How to Change the World: Break it Down (4)

Instead of fighting to do the things you’re having so much trouble doing, find the elements that are making it difficult to do them, and see if you can remove one of them. The more you do, the more you’ll find to do, but if you keep whacking at those moles, eventually you WILL start seeing progress. There will always be more to do, but there will always be more that you’ve already done! For me, my dirty dishes have been piling up for WEEKS because I’ve been so busy with school and work. Dishes really stress me out, but the more they pile up, the harder it is to do them, and the more unhappy I am every time I go into my kitchen. But today, I have a day off and I got to sleep in, so I have a lot of energy. I don’t know if I’ll wash them all, but I’m going to grab one of the dirty mugs off my desk right now and wash it, and see where that gets me!

How to Change the World: Break it Down (3)

Make it easy for yourself!!! If riding the bus every day seems like it’s too much, it’s too slow, it’s too hard to figure out, see if you can set up a friend to carpool with every day. Too much? See if you can carpool with them once a week to get groceries. Too much? See if you can carpool with them once, to get groceries, and text them right now to set it up. If you can, ask another person to join the two of you, or don’t. And remember to bring your reusable bags!

How to Change the World: Start Now (1)

All of these posts so far have come from one Word document I typed up one afternoon while reading an article written by Peter Kalmus. I’m inspired to create a website. I’m inspired to create a new Instagram account where I post information and resources. I’m inspired to create a daily schedule of information I can research and disseminate, and I feel myself wanting to delay and start working when I can get it JUST right. But that is NOT how change is made; it’s not perfect or mess-free, and mistakes will be made, and I’ll look back and think, “I could’ve done that better,” but the important thing will be that I did it.

How to Change the World: Rest (2)

When you feel yourself getting exhausted and drained, STOP. The world is resilient and it will survive without you. I don’t say this to minimize the difference you make, because you can and do make an essential difference, but there are other people saving the world right now, too, and you don’t need to feel guilty for taking a break.

How to Change the World: Rest (1)

Not EVERYTHING has to be turned into an opportunity for service or activism. Do you love knitting in your downtime? You don’t have to knit preemie caps for your local maternity ward, or breast prosthetics for breast cancer survivors. (Although if you’re interested, check out Knitted Knockers! They’re a cool org, and I used the pattern to crochet prosthetics for a fem-transitioning amab friend of mine who was dysphoric about her chest.) Keep things for yourself! These changes you’re working to make are to make a better world for you as well as others, and if you’re running yourself ragged, you won’t get to enjoy it.

How to Change the World: Do Less (2)

Pick ONE THING to focus on, PLEASE. Maybe your one thing will be climate change, or the Ukraine crisis. Now make it smaller, because how can one person make a difference in a world on fire, or a terrible war?? Just the idea is overwhelming! Break it smaller. Take it local. Look up a Facebook group or organization in your area that’s providing aid to local refugees, and sign up to drive people from the airport, or to doctor’s appointments. Maybe you’ll find out that there aren’t Ukrainian refugees coming to your area, but there are many Syrian or Afghani refugees who need short-term housing, or rides to the grocery store, or clothes for their growing children. Then send an email to the person in charge, put your name and phone number in the spreadsheet, or whatever else will get you started, and now you’ve done something!

How to Change the World: Go Slow (1)

Change can’t outpace itself. Fast change is built on cut corners and unsustainable practices. Don’t grow faster than you have energy for. Don’t run faster than you’re able to. Take the time to listen to what you need and are capable of doing. Think of the 1% rule: 1^365 is 1, but if you increase it by just 1%, to 1.01^365, you end up with almost 38. Tiny changes compound, and the most important thing is consistency.

How to Change the World: Break it Down (2)

When people say no change is too small, they really do mean it. Sticking a fabric bag in your backpack for next time you stop at the grocery store is saving a paper bag or a plastic one. Saving the plastic one you got because you forgot your plastic bag, and reusing it next time, is also saving a plastic bag. Let yourself appreciate the changes you do make, and the difference they make. It’s tiny, but tiny changes don’t tend to stay that way.

How to Change the World: Break it Down (1)

Any start is a good one. There’s NOTHING too small. Are you sitting in one room of your apartment, and see you left a light on in the other? Get up, turn it off, then come lie back down. There, now you’ve saved electricity. Is there an article that you’ve had open on your computer for weeks and just haven’t read yet? Take a few minutes to skim it, or read the first and last paragraph, then close it. There, now you got a little bit of new information to think about, and your computer will run a tiny bit faster, and you’ll feel a tiny bit less stressed every time you look at the tabs at the top of your computer.

How to Change the World: Do Less (1)

I bet the idea of caring about one more thing or doing one more thing makes you want to cry. You’re exhausted! Me too! Engage with less. Care about less. Right now, I’m consuming so much media that it’s all just distressing white noise passing through my ears. I see a post that looks useful and informative, and I post it on my ig story so someone else can read it, then move on. I don’t have the energy to engage with it myself, and I can’t feel more than a vague stir of distress at even the most gruesome news, because I’m so desensitized to bad news. That is NO way to make a difference.

Introduction

This post marks me finally making up my mind to change the world. Come along for the ride! We need drivers, passengers, and someone to make a sick playlist.