Electing Care

Facebook can be so profound, like it was with the post I saw last week that simply said, “Next week has been exhausting.” Well, friends, here we are at exhausted.

I’m writing this the day before election day, and it feels like the calm before the storm. The day I actually voted was so emotional for me and I really didn’t see it coming! I didn’t realize how worried I am about the future. So many of us are concerned about what’s really on the line, from our individual physical safety to the security of our democracy.

1. Don’t be afraid to unplug. If you do read or listen to news sources, pay attention to words and phrases that are emotionally charged.
2. Build a (communal?) Post Election Playlist
3. Challenge yourself (and a colleague?) to get more steps, drink more water, or read more pages
4. Print off and share a few coloring sheets or crossword puzzles
5. Slip motivational quotes in random books around the library
6. Bring in snacks for everyone
7. Volunteer to do something you wouldn’t normally do
8. Treat a colleague to lunch or a movie
9. Bring in a massage therapist for 5-minute free massages
10. Plan media literacy workshops that address finding credible sources
11. Develop passive programming to learn how your community members engage with AI
12. Use Class Tools to create fake media for your library along with a few analytical questions
13. Build a book display on scorpions. C’mon! It’s November!

Filed under: Professional Development, self care