Get your $%^) together

Your oxygen mask first - here's how to protect yourself without getting paranoid

Exhaustion, fear and disorientation are understandable, as that’s what the autcrats want to happen. Shake it off, fellow Swifties. We’re going to hold hopes things don’t go sideways, but plan anyways. Kind of like stocking up on toilet paper during the pandemic (🧻?), these are harmless things that can only help. (You used it up, after all.) And doing one or two will get you out of a semi-paralyzed state — win, win.

Here’s what to do (though women do hard things, trust me when I say these aren’t that hard):

Artwork by my preschool daughter; she’s how I survive this

Physical health

1. Get your immunizations. Here’s what the CDC recommends. Most CVS pharmacies can give them to you, conveniently and covered by most insurance. Check in with your doctor’s office on needed screenings, too.

2. Stock up on medication. How much depends on your particular situation, but the emergency guidelines are a good place to start. Get updated glasses and some additional contact lenses too, for convenience’s sakes as well as to use up your HSA balance.

3. Learn to protect yourself (here’s a quick video), but please no guns. Research shows you’re much more likely to be harmed, and self-defense experts say you probably shouldn’t buy a gun.

Safety

1. Watch your online presence. You know this already, right? Although this probably doesn’t affect most of us, if you’re messaging things you don’t want the Trump cabinet seeing, cyber security experts suggest Signal.

2. Get/Renew your passport. Even if it’s not expiring in the next 4 years, renewing will get you an extra 10. (Renew online if it’s close to expiration; by mail if it’s not.)

3. If you’re being bullied, know that they’re looking for a fear response. Try to not give it to them. Be a “gray rock.” There is strength in numbers and research says de-platforming people works.

Mental health

Managing emotions doesn’t mean suppressing them — more like, redirecting them.

Fear, cynicism, hate and outrage take a lot of energy (look what they’re doing to Trump). If you can drum it up within yourself to refocus more on love and compassion, everyone will be better off for it. Yeah, it’s easier said than done, though reportedly our body’s chemical response to any emotion goes through us in 90 seconds (!).

We can help ourselves move through to productive emotions by:

• Move your body. Walk, dance, swim, pickleball… physical movement helps move the mind.

• Laugh — watch a comedy. You deserve it.

• Volunteer to help others. Research shows helping others helps ourselves, too. Win-win.

Money

I don’t like writing this, but I think it may be inevitable that some sort of disaster is coming our way. But don’t panic; I believe there are safeguards in place. That said, it also can’t hurt to prepare.

• Reduce expenses.

• Reduce variable-rate debt if you can.

• Recycle. Shop ethical re-use places.

• Some folks recommend dividing cash among FDIC insured banks and credit unions — not sure about that; drop a comment if you have thoughts.

• Use any extra time to increase marketable job skills, do things that make you helpful to others — i.e., garden, apprenticeship, volunteer for a cause close to your heart.

• Nurture friendships, help neighbors — we will all be in this together.

Remember: we all got through Covid; we can do this, too. And we have the heads-up advantage this time around. 💪 The effort to divide us cannot succeed. Communities must stay together. Love will win.

♥️ 🤍 💙