buy clothes from SHEIN, your impact is xyz” say “When we buy clothes from SHEIN, OUR impact is xyz.” 

Don’t be a jerk. Just stay polite. Feel free to call people out on their bullshit, but we be lowkey professional about it.

And don’t take the bait. Like if someone is clearly trying to engage you into trollishness, calling you ugly or stupid or whatever…just walk away…and block. Seriously, that person wasn’t looking for a real conversation.

What you should do:

• Share why this matters to you! Our personal stories unlock doors and open ears
• Listen and ask questions, too.  We aren’t know-it-alls. We don’t claim to have all of the answers.
• Apologize if you do hurt someone’s feelings (even if it is accidental). Remember, it’s hard to read tone and intention in a comments section.
• Get your sources straight. I like to lowkey vanquish trolls with links to information from reliable sources.  Start saving your own list!

Should you be fighting with people on the internet about this stuff? If you’re feeling angry, frustrated, about to spew some expletives, walk away.  Because rage might bring a few people into the fold, but very few.  

My Gam Sandy always said to me,  “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”

I personally do not feel that being a “keyboard warrior” is particularly productive, but I also  can see how connecting with others in general (including online) can be a beneficial thing. Especially if they are actually looking for information, community, and motivation. 

So it’s all about what you feel comfortable doing.  That said…we cannot let our action begin and end on social media. It needs to extend into IRL.

There is nothing worse than feeling powerless, feeling trapped in an unfair and unjust world and feeling as if there is nothing you can do.  In fact, that makes everything around you feel 1000X scarier and suddenly you’re rooting for societal collapse because then at least the worst thing will be here and you don’t have to worry about it any more.   But the thing is: you can either be a part of the solution or be a part of the problem. And if you’re doing nothing, well, you’re part of the problem unfortunately.

The good news is that there are many things you CAN do and they come in a variety of different forms and time commitments. You can do all of these or some of these or one of these.  And they all help and matter.

1. Well, first off… vote in every single election, no matter how small. Reach out to your elected representatives, no matter where you live.  Send letters, postcards, emails, and even call. Word on the street is that phone calls are best, but to be honest, I’ve gotten phone calls and emails in response to emails and letters I have sent. The most important thing is to include why this matters to you specifically. Add that personal aspect. It might feel weird, but it’s actually impactful. I can’t help but think these personal stories build up in the minds of the people receiving these emails and calls, and soon they can’t help but feel motivated to take action.  Some examples of things you can reach out about:
   1. If you’re here in the US, ask your governor, state legislators, and even your mayor to block ICE to protect undocumented members of your community. Ask them what they are doing to protect vulnerable people.
   2. Also if you’re in the US, ask your Democratic senators to block Trump’s nominations.
   3. You could also ask your state legislators and governor to pass legislation like the Fashion Act, which would change the way the fashion industry works right now.  Or ask for Extended Producer Responsibility legislation, which would make retailers responsible for the disposal of the low quality stuff they sell. This could push them to make things last longer and be repairable.
   4. Ask your city council to consider adding more public transportation, lowering the carbon footprint of commuters.
2. Help members of your community whether that’s IRL or virtual.  This can range from volunteering at your local library or food bank to providing assistance for people applying for benefits like housing, food assistance, and health care. This is a good time to mention that helping our community comes in many forms, and it usually isn’t starting a new organization or being the leader of it all…it can be providing childcare so workers can get together to plan a strike or cooking and distributing food via Food Not Bombs (or a similar organization). You might feel like you don’t have a lot to offer in terms of time or expertise, but I bet you have more to offer than you think! You know what I spent a lot of time doing in 2020? Helping strangers apply for unemployment.  And a friend of mine has been helping families in LA who lost their homes, apply for assistance, get into a new apartment, and even get their kids situated in a new school…all of this has been done virtually, so you don’t even have to be local to help!). 
3. Find a local group to get involved with, whether it’s environmentally focused, your local small business group, a group that cleans up parks, beaches, and waterways,  or even political.  If you are in the US, indivisible.org is a great place for finding local progressive political groups. Show up for local events with these organizations, information fairs, protests, and any other direct actions.
4. Throw your own small events: host a mending night, repair workshop, sewing group, book club, clothing swap, etc. These kinds of groups are incredibly important for building connections and sharing information. And they can also be virtual, which can make them more accessible to people with disabilities. 
5. Don’t give your money to assholes.  It’s the original Clotheshorse-ism. And sure, it’s a catchy phrase, but it also means something bigger: using our power as consumers to force change and accountability from the businesses selling us stuff. It’s an important part of being a concerned (and active) citizen. I used to say “your money is a vote” pretty often, but I stopped mostly because I felt like it created the illusion that we can shop our way to a better world. We can’t do that. BUT I have also learned that only two things will force any industry (particularly the fast fashion industry) to make a change: the law and lost sales (even the fear of lost sales). We can support the law side of it by voting, protesting, starting petitions, and calling/emailing our representatives….basically joining forces as a community and making our voice heard collectively. The lost sales aspect is kinda easy, too: we just stop giving these companies so much money. When it’s one individual, it doesn’t mean much. But when it’s all of us (or even most of us)…well, that’s IMPACT!!
6. If you have the financial means, support mutual aid groups/fundraisers and organizations that are fighting for good things. Here in the US I’m thinking specifically of the ACLU and Environmental Defense Fund because they are actively fighting all of Trump’s stupid executive orders in court. You can also fundraise and it can be as simple as having a party and charging admission. Or selling your secondhand clothes and donating the money.
7. Get to know your neighbors. Seriously.
8. Keep learning! Knowledge fuels change and progress. How do humans innovate and adapt? By learning!
9. Spread good, true information.
10. Make small changes within your own life, gradually.  What you buy/don’t buy, what you waste/don’t waste, taking more public transportation, growing your own food, mending and repairing your stuff…there are so many personal things you can do that make a larger impact when others are doing them, too.  And beyond that, these changes in your own life can make YOU feel better. That’s also super important. 
11. Explore your creative side.  Use art as a means of expressing what is happening in the world around you.  Art can be incredibly motivating and reassuring on a personal level, but also on a larger social scale. Working on art alongside others can build strong bonds. And using art to convey the impact of what is happening (and what needs to happen) can change minds and bring people into a cause.
12. And lastly, take care of yourself. Get rest. Sleep in. Take space.  Let yourself relax, have fun, laugh, hang out, celebrate holidays…whatever does it for you! I saw a lot of posts last year that annoyed the fuck out of me, basically like “Americans are so horrible and selfish that they will celebrate Halloween while a genocide is happening.” And it’s like…listen, we need our strength to keep going.  And that strength is recharged by moments of joy and fun. Inside jokes.  Silly tv shows. Rolling around in the grass. Making funny cat videos.  Eating delicious food. Talking on the phone. We need those things to keep us strong.

Yes, the world gets scarier every day.  The list of things to worry and scare and enrage us seems to be growing exponentially.  And yet I still believe that we can and will get through this together. Every one of us has an important role to play here. Individual action DOES matter, despite what you might be told elsewhere. Can one person change the world on their own? Probably not. But when working alongside thousands and millions of other people, change is inevitable.

I’m so excited about all of the things we can accomplish TOGETHER!. Let’s keep talking, listening, learning, thinking, and inviting others to join us.