Feeling helpless at the state of the world?

You’re not alone. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, the world is heavy. But you’re not powerless. Here are five ways to channel that energy.

1. Feel your feelings

Anger, grief, rage and anxiety are natural responses to injustice. Suppressing them can lead to burnout. 

Start with talking to people, journaling, crying, screaming into a pillow. 

Feel it, don’t fight it.

The fight comes next.

2. Get informed and then set boundaries

• Choose trusted news sources

• Set time limits for news consumption

• Avoid doom-scrolling

• Try 30-minutes a day for learning and action planning

3. Take tangible action

Small actions add up. Focus on one cause or action at a time. Here are some small actions you could take:

• Donate

• Sign petitions

• Protest

• Email your politicians - find template emails by Googling 'your chosen issue + politician letter template'

• Share verified information, avoid sharing news without cited sources

• Amplify marginalised voices

• Boycott if you can - search 'your chosen issue + boycott suggestions'

4. Stay grounded

• Connect with your community

• Rest, so you have energy to go again tomorrow

• Celebrate small wins

• Look around at everyone else who is fighting with us. You’re not alone

5. Trust that activism works

Movements throughout history have changed the world. 

The change we want has happened before. 

We can do it again. 

Find strength in these stories, learn how and keep it going. 

Authors and activists

Knowledge = Power.

Learn proven tactics and tools.

Understand how ordinary people have changed the world.

Here are some of our favourites - email us with your suggestions too:

Maliha Abidi

Clayton Page Aldern

James Baldwin

Laura Bates

Mary Beard

Munroe Bergdorf

adrienne maree brown

Octavia E. Butler

Soraya Chemaly

Angela Chen

Noam Chomsky

Robert Chapman

Micha Frazer-Carroll

Angela Y. Davis

Robin Diangalo

Sharan Dhallwal

Mark & Paul Engler

Naomi Evans

Natalie Evans

Shon Faye

Peter Fleming

Lewis R. Gordon

Betsy Greer

bell hooks

Kelly Hayes

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

Mariame Kaba

Mikki Kendall

Ibram X. Kendi

Rashid Khalidi

Robin Wall Kimmerer

Naomi Klein

Nico Lang

Mikaela Loach

Reni Eddo-Lodge

Audre Lorde

Gina Martin

Jane McAlevey

Angela McRobbie

Toni Morrison

Vanessa Nakate

Lola Olufemi

Ijeoma Oluo

Nkechi Okoye

George Orwell

Robert O. Paxton

Caroline Criado Perez

Derecka Purnell

Rebecca Solnit

Jason Stanley

Dean Spade

Bernie Sanders

Merlin Sheldrake

Timothy Snyder

C. Riley Snorton

Olufemi Taiwo

Dina Gilio-Whitaker

Peter Wohlleben

Jessica Valenti

Rafia Zakaria

Get involved

1. Look after yourself with us by joining our virtual workshops here

2. Book us to facilitate a workshop about mental health, wellbeing and joy in your organisation here

3. Share this blog with your communities

4. Talk to us, our inbox is open! katy@thejoyfulactivists.com