Resiliency Resources

Meme of Craig from Parks and Recreation saying "Oh, oh, I have a medical condition all right it's called CARING TOO MUCH! AND IT IS INCURABLE!

If you found this website, you probably relate a lil’ too much to Craig from “Parks and Recreation” (⬆️). That’s not a bad thing–it means your humanity is intact! However, working to make political change in this day and age is tough, to say the least. 

This moment calls for community and resilience. We can’t sustainably do this work without breaks from the noise of the world and embracing rest and joy. Here are some resources to avoid burnout and keep on keeping on.

Reflect

We use this worksheet to root ourselves in our dreams, community, and action plans to keep ourselves safe. We encourage you to think through your own answers and write ‘em down if it’s helpful! Everyone needs a north star to work toward 💫

Political resiliency worksheet

Ground yourself

With executive orders and new federal rules changing every day, stress is bound to pop up. In those moments of panic, take a few minutes to pause and ask yourself these questions:

  • What am I feeling in my body right now?
    • Identify bodily sensations (hot/cold, tightness, pain, etc.)
  • What am I doing right now?
    • Identify actions (walking, clenching my teeth, raising my arm, etc.)
  • What am I thinking right now? 
    • I have the thought that ____
    • I believe that ____
  • If a stranger were to see me now, what would they observe? That I am ____
  • Finally……label the emotions (I feel mad, sad, glad, scared, etc.)
Self Care

Here are some of our staff’s favorite ways to care for ourselves in case you need ideas:

  • Silence notifications and mute accounts that heighten anxiety
  • Get outside! Swim, garden, play in the dirt–as long as you’re connecting with Mother Earth
  • Make a list of the hard things you’ve done that helped make you a badass
  • Remember what the world you want to see looks like and root into that
  • Escape in books (we’re really into romantasy atm)
  • Talk about what you’re feeling with friends and practice checking in with one another on particularly hard news days
  • Plan a spa day
  • Look at funny memes
  • Practice hobbies that allow you to detach from the news and the election
  • Watch reality TV (we’re wayyyy to excited for Love is Blind’s Denver season)
  • Add your own: ___________________________________________
Read

The Whiteness of Wealth by Dorothy A. BrownWe also loveeee a good book club at New Era that reenergizes our work. Our minds were blown reading “the Whiteness of Wealth” by Dorothy A. Brown in preparation for our tax reform campaign (talk about a racist and patriarchal system 🤯). Read this one if you want to join our movement for economic justice and see the connection between our tax code and literally ALL the issues your community cares about!

An African American and Latinx History of the United States by Paul OrtizThe full New Era team will start reading “An African American and Latinx History of the United States” by Paul Ortiz in summer 2025. Join us in resisting efforts to erase history and read with us!

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Now, more than ever, young people will lead the fight for a multi-racial democracy and secure our rights so we all have what we need to move from surviving to thriving. We can’t do this work alone; this calls for community—so if you’re ready, let’s go!

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