Oh, hey there. It’s been a few weeks, huh? Whoops.

The truth is, despite the exciting news with my grant that started off the year, like many, many Americans, I’m really struggling right now. Between the ever-tightening vice that is our economic situation to the absolute chaos that our government has become, life is kind of a lot right now. My blog fell to the wayside because I’m struggling to write anything that isn’t all doom and gloom. Hell, I’m struggling just to keep functioning, let alone do other things on top of that.

But I didn’t want to just keep going radio silence. This week, I’m determined to get a blog post out, even if it’s not a very good one.

Still, I hope it’s not terrible because I want to share some of the things I’m doing for myself right now. Hopefully, one of these ideas helps someone get through their day.

1. Writing angry/angsty poetry.

I am not usually a big poetry writer. In fact, I don’t think I’ve written any poetry since I was in college and forced to for classes. But in the past two weeks alone, I’ve written probably six angst-filled poems just to get some of the echoing words out of my head.

If you’re like me and words or phrases sometimes get sticky and won’t leave you alone, especially if those words or phrases are distressing or upsetting, I highly recommend you just put them down on paper somewhere. Whether it’s real or digital paper, getting those words out of your head and into the real world can go a long way toward unsticking them.

And, of course, it doesn’t need to be a poem! Two weeks ago, I would’ve guessed this would say “Stream of Consciousness” or “Free Writing.” I did not have “Teenage Level Angst Poetry Writing” on my bingo card. But, you know, sometimes the thoughts are all disjointed and scrambling for attention, and when you start writing them out, they turn into a poem.

2. Keep in touch with those who fuel your spark

I won’t even go as far as to say, “make more time with loved ones,” or anything like that. I know that that’s too hard for many of us right now, and I also know that with everything that’s been happening, many of us are having to question “loved one” more than we might like to.

But, lately, I’ve been making a conscious effort to check in periodically with the people who make my life a little bit better just by being them. Maybe we make plans, maybe we don’t. Maybe I literally ask them how they’re doing, maybe I don’t. Sometimes, it’s just letting them know I’m thinking about them. Because isolation is what all the bigots want. They want us to feel alone, and afraid, and powerless. They want us to exist in the shadows (or worse).

So, reach out to your community. Let them know that we’re in this together, even when you don’t have the strength to be particularly social or outgoing. And when you do have the energy and the motivation . . .

4. Find community and get involved

For anyone out there struggling with depression, lethargy, or other similar issues, I know this one sounds like a lot. If we rewind a year or two, I would have rolled my eyes at this exact advice and assumed the person had no idea what it was like for me. But bear with me.

For years, I dreamed about getting involved with different groups (writing groups, animal rescues, LGBTQIA+ groups), but I was too overwhelmed to do it. I thought that would never be me. I barely have the energy to function 40 hours a week at work, let alone do other things on top of that.

And, I’ll be honest, there was never a point where this stopped being the case. I just got to a point where I was fed up waiting for the right circumstances to start living the life I wanted. I ended up doing it despite how scary and overwhelming it felt.

The day I got involved with a local animal rescue, I went to their open hours to see a cat I thought I recognized as a stray from around my neighborhood. I hadn’t seen that stray in a while, so I was worried about it and hoping for some closure. Then, when I was there, I asked if they needed marketing, communications, or design help before I could overthink it. I filled out the form, telling myself I could quit whenever I wanted. I went to the first meetings, saying I would back out the moment it was too much.

But I never backed out. It keeps feeling a little overwhelming and too much, but it’s also strangely energizing. The work is so much more rewarding than anything I do for work, so even though it takes time and it isn’t always fun (though it often is), I’m always excited to come back to it, to do more, to see the effect my efforts have.

I still don’t do much in person with the rescue because those things are still too much for me, and they likely always will be. But I’m able to help out plenty even so. My needs don’t hinder my ability to give back or be a part of that community.

And you know what? Now, I’ve gotten involved with a second group, a brand new local LGBTQIA+ group. Even though I’m exhausted and overwhelmed, being a part of something larger, a community of like-minded people who all support each other, doesn’t make me more exhausted or overwhelmed. It lifts me up.

And, yes, my role with this one is also pretty exclusively online! Somehow, I never realized that if I reached out to groups like this and said, “I want to volunteer with you, but I’m only available remotely,” they might say anything other than, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

During a time when so much feels out of our control, find a way–any way–to give back. I promise you won’t regret it.

5. Find time to be present with nature

I know this sounds like the typical “touch grass” sort of dismissive buzzword shit, but I really do mean it. When I’m always stressed and focused on everything happening outside of myself, it helps to take time to disconnect from that mess and be in the present moment.

And the easiest way to do that? Just go sit outside for a while. Leave your phone inside, listen to the bird, stare off into space, and feel the wind on your cheeks.

It’s by far the fastest, most effective way to ground myself. And this time of year is the best time to do it. The earth is waking back up, and things are starting to come to life again.

But even if I can’t get outside to connect with nature, it helps if I take some time with my pets with no distractions, no tech. Just be with them, enjoying the simplicity of their lives. It has the bonus benefit of reminding me why I work so hard – to give them the home and treats and toys they deserve.

6. Treat yourself when and how you can

Last weekend, after over two years of waiting to see what happened career-wise, I went out and got my septum pierced. I’ve wanted it for years but was always worrying about the “what ifs.”

Well, I finally decided I was sick of waiting. I’m sick of putting things I want for myself off while I wait to see what the world decides.

I’m not doing anything crazy like racking a bunch of (more) debt, but I’ve decided that I’m sick of living my life stuck in a holding pattern while I wait for my “real” life to start. It’s become more than obvious that this is my real life. Things aren’t going to get more stable or whatever it is that I’m waiting on. This is the only one I’m going to get, so it’s time to do what I can with it.

I’ve also been “wasting” a lot of time on video games. I could and probably should be spending that time working on edits for book two of Wilderlands, but forcing myself to write when I’m not in the right headspace rarely results in masterpieces. I’m doing what I can when I can, and a lot of the time, what I can do is play video games.

I’m not putting my writing on hold or anything. I’m just not forcing myself to make progress for the sake of making progress. I’ll get back to writing and editing when I’m in a better place mentally. Until then, I’m going to do what I need to do for me to help me get there.

I’m sure there are other things I’m doing right now that I can’t think of, but these are the big ones. And if it helps even one person get through their day a little easier, then it was worth it.

Life is kind of a lot right now, folks. So, what are you doing for yourself?