Make Your Damn Bed

Most of us don't have the time, energy, or bandwidth to do anything extra right now, but I hope these guides can be a reminder that there are lots of different ways to engage on a practical level, on any scale.As long as you're alive, you're engaging and that's truly enough. BUT, if you have been feeling the same kind of "listless" that I have, ideally one of these tactics can motivate you (and me) to engage more enthusiastically because there are people are already out there doing the thing, and once you start to create WITH them, you'll start to feel less listless (and less defeated).There are limitless opportunities + countless ways to engage. Find one. Start small, but start somewhere.Do a "force field analysis" and act with intention, so you can feel more courageous when it comes to larger actions. Practice microrevolutions in your day to day life, and remember: We are not cooked, chat. The Sources:Daniel Hunter's Article: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2025/05/dont-let-the-news-overwhelm-you-use-this-tool-to-stay-engaged/Useful Trainings in a Trump Era: https://choosedemocracy.us/trainings-in-a-trump-era/See if local actions are happening near you: https://www.mobilize.us/Indivisible is doing some cool work + has great action items: https://indivisible.org/couphttps://indivisible.org/resourcesWe should be calling our representatives (+ reminding them they work for us): https://5calls.org/GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Most of us don't have the time, energy, or bandwidth to do anything extra right now, but I hope these guides can be a reminder that there are lots of different ways to engage on a practical level, on any scale.As long as you're alive, you're engaging and that's truly enough. BUT, if you have been feeling the same kind of "listless" that I have, ideally one of these tactics can motivate you (and me) to engage more enthusiastically because there are people are already out there doing the thing, and once you start to create WITH them, you'll start to feel less listless (and less defeated).There are limitless opportunities + countless ways to engage. Find one. Start small, but start somewhere.The Main Source: https://choosedemocracy.us/what-can-i-do/Other Sources:Useful Trainings in a Trump Era: https://choosedemocracy.us/trainings-in-a-trump-era/See if local actions are happening near you: https://www.mobilize.us/Indivisible is doing some cool work + has great action items: https://indivisible.org/couphttps://indivisible.org/resourcesWe should be calling our representatives (+ reminding them they work for us): https://5calls.org/Billionaire resistance: https://www.teslatakedown.com/ AND https://www.change.org/p/dear-t-mobile-ditch-the-starlink-partnershipFor Security Forces: https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/blog_post/for-members-of-security-forces-a-guide-to-supporting-pro-democracy-movements/Deep Canvass https://deepcanvass.org/Tax Resistance: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/we-will-not-give-money-to-a-king/GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Action Plan for affinity groups: Choose an action Make a plan Support each otherMake decision on actionsDebrief + evaluateAffinity Group guide: https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/affinitygroupsWhat can I do? Choose Democracy Resource: https://choosedemocracy.us/what-can-i-do/Counseling for Social Change: https://www.counsellingforsocialchange.org.uk/activists/Activist Trauma Resources: https://www.activist-trauma.net/How to get a quick consensus: https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/quickconsensusDonate to Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund::www.pcrf.netDonate to Mutual Aid Funds: https://www.folxhealth.com/library/mutual-aid-fundsGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

An affinity group is a small group of people who come together to prepare for and take direct action. They make decisions together, and support each other during and after action. Sometimes these groups are formed just for one action, but often they are ongoing groups that organise and take part in actions over a number of years.Affinity groups are often organised along the principles of non-hierarchy and autonomy. This means that decisions are made directly within the group by all its members, and responsibility and power is shared so that everyone has an equal voice.Affinity group guide: https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/affinitygroupsWhat can I do? Choose Democracy Resource: https://choosedemocracy.us/what-can-i-do/Daniel Hunter's Analysis on Staying Grounded: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/11/10-things-to-do-if-trump-wins/?utm_source=Climate+Advocacy+Lab+Members&utm_campaign=8cf646d623-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_01_22_04_22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-8cf646d623-547145900Democracy is a verb: Interview series: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/07/democracy-is-a-verb/#interviewsWisdom from the Fight for Democracy in Serbia. https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/05/overcoming-despair-apathy-win-democracy-otpor-serbia-ivan-marovic/Donate to Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund::www.pcrf.netDonate to Mutual Aid Funds: https://www.folxhealth.com/library/mutual-aid-fundsGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

An affinity group is a small group of people who come together to prepare for and take direct action. They make decisions together, and support each other during and after action. Sometimes these groups are formed just for one action, but often they are ongoing groups that organise and take part in actions over a number of years.Affinity groups are often organised along the principles of non-hierarchy and autonomy. This means that decisions are made directly within the group by all its members, and responsibility and power is shared so that everyone has an equal voice.Affinity group guide: https://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/affinitygroupsWhat can I do? Choose Democracy Resource: https://choosedemocracy.us/what-can-i-do/Daniel Hunter's Analysis on Staying Grounded: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/11/10-things-to-do-if-trump-wins/?utm_source=Climate+Advocacy+Lab+Members&utm_campaign=8cf646d623-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_01_22_04_22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-8cf646d623-547145900Democracy is a verb: Interview series: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/07/democracy-is-a-verb/#interviewsWisdom from the Fight for Democracy in Serbia. https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/05/overcoming-despair-apathy-win-democracy-otpor-serbia-ivan-marovic/Donate to Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund::www.pcrf.netDonate to Mutual Aid Funds: https://www.folxhealth.com/library/mutual-aid-fundsGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

The HOPE-PV guide offers us some tactics in safely + effectively pushing back against perpetrators of political violence. Combat the cover-up with the Reveal – Expose the injustice.Combat devaluation + Redeem – Validate the target.Combat reinterpretation + Reframe – Interpret the event as an injustice.Combat official channels + Redirect – Mobilize support and avoid official channels.Combat intimidation or rewards + Resist – Resist intimidation and bribes.RESOURCES:The Free HOPE-PV Guide to ending Political Violence: https://www.endpoliticalviolence.org/guideWhat can I do? Choose Democracy Resource: https://choosedemocracy.us/what-can-i-do/Daniel Hunter's Analysis on Staying Grounded: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/11/10-things-to-do-if-trump-wins/?utm_source=Climate+Advocacy+Lab+Members&utm_campaign=8cf646d623-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_01_22_04_22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-8cf646d623-547145900Democracy is a verb: Interview series: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/07/democracy-is-a-verb/#interviewsWisdom from the Fight for Democracy in Serbia. https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/05/overcoming-despair-apathy-win-democracy-otpor-serbia-ivan-marovic/Donate to Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund::www.pcrf.netDonate to Mutual Aid Funds: https://www.folxhealth.com/library/mutual-aid-fundsGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Today we're talking about how to combat the common tactics that perpetrators of political violence rely on from the HOPE guide (linked below): Combat the cover-up with the Reveal – Expose the injustice.Combat devaluation + Redeem – Validate the target.Combat reinterpretation + Reframe – Interpret the event as an injustice.Combat official channels + Redirect – Mobilize support and avoid official channels.Combat intimidation or rewards + Resist – Resist intimidation and bribes.RESOURCES:The Free HOPE-PV Guide to ending Political Violence: https://www.endpoliticalviolence.org/guideWhat can I do? Choose Democracy Resource: https://choosedemocracy.us/what-can-i-do/Daniel Hunter's Analysis on Staying Grounded: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/11/10-things-to-do-if-trump-wins/?utm_source=Climate+Advocacy+Lab+Members&utm_campaign=8cf646d623-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_01_22_04_22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-8cf646d623-547145900Democracy is a verb: Interview series: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/07/democracy-is-a-verb/#interviewsWisdom from the Fight for Democracy in Serbia. https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/05/overcoming-despair-apathy-win-democracy-otpor-serbia-ivan-marovic/Donate to Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund::www.pcrf.netDonate to Mutual Aid Funds: https://www.folxhealth.com/library/mutual-aid-fundsGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

The ideal of democracy is that it can contain ALL of our diversity and differences and channel into safe, institutionally protected representation without the use of threat and violence. Democracy depends on societal trust, free + fair elections, widespread participation, free + fair media, due process, etc. Democracy can be undermined by people using threat/violence so we must make the cost of political violence too high to enact. We must take offensive and defensive strategies when addressing political violence. Tomorrow, I'll share some of those historically effective strategies. RESOURCES:The Free HOPE-PV Guide to ending Political Violence: https://www.endpoliticalviolence.org/guideWhat can I do? Choose Democracy Resource: https://choosedemocracy.us/what-can-i-do/Daniel Hunter's Analysis on Staying Grounded: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/11/10-things-to-do-if-trump-wins/?utm_source=Climate+Advocacy+Lab+Members&utm_campaign=8cf646d623-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_01_22_04_22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-8cf646d623-547145900Democracy is a verb: Interview series: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/07/democracy-is-a-verb/#interviewsWisdom from the Fight for Democracy in Serbia. https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/05/overcoming-despair-apathy-win-democracy-otpor-serbia-ivan-marovic/Donate to Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund::www.pcrf.netDonate to Mutual Aid Funds: https://www.folxhealth.com/library/mutual-aid-fundsGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Thinking of power as an upside-down triangle is a great way to remember where power lies. Everyday individuals hold the structures of power up with their daily labor within the system. This is why mass noncooperation movements are so successful in toppling powerful dictatorships. We have to take back our power by demanding the system work for US, rather than us for it. Handling fear isn't about suppression, it's about redirection. Fear can paralyze you into submission, or fuel your demands for justice. RESOURCES: What can I do? Choose Democracy Resource: https://choosedemocracy.us/what-can-i-do/Daniel Hunter's Analysis on Staying Grounded: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/11/10-things-to-do-if-trump-wins/?utm_source=Climate+Advocacy+Lab+Members&utm_campaign=8cf646d623-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_01_22_04_22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-8cf646d623-547145900Democracy is a verb: Interview series: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/07/democracy-is-a-verb/#interviewsWisdom from the Fight for Democracy in Serbia. https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/05/overcoming-despair-apathy-win-democracy-otpor-serbia-ivan-marovic/Donate to Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund::www.pcrf.netDonate to Mutual Aid Funds: https://www.folxhealth.com/library/mutual-aid-fundsGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.