Let’s face it: the news cycle these days feels more like the plot of an apocalyptic Netflix series than reality. Wars popping up around the globe, politicians you wouldn’t trust to water your plants being elected, and climate change officially graduating from conspiracy theory to “OK, maybe we should’ve listened earlier.” It’s enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed and directionless.
But before you start building your bunker, here are some practical (and with a smile) ways to keep your sanity, find your footing, and even thrive during uncertain times.
1. Focus on Your Circle of Control (Hint: It’s Smaller Than You Think)
Yes, global geopolitics are fascinatingly chaotic, but be real, your influence will be limited. Instead, concentrate on what you can actually control—your actions, reactions, relationships, and community involvement. Small, local actions create meaningful ripples. Plus, worrying less about global events means you’ll have more brainpower for that side hustle or mastering sourdough (it’s never too late!).
2. Stay Informed, but Set Boundaries
It’s crucial to stay informed, but doom-scrolling X until 2 AM isn’t healthy—or helpful. Set specific times for checking the news, use reliable sources, and balance your news diet with positive or neutral content (like adorable cat videos or wholesome TikToks of people doing good deeds).
3. Build and Strengthen Your Community
Feeling alone in chaos is a sure recipe for anxiety. Strengthen your relationships, join community groups, or volunteer. Not only does it help ground you, but community gives you a sense of purpose beyond existential dread. Plus, nothing bonds people faster than collective uncertainty (and sharing funny memes about it).
4. Keep Perspective (Humor Helps!)
Remember that every generation thought they were facing the end times—your grandparents had nuclear drills, your parents had Y2K. Humanity’s track record, while rocky, has a pretty decent survival rate. Allow yourself to laugh a bit. Humor isn’t denial—it’s resilience. If you can laugh at the absurdity, you can handle almost anything.
5. Be Proactive About Your Mental Health
Anxiety in uncertain times is totally normal. Prioritize your mental health through mindfulness, exercise, therapy, or journaling. Invest in yourself now; future you will be grateful. And yes, treating yourself to a yoga class or therapy session totally counts as self-care, even if you end up crying during downward dog.
6. Think Long-term, Act Short-term
While the future might look hazy, don’t lose sight of your goals and dreams. Take small, achievable steps toward long-term objectives. You might not be able to single-handedly halt climate change, but you can adopt sustainable habits, advocate for change, or simply choose eco-friendly brands. Progress feels good, no matter how small. And even your job or career choice matters. Here’s some advice on how to choose a career that makes you happy.
Navigating Forward
Yes, the world is uncertain. Yes, there’s a lot going on. But your twenties and thirties are still ripe for incredible experiences, deep connections, and meaningful contributions. By controlling what you can, leaning into community, maintaining perspective, laughing often, and caring for your mental health, you’re not just surviving uncertainty—you’re mastering the art of thriving amidst it.
And if all else fails, just remember: we’ve survived every “end of the world” prediction so far, and hey—your sourdough starter still believes in you!
Want to do something about it?
Take one of our superb online classes on our Careercube.io platform, like Integrity, Having Impact, Conviction or Ambiguity Adaptiveness.