It’s taken me a while to be able to sit down and write because, just like you, I’m an overwhelmed, overtired, and overstimulated mom who is just trying to stay afloat most days. When we add the current chaos in the U.S. government and all of the uncertainty giving us constant whiplash; it’s enough to make a person want to crawl into bed and not come out for the next four years.
But, I’m a mom, and moms know we have a lot to do. A lot to do in our homes and work, but also in our communities and country. Obviously, we are no good to ourselves or others if we burn out. It’s a delicate balance, taking action and maintaining sanity.
We, as parents, want to protect our children’s innocence while also ensuring their rights and freedoms aren’t restricted in the future. But what do we do? What actionable steps can we take that will make any sort of impact? How can we be taking action and maintaining sanity?
I want to share my steps for taking action and maintaining sanity with you in hopes that they can make you feel empowered, take control, and maintain your mental stability.
1. Set Healthy Media Boundaries
- Stay informed but avoid doom-scrolling. Choose a few reliable sources and limit consumption to specific times of the day or even once a day.
- Choose newsletters or podcasts that provide clear and balanced updates instead of constant breaking news.
- Model media literacy for your kids by discussing news calmly and fact-checking together.
2. Anchor Yourself in Community (Even Online)
- Find or create a community with like-minded parents to share concerns and brainstorm actionable steps.
- Engage with local groups (virtual or in-person) that focus on solutions, not just problems.
- If activism overwhelms you, pick one cause that aligns with your values and commit to small, consistent actions. Every little bit helps and doing just a little bit as often as you can adds up!
3. Take Action Without Burning Out or Short Changing Your Family
- Start Local: Big changes begin at home—attend city council or school board meetings, support local candidates, and vote in all elections, not just the major ones.
- Use Your Voice Strategically: Call and email representatives, sign petitions, and amplify marginalized voices. Collective pressure does work.
- The 5 Calls app is a great resource for this! It provides phone numbers for your local and state representatives and offers scripts to help you communicate your message.
- Engage in Economic Resistance: Support ethical businesses, boycott big corporations, and shift spending to local alternatives. This means: no Amazon, no Home Depot, no Tesla, etc. Instead, order from VT-based Myti.
- Decentralize Power in Your Own Life: Learn basic skills like growing food, bartering, and mutual aid—small acts of self-sufficiency weaken dependence on unjust systems.
- Stay Safe and Smart: If engaging in protests or activism, make sure you know your rights, use secure communication channels, and protect your digital footprint.
4. Empower Kids (Without Overloading Them)
- Have age-appropriate conversations that instill critical thinking rather than fear.
- Focus on what they can do—volunteer, write letters, or learn problem-solving skills.
- There are lots of amazing children’s books that talk about activism, peaceful protest, self-compassion, and how to be an empathetic member of the community.
- Create a safe space at home where they can ask questions and express feelings.
5. Reclaim Your Joy & Agency
- Find small daily rituals that remind you of your own power—whether it’s laughter, creativity, or movement. Find your glimmer and focus your energy in that direction.
- Remember: Rest is resistance. Taking care of yourself isn’t checking out; it’s fueling up for the long run.
- Give yourself permission to step back when needed—your well-being is a priority, not an afterthought.
The Bottom Line
This list is not a step-by-step guide to solving all our problems. No matter what you read, that list simply does not exist. But you can pick and choose, you can mix and match, you can even decide to make your own list! Taking action and maintaining sanity are not easy, and we have to learn how to keep this delicate balance to be able to move forward.
Lately, I’ve started noticing that the intentional patterns I’ve set in place not only help keep my mental health in check (or at least at a tolerable level), but also make me feel like I’m taking action to help combat the hate and vitriol we’re inundated with every day. I see a strong trend of divisiveness in today’s political climate, creating a real sense of “us versus them.” I firmly believe that the majority of us, regardless of our political beliefs, recognize that this is not the America we envisioned. That’s why taking action and maintaining sanity are both so urgently important.
My hope is that through sharing what works for me, you may be able to recognize that you are powerful and capable of making a difference while still protecting yourself and your family.
You have magic in you, and you are not alone. Taking action and maintaining sanity are both available to you.
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