So here’s the thing: this Pop was originally going to be a lovely little recap on The Real Housewives of Potomac and the pure escapism I’ve found through Bravo and Reality TV. I had it outlined and ready to go, and hell, I may still use it at some point this month (and you all better act surprised). But who am I kidding? This past week was truly a mess, and while I still believe pop culture deserves dissection and directly reflects who and where we are, there is simply too much going on right now to process any of that. All the fun stuff loses its shine when the world quite literally is burning outside your window. With 4 weeks left until election day, it feels like everything and anything that could possibly happen is happening, with no time at all to adjust or analyze. Our poor human brains can only take so much! This news cycle at present is relentless, feeling like since the (now fateful) debate on Tuesday night, it is simply impossible to keep up with anything. For me, my phone intake has ticked up massively, I’m more anxious and my sleep schedule is truly out of control. Knowing I had to get a grip on this, I spent the weekend breaking down what I’ve been feeling and what has and hasn’t been working for me, and came up with three ways to make it through the end of the month. Listen, I’m not a self-help writer! I just want to write about my shows and little songs in peace, okay? But I can’t do that unless I’m feeling at least somewhat normal, and writing about that process helped me break through all the mess and enjoy myself again, if only for brief moments. Here’s what I do (and plan on continuing to do) to get through October and beyond:
(and I promise The Social Network picture will make sense in a bit)
Treat Yourself
This may seem obvious and trite, but I promise it’s essential. With many of us still adjusting to a new normal, we have to remember to be kind to ourselves everyday. How would you help a child through massive change, trauma on TV everyday and relentless streams of bad news? You would help that kid feel better, or at least give the kid some ice cream! I don’t have all the answers but I do know that ice cream has gotten me through many nights this year and I plan on continuing to treat myself with it as we head towards November.
Get Off That Phone
I know, this also sounds corny as hell. “Getting off your phone” can feel like the most virtue signal-y phrase ever. Everyone uses it, from trendy mindfulness instagram accounts, to celebrity self-help books, and even your mom. But it feels that way for a reason: it actually works and we all shouldn’t be on these damn things as much as we are. “But there’s too much going on, Jared!” I know. While writing this damn letter I’ve opened up Twitter about 3 times already, and the content is moving so fast right now I’ve read about 20 twenty different headlines. It can feel, especially today, that being on your phone is “work”. It’s active. For many, it can feel like activism. I myself fear not being on it and missing important news. But you know what? If I really need to know something and if it’s that important, it will make its way to me at some point. It always does. Take a break from it all and I promise you’ll feel better if you do.
Watch Your Favorite Things
This is my favorite, and I’m convinced the only thing that got me through the week. “But Jared, isn’t this the same as treating yourself?” Shhhhhhh. As I said, it’s been hard for me to take in new content, let alone process it all enough to write about it. But a wonderful thing I’ve been leaning on is nostalgic TV and film just to soothe my mind. There have been countless studies on why rewatching things is actually good for your mental health, but again I’m not here to preach or be a self-help guru. I’m just sharing what I find has worked for me, and that has been simply listening to my gut and watching things that comfort me. Take Thursday for example: all day there were fun think pieces on the 10 year anniversary of The Social Network (one of my favorite movies that some friends of mine still tease me about), and my first instinct was to write, tweet or post about it. Output. But why the hell would I do that when I myself needed pouring into and something to enjoy? So I turned on Netflix and searched for the still of Jesse Eisenberg’s face glowing from “Face Mash” on his computer screen and went to Harvard for a night. At first, of course, I was passively watching (and yes, still posting about it), still checking Twitter every now and again, but as Mark and his friends got deeper and deeper into thefacebook™, I put my phone down and just let it all wash over me. Let’s face it: watching Andrew Garfield scream “You better lawyer up asshole” will never not satisfy every part of my being.
This weekend when I thought about what I watched, I realized I spent all week rewatching, and didn’t take in anything new. The night before The Social Network, I watched The Mask (1995), a film that was so integral to my childhood and mind as a performer (and writer), but that I hadn’t actually revisited in maybe 15 years? I also watched Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (the best animated Scooby-Doo feature, full stop). It doesn’t have to be movies for you. It can be revisiting an old book you loved from your youth, watching compilations of Real Housewives fights (after the latest episode, Potomac is now definitely in the top 5), or even playing old video games (Super Mario 3D All Stars I’m looking at you). Yes, there is a lot to be anxious about and frankly a lot of information to receive and share as we ramp up towards the election, but just remember to take care of yourself at the end of the day. We’re (quite literally) in a revolution, and we need to be the strongest, best versions of ourselves while we fight for change, for us and for our brothers and sisters who struggle to be seen or heard.
And look at that. My Pop where I “wouldn’t talk about pop culture” still had some sprinkles in there, still finding a way back to the fun stuff outside of all that’s been going on in this crazy week from Hell. So, just find your thing…your fun stuff. Remember to treat yourself, get off that damn phone and lean on your favorite things. I mean it worked for Maria Von Trapp, didn’t it?
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ POP OF JARED
Below you’ll find my Fall playlist to go along with this letter as well as resources for our upcoming election, to support Black Trans lives, and the September Book List of what I read last month (be on the lookout for a “Mini-Pop” Book Recap later this week). As always, feel free to leave a comment below, thanks for reading & stay safe out there!
FALL PLAYLIST:
RESOURCES TO HELP LITERALLY SAVE THE WORLD:
SEPTEMBER BOOK LIST: