Our current administration wants you to feel powerless, to be distracted, to be so caught up in what’s happening “over there” that you miss everything that’s going on “over here.”
They want you to be sucked dry of all joy and connection. They want you to feel alone.
They want you to be unhealthy, worried sick, and living in a toxic environment.
This is how they control you.
But you’re smarter than them. You are aware and onto their game. You know that your joy is what makes you human, and your humanity helps others connect to you.
So if you’re feeling a little out of it, overwhelmed with the state of the world, and dizzy from all the wild chaos happening right now, here are a few things I’m doing to ground myself that you can try, too. Here are 26 things to try in 2025 for joy, health, and resistance.
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*Disclaimer: I am human. I write from the heart and from experience: not to suit any algorithm or perfectly curated feed. I have chosen to continue to write a blog in the days of Reddit and Substack because it means that I OWN my articles and ability to finance my writing. I am in the process of removing all affiliate links from my site and minimizing ads so that you may focus on the article itself. Enjoy!
What Makes Us Human?
The US government has gone full authoritarian, tech bro-oligarchs control politicians, and AI has taken the world by storm.
Even the internet, which has helped people connect and find humanity for the better part of four decades feels squeaky clean, curated, and like everyone just wants to sell you something or fit you neatly into a rigid box.
What happened to just being human?
This is why I’m dedicating this new chapter in my blog to being exactly that: flawed, curious, creative, and distinctly human… and to embracing democracy.
26 New Things to Try for Community, Connection, Health, Resistance, and Joy
Wondering what to try in 2025 that will help you feel connected and creative? These are just some sample activities, and aren’t meant for every person to try every item.
Find what resonates with you the most, what feels the most meaningful, what makes you feel the most human!
1.)Try something artsy
Whether it’s picking up crocheting for the first time in a decade, going to a sip and paint night, or deciding to sew your own clothes, anything artsy or creative is at the top of this list of things to try in 2025.
Art helps us connect to our deepest selves, honor our truth, and if it doesn’t bring up something meaningful or deep for you, then at least it gives the opportunity to be bad at something and learn something new!
Having the courage to be bad at art when you first try it is the first step towards getting yourself off the conveyor belt! It allows you space to feel free and be yourself!
And finishing your first project can give you a much needed boost of pride in yourself and belief in your abilities!
So give something artsy a try today!
RELATED: Affirmations for Creativity
2.) Get together with a friend you haven’t seen in a while
Seeing an old friend can be reinvigorating in a way that few things are. I got to see several friends and cousins who live in a different area of the world, and hanging out with them in person was so much more fulfilling than the occasional text.
I got to hear their voices, spend time with them, eat food with them, and really have deeper conversations than we have in many years! Of course, if meeting up in person isn’t an option, then try facetime or zoom!
3.) Start a garden
Victory gardens were popular during WWII, and now resistance gardening has made its entrance!
The idea behind resistance gardening is that gardening can be fuel for societal change. It helps us to become aware of past issues (did you know that “People of color have historically been excluded from “gardening culture” while simultaneously upholding the agrarian work in the United States for many generations?”)
It helps us connect to our food, fight food inequality, prioritize science, and take care of ourselves and each other.
4.) Get a houseplant
Not into being all sweaty working outdoors? Houseplants are cool too!
Houseplants have the potential to boost air quality, productivity, and feeling of calm, among other things. Plus, they’re beautiful and a lot of fun to watch grow!
If you’re looking for a great beginning-friendly plant, I recommend a pothos, snake plant, or aloe. These don’t need water all that frequently and will generally look good without tons of maintenance.
But make sure you stay away from extra thirsty plants like coleus or fittonia if you think you’ll forget to water them, and of course stay away from the persnickety calathea!
5.) Support someone’s art
Going back to #1, if you’re not into making art or music, then you can always help support real art by real artists. AI art is rampant out there in today’s world, so you do need to keep an eye out. But there are tons of great artists on Etsy who sell prints of their art at reasonable prices. (Check out my favorite shops on Etsy.)
Local art shows, local theater, or local music performances are all a great way to support things made by humans!
6.) Write Your Representatives
This one should be a no-brainer, but how many of us never wrote to or called our reps or senators before January of 2025? While there’s not much statistical data floating around about this quite yet, I suspect members of Congress are getting bombarded with messages from their constituents like never before!
If you haven’t already, write to your Senators and Representatives to let them know how you think they’re doing. Even just being clear about what kinds of things are important to you will help democracy work the way its supposed to.
So even if you, like me, have democratic reps and senators, you can still keep in contact with them and thank them when they stand up for our democracy. (I just sent my senators a note thanking them for voting to block weapons aid to Israel.) It’s an excellent thing to try in 2025.
7.) Frame your children’s art
Our children are the future. We need to be the ones to give them what they need. I fully believe that they need universal healthcare, democracy, and personal freedom from oppression, but we’re working on that.
First, let’s bolster their belief in themselves by sharing their creativity. Framing their art and hanging it in your home, allowing them to help you make important decision, and sharing your time with them are great ways to put the focus on the future of our country and our world.
8.) Share your story
Stories have always been how humans connect within communities, how we teach younger generations, and how we connect across cultures. When you use your voice to put a story to your values and beliefs, you open others up to receive.
Not only this, but Cash Peters on YouTube spoke of how Trump and the GOP had a very clear story they sold to their voters, whereas Democrats had statistics and talking points. The stats and talking points were important, but people didn’t buy into them as much as they would buy into a story.
We need to connect with others on a level that truly resonates and reaches others! So use your voice to share your story!
RELATED: 20 Ways to Start Living Boldly and Passionately in 2024
9.) Learn de-escalation, mediation, or self-defense
I was never in speech and debate in high school, but looking back, I wish I had been. Learning how to communicate with others is dreadfully important when so many of us have lost those skills (or never had them in the first place.)
De-escalation refers to the practices required to turn a charged situation into a calmer one. It’s something that teachers have to learn (as well as how to not escalate situations and people in the first place.)
Mediation is the practice of being a go-between, a liaison between two individuals or groups who are at odds with one another. Then, of course, self-defense is important in the event of defending yourself in a charged and violent situation.
Learning all three could also help you distinguish which would be needed in a variety of situations.
10.) Find a community event to attend
Go to a Grower’s Market, go to the library, support your local theater, your local university’s fundraisers! There are so many things right in our own neighborhoods that help support each other and build community.
I do want to caution you about high profile events though. Just because your favorite band is coming to town and performing at a local venue doesn’t mean that that money will support your community. Most of those overpriced tickets and fees just serve to rip you off and put more money in the pockets of CEOs.
11.) Talk to someone new in your community
Communities of people are becoming more important than ever. People are often highly skeptical of strangers and view them as “other.”
Even just starting up a conversation with someone in the grocery store or at the park can sow trust in the community, which we desperately need right now.
If I see someone I think has fantastic energy or I like a sticker on their car, or whatever it might be, I share that with them. I think sharing compliments is a great way to boost someone’s mood and help put them at ease!
Just watch out for people who are wearing headphones or earbuds or looks like they don’t want to be bothered. Neurodivergent people often want to avoid interaction with others, so do them a favor and give them space!
12.) Redecorate a room in your house
I’ve been working on adding a little color and artwork to my home, and I highly recommend that you do this as well! The trends right now are all about conformity and a suppression of individual expression: beige, beige, beige! Let’s do the opposite!
Find things that bring you joy, regardless of whether they “go” with all your current decor. Blend styles, colors, eras, textures, and any other variety of characteristics to make something that is uniquely you!
13.) Save a little money
Being prepared for the future is imperative right now. Whatever you can save, even if it’s only $10 or $15 a month, it’s something that you can save for a rainy day in the future!
14.) Start a women’s circle or mistress group
Back in 2020, I started a women’s circle with a small group of people online. Some of us were going through infertility treatments, many were dealing with babies at home, and some of us had recently been diagnosed with mental health issues.
Starting a group can be a great way to show up for other people who are looking for help or even just validation that they’re not alone.
Just make sure you set norms for supportive behavior, refraining from offering unsolicited advice, and generally listening when someone else is talking!
15.) Read a mind-opening book or start a radical book club
Constantly learning about new things, history you didn’t know, or controversial topics is a great way to resist and fight back against the people who want to suppress the dissemination of knowledge. (Stupid people are easier to control.)
Here are a few suggestions that I’ve read in this summer:
- The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt
- The Extinction of Experience, Christine Rosen
- Who’s Afraid of Gender, Judith Butler
Or you can try one of my favorite book recommendations for women!
16.) Learn a new language
Learning to speak a new language tells a lot about you. It shows that you are inclusive and see the intelligence in other cultures and languages. It shows that you are well read and well traveled!
Speaking a second language, even badly, displays your willingness to learn and fail, and when others come to our country (though I suspect that’s happening less and less these days), we can show them that Americans are not all narrow-minded.
17.) Reminisce with a loved one
Just like in #18 below, it’s okay to miss people and events from your past. Remembering the good times and reminiscing can touch your heart and help you soften. I don’t know about you, but I know that life is hard, but it doesn’t mean that I want to be hard.
Remembering the good times in the past can help remind you that even though things are tough right now, they can get better, and sometimes, you make the most wonderful, funny, and hilarious memories when you least expect!
RELATED: 64 Simple Joys of Life to Cherish and Embrace Every Day!
18.) Visit somewhere from your past
Repeat after me: It’s okay to miss parts of my past!
The 90s, and even a lot of the aughts felt a lot less complicated than life does right now. It’s not bad to miss the days that are long gone.
So honor the past you by going back to visit somewhere you haven’t been in a long time. Share it with your kids! Tell them stories about what it was like for you in the past.
Our grandparents knew how important it was to share their stories about the past… let’s keep that going!
19.) Learn about power dynamics
Understanding power dynamics is a great way to start to discern people’s intentions whether in conversation or a post you read online. Power dynamics as a concept is described as the way power is distributed between individuals or groups in relation to one another.
Kasia Urbaniak (one of my favorite humans and someone I consider a teacher) discusses how in a healthy conversation, power flows between both people as they switch from the dominant (energy out/giving) to submissive state (energy inward/receiving) effortlessly.
However, in interactions that aren’t as healthy, one person might use tactics to keep the power for themselves, or their intentions might not align with their words.
When you begin to see these things play out, it becomes a lot easier to tell when someone is lying or know when someone wants you to do something against your values.
20.) Start a community event or program
Is there something you wish your community had but doesn’t yet? You can be the one to start that thing!
Whether that’s a monthly round-table discussion about board policies in your school district, or a Lego robotics team for your middle schooler, bringing the community together is a powerful form of resistance.
21.) Start a daily grounding practice
Whether this means meditation, walking barefoot outside, yoga, or simply a breathing practice, grounding yourself before you begin your day can help prepare you for all the chaos you may encounter in our world.
Make sure that when you interact with others, that you’ve put on your proverbial armor and you’re not going to leak energy or give away your power. Starting the day with a calm practice can be a great thing to try in 2025.
RELATED: 20 Easy Ways to Be More Present and Live in the Moment
22.) Learn about how propaganda works and teach your kids
Propaganda is a tool used by people in authority positions to get you to believe a certain idea, usually by invoking an emotional response. We usually think of propaganda as being linked to misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation.
There’s a LOT of propaganda going around these days, so teach yourself and your kids how to spot it. Here’s a great video for kids that I found helpful.
23) Get involved with local politics
Sure, it’s hard for the ordinary person to impact politics at the national level, so start small.
Get involved with your PTA, school board, or run for a local office. RunForSomething.net is a great resource for progressive individuals who want to make a difference in their local community, and it’s great to know that you don’t have to get started by yourself!
24) Practice Digital Resistance
There are a number of ways you can practice resistance when you’re online.
First, NEVER accept cookies on a site. (Yes, I run cookies on my site, and I fully recommend that you don’t accept cookies on MY site as well.) You can turn off personalized ads on Google, YouTube, and other social media sites as well. Just understanding privacy online and protecting yourself (and your children) is a huge step in the right direction.
Also, being aware of click-bait and rage-bait material and NOT clicking or engaging can go a long way in reducing the impact of this kind of manipulative media.
25) Opt out of Google, Amazon, and Facebook
It’s hard to imagine not using Google, Amazon, and Facebook, but it’s beneficial, whenever possible. Google has been using AI, demoting the writing of thousands of actual humans. Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos recently rented Venice for his 50 million dollar wedding. And, let’s face it… Mark Zuckerburg is simply a turd.
When you choose not to interact with these platforms, you take money away from these rich assholes, because, as I noted above, your attention is money.
I’m experimenting with other search engines such as DuckDuckGo and Search.Brave.com. I’ve gotten rid of my Amazon Prime, and shop in person for everything (unless I can only find that item at Amazon). And then I went cold-turkey from Facebook and will never promote my businesses there again.
26.) Try cold water exposure
Don’t want to try any of these? Out of options?!
Even something as simple as taking cold showers can do a lot for you. I recently spent 2 weeks taking cold showers just to do something different to shake things up in my life!
Cold showers not only reduce your home’s energy use, but they wake you up, giving your body a temperature shock that can help your immune system, skin, and hormones!
Cool!
Conclusion
It doesn’t matter which way you spin it, connection and spirit are what drive us forward during tough times.
So when you go out on your quest for joy and mindfulness, make sure you include others around you. Resistance is deeply connected to the depth of our fulfillment, our spirit, our joy, and our personal freedom.
Keep yourself vibrant! Keep yourself joyful!
And keep resisting!
