Whether you’ve been inspired to action during this election, or you’ve been hiding under your blankets until it all blows over, tomorrow’s finally the big day.

What’s next? Well, no matter what happens, you deserve to rest. The fate of our country (or the world) doesn’t rest solely on your shoulders, and if you’re not rested and recharged, you’re not gonna be any good to anybody anyway! Let The Clubhouse help you make that transition from election madness back to everyday life.

We wanna hear from you! Tell us all about how you’re decompressing after this intense election cycle, ideas for future issues of The Clubhouse, or anything else that’s on your mind re: pop culture/media by replying to this email, or emailing us at [email protected]!

There’s life after election day!

by Teresa Jusino

If you’re in the United States, you’ve either already submitted your ballot, or you’ve made a plan to vote in-person tomorrow, Nov. 5 (right?). Now what?

Unplug from the coverage

While it’s, of course, important to stay informed, once you’ve cast your ballot, it’s okay if you opt out of the Election Day coverage. Absorbing the relentless blow-by-blow coverage isn’t going to change outcomes. You’re allowed to disengage. Especially if the constant updates and scrolling are wreaking havoc with your mental health. Take this week to disconnect from the political. The country (and whoever’s President) will still be here next week.

I know absorbing everything and arguing with people online feels active. It feels like Doing Something, and at a time when the world is doing its best to make us feel powerless, feeling like you’re Doing Something is so appealing. But remember, hamsters running in a wheel aren’t actually going anywhere. Give yourself time to stop spinning, and when you’re ready to get back to making a difference, you’ll be able to do that from a more grounded and thoughtful place.

Fill your cup

Take this week to decompress as best you can by filling your proverbial cup with stuff that nourishes your soul and brings you joy:

• Focus on creating! It’s National Novel Writing Month, and while the non-profit that spearheads the effort has proven problematic thanks to their stance on AI, you don’t need an organization or a website to write. Turn away from the election coverage and lean into your creativity! Not a writer? Use the next week (or this month) to devote time to whatever creativity you engage in! Write a new song, draw something new, take a gorgeous new photo, or bake a new tasty treat every day. Challenge yourself to focus on creating rather than absorbing for a while.

• Touch grass! Such a cliche, but there’s a reason people say it. Going outside and doing something as simple as taking a walk around the block can work wonders for your mental health. Whether you do it during the day and get some of that sweet, sweet Vitamin D, or you take a walk in the evening to let the cool night air refresh you, make it a point to go outside this week. Feeling ambitious? Look into walking paths or hiking trails in your area. Bonus points for inviting friends! And speaking of…

• As you’re unplugging from political coverage, plug into your friends instead! And I don’t mean via text or DMs. I mean in person. Digital connection is great, but if you’re getting off your screens to avoid the political echo chamber, it becomes even more important to prioritize face-to-face hangs in meatspace. Make plans to reconnect with someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Or, plan a chill, low-key game night with your besties.

• Reconnect with your comfort stories! This week would be a great time for your go-to comfort watches, plays, or reads.

  • For me, watching Edgar Wright’s Three Colours Cornetto Trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and World’s End) never fails to calm me down and make me smile.

  • For the TV version of that vibe, I turn to his early 2000s comedy series, Spaced, starring Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes, and Nick Frost.

  • If I feel like gaming, I’ll either dip into a familiar open-world game like Fallout 4 (where I’ve already “beaten the game” but like going back in just to do random side quests or kill deathclaws), or replay games like The Stanley Parable or Portal 2, where humor is high but stakes are low.

  • When I’m in the mood to read, short story collections provide great quick hits. My fave collections include How Long ‘Til Black Future Month by N.K. Jemisin, Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, and How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer.

  • And of course, there’s always comics. Anything Brian K. Vaughan writes is comfort reading to me, but Paper Girls (co-created with Cliff Chiang) is complete at 30 issues, available in trade paperback, and is a great YA time-travel adventure starring four tween girls on bikes whom you’ll fall in love with immediately if you haven’t already.

Plan sustainable activism

When you’re ready to get back into your activism — whatever that means to you — beware of all-or-nothing thinking. You are one person, and it’s physically impossible for you to go to every rally, volunteer at every organization, get involved in every online awareness campaign, or donate to every cause.

What you can do is brainstorm the issues that matter to you most, maybe choose a Top Three, and focus your energy there.

For example, maybe you decide that for the rest of the year, your priorities will be community mutual aid, reproductive rights, and anti-racism work. Then, narrow that down even more. For mutual aid, does that mean food? Clothing? Money? For reproductive rights, do you want to focus on your state, or nationally? For anti-racism work, is there a particular community you want to devote time and energy into? Is there a specific area where your interests lie (ie; workplace discrimination, housing inequity, media representation, etc)?

Once you’ve narrowed down your area of focus, make the decision to focus on these areas, and be willing to “say no” to others. This doesn’t mean you “don’t care” about other stuff. It means that you’ve decided to use your time and energy efficiently by targeting your efforts where they matter most. These can change periodically.

Then, engage in activities you genuinely enjoy so that you’re more likely to remain consistent! Love being hands-on and connecting with others? In-person volunteering might be for you! Wanna make a difference but need virtual opportunities? Find organizations aligned with your values and look into how you can help from home. And to hold on to your sanity, decide what causes you’ll devote energy to on social media, and ignore the rest. You don’t have to prove how much you care by responding to every cause/issue that crosses your path. You don’t owe anyone (certainly not strangers) your “take” on anything to prove you’re a human being.

Point being, activism isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. Breaking down your approach into manageable chunks, while ensuring that you get the rest you need, will allow you to protect yourself while also being the change you want to see in the world.

ICYMI

Here are some recent posts over at TMS that you shouldn’t miss:

• ‘Fandom has toxicifed the world’: Alan Moore is right about fans, by Rachel Leishman.

• The Substance and A Different Man are the perfect Halloween double feature this year by Jinal Bhatt.

• ‘Vamos Latinos. Have some pride’: Bad Bunny’s posts a video tribute to Puerto Rico in response to ‘garbage’ comment, by Vanessa Esguerra.

• I’ll say it: Only Murders in the Building needs to end with season 5, by El Kuiper.

• What’s behind the Cellar Door? A wasted premise and TV-movie melodrama, by Teresa Jusino.

• This Element of Dragon Age: The Veilguard Means the World to Me As a Fat, Queer Gamer, by Samantha Puc.

INTERVIEW SPOTLIGHT

Have you seen these interviews? Make sure you’re caught up with the convos TMS is having with the folks behind our favorite stories!

TMS’s Rachel Leishman chats with the “Blum” behind Blumhouse, Jason Blum, about his films, the horror genre, and finding inspiration for the next story.

And here are some other chats that aren’t to be missed:

• Naveen Andrews and Ethan Suplee talk to TMS about Pittsburgh food, neighbors, and their new comedy series, The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh.

• TMS chats with Carrie Anne Moss about action, the apocalypse, and her new film, Die Alone.

• Aya Cash, Isaac Powell, and Darren Goldstein talk The Franchise at NYCC.

• TMS’ Rachel Leishman spoke with Matthew Lillard about being a horror icon, working with Mike Flanagan, and his new tequila, Macabre!

Thoughts? Ideas? Reply here, or write to us at [email protected] to tell us how we’re doing and what you’d like to see!