How I am Managing my Political Anxiety

I've gotten a lot of messages this week from friends saying it's all too much, that they can't deal with what's happening, and they want to know what I'm doing... if that resonates, this is for you.

On Thanksgiving in November, my daughter and I went to see Wicked. As we sat in the theater, soaking it all in, she turned to me with the biggest smile: “Mamá! We HAVE to come watch the second part when it comes out!” And just like that, something clicked. Here was this tiny, beautiful moment, something to look forward to a whole year from now. It wasn’t about politics or stress or the chaos of the world. It was just pure joy.

That small moment stayed with me. Later that night, I started wondering: what else can I look forward to? Not just the big things but the small joys, too. Like Samba’s birthday this fall (yes, we celebrate our dog’s birthday). Or my birthday this summer. Or even that Superman movie with the dog in it. Because who doesn’t love a superhero dog?

And you know what? It helped. It gave me something to hold onto, like a little light in the dark. It wasn’t until last week that I learned there’s actual science behind this. I was listening to the Mel Robbins podcast, and she was talking with Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, a Harvard Medical School lecturer and one of the world’s top experts on stress and public health. Dr. Nerurkar said that when you anticipate a future that is potentially hopeful, it is beneficial for your brain, and it’s also beneficial for stress, mental health and wellbeing overall.

Who knew my theater revelation had backup from research?

But let’s be honest, this isn’t some magical cure. The heaviness of our political reality is real, and it’s exhausting. On Tuesday, the first full day of the new administration, I barely got through the basics. I dropped my daughter off at school, came home, and cried in bed. And you know what? That’s okay. We need to normalize those hard days.

Then came Wednesday. Same school drop-off, same cafecito (because, let’s be real, you know I can’t lie without my oat milk latte). But this time, I added something new: a short yoga workout. My hips were so tight (that’s where I accumulated all my stress) that I needed some stretches. That tiny shift changed something in me. It wasn’t a big win, but it was enough to get me to my desk, read newsletters, and work on videos. Baby steps, right?

Here’s what I’m learning: we don’t have to be in “100% PEAK performance mode” every single day. Self-compassion isn’t fluff, it’s survival. It’s the little actions taken over time that help us keep moving forward.

Yes, the road ahead feels overwhelming: 1,457 days of this administration (as of Friday, January 24, 2025). That’s a lot. But instead of focusing on the mountain, let’s break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Like the 67 days until the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Or the 284 days until the Virginia Governor’s race on November 4, 2025.

But before we talk about political strategy, I want to try something different.

Let’s make our own lists of things to look forward to in the next 12 months: things that have nothing to do with politics. It could be your child’s dance recital. A new book release you’re excited about. The garden you’re planting this spring. Or even a weekend trip with a couple of friends to hang out and talk about books.

These personal joys aren’t distractions from the work ahead, they’re the reason we do the work in the first place. They remind us why it matters: for the simple pleasure of seeing our kids grow, for family gatherings, for those small, beautiful moments that make life worth fighting for.

What’s on your list? I would love to hear some of your ideas in the comments. Let’s create a community of joy and resilience, one small anticipation at a time.

P.S. Remember, it’s okay to take breaks from the news. It’s okay to celebrate little wins. It’s okay to find joy, even when everything feels heavy. In fact, it’s not just okay – it’s necessary.

I love this image from today’s Still We Rise post by

Lindsay Meyer-Harley

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“As long as we’re still fighting, it’s not over”. -AOC

_stillwerise

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