The Antidote to Despair

And the power of micro-wins

I finished recording the audio for my new book a day early, which meant that the day after the U.S. election, I had nothing scheduled on my calendar. Lying in bed and weeping seemed like a good idea, but the kids needed breakfast, the dog needed a walk, and I remembered I was on a deadline for a few articles.

Here’s what I did instead: I made the bed. I moved my body. I brought flowers to our neighbors. I broke down the cardboard boxes by the back door and wiped down the kitchen counters. I bought a tiny spoon for our bowl of flaky salt and ordered the cheerful wallpaper I’d been eyeing for months. I cried alone in my car, and then I took myself to my favorite co-working space, where I wrote and wrote and wrote.

I have always found action to be the antidote to despair, and it felt good to do these small things, along with dropping off a bag of donations. If you need a little mood boost—now or anytime—consider trying one of these simple micro-wins:

• Get Something Out of Your House – a shop return, a bag of donations, or that roasting pan you borrowed from your neighbor.

• Clean Something – your refrigerator, your dusty bookshelves, anything that could use a little refresh.

• Fix Something – mend or repair something that’s broken.

• Make a Simple Treat – make something small and easy, like warm oatmeal with a sprinkle of cinnamon or toast with your favorite toppings.

• Bring the Outside In – gather a few flowers or some greenery from outside (or your yard) and arrange them in a small vase or jar on your nightstand.

• Help Someone – do something kind and meaningful for someone else.

Hope you’re all finding small ways to find comfort today and every day. Sending big hugs. x

PS. I am committed to keeping my platform a safe and inclusive space, free of political sparring. I’m well aware that our country is deeply divided - this post is intended to soothe the many people who are scared and suffering right now. If it doesn't resonate for you, I hope it will be helpful at another time in your life. x

Just Published: I wrote this article for TIME magazine on the galvanizing power of micro-wins. Read it here.

I love

Chris Guillebeau

’s simple two-part solution for when you’re not sure what to do. Read it here.

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