ICYMI: It’s the US election this week (Wednesday NZT). For some of us, the chaos (read: fear) feels all consuming. For others, it may be hard to even think about - given our own chaotic and despairing politics here in Aotearoa.

Either way, it's a historic and, frankly, terrifying election that has the world on edge. And while we don’t encourage being oblivious to what’s going on politically (and we don’t want to trivialise a really serious moment), we do encourage taking some time out from doomscrolling (or watching the New York Times needle) and looking after yourself – so we’ve collated a handy list of other things to do this week as small distractions.

Laugh through it

It’s almost too fitting that this Wednesday night show from comedians Angella Dravid and Courtney Dawson is called Kinda Dark... Whatever the result, head along to the Classic Studio for this “a work in progress treat” that’s R18 and for “freaks only”.

Hang out with Stacy Gregg

The winner of the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year at the 2024 New Zealand Book Awards For Children And Young Adults is incredibly sharp and witty, and while this ‘in conversation’ event is hosted in a children’s bookshop (Ponsonby’s Dorothy Butler) for her YA book Nine Girls, and actually for teachers and librarians, it’d also be an entertaining evening for grown ups needing to not think about US politics.

(Fun fact: Stacy first introduced Zoe and Rebecca, way back in 2006)

And/or Trevor Noah

The former host of the Daily Show will perform his Off the Record show at Spark Arena on Tuesday night, but will surely have something to say about the looming US election the following day.

Dance/sing/listen

If you’d prefer to just lose yourself in the music, next door to Trevor Noah at Spark Arena will be British rapper Lord Apex at the Tuning Fork.

Prefer to hide at home? Blast our Ensemble Votes playlist, which we made last year ahead of the New Zealand election but still has an appropriate vibe: “songs to scream along to”.

Watch Rivals, read some smut

With its calming shots of the bucolic English countryside, divine late 80s fashion and endless bonking, the Jilly Cooper TV adaptation on Disney+ is perfect lighthearted entertainment. If you prefer to escape into your own imagination, head to your local library or independent bookstore to buy one of our recommended smutty books.

The morning (day) after…

Make a plan for November 7.

• Support and shop local fashion at the Slug pop up in Pōneke, an exhibition and store organised by brand JPalm featuring an array of independent designers and creatives. It runs at 30 Cuba Street from November 7-21.

• If you need to laugh and/or want to up your cortisol levels, the film Saturday Night – depicting the chaotic lead up to the first episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975 – hits cinemas on Thursday.

Do something positive!

It’s easy to wallow in dread, but it’s better to do something active. You can't change the election result, but you can change your community.

• If this election (and NZ’s last year) has stoked the political fire within you, have you considered running for council (or your local community board)? Local elections are next year, so now’s the time to start thinking about it. Councils are involved in a huge range of community-shaping mahi – and we need diverse, fresh, young and hungry voices making an impact more than ever. Don’t let lack of experience daunt you – councils and community boards are a great way to start getting involved in political mahi. And you wouldn’t be alone: last elections, 40% of elected members were new to council. 

• Show your support for Palestine at Stitching Solidarity, an exhibition at Enjoy Contemporary Art Space from November 6 to 31. This kaupapa brings artists from across Aotearoa to create a solidarity quilt, inspired by a long history of artist-activist quilt making. More details here. 

• The cost of living crisis is hitting our communities hard, so show a little kindness this Christmas (if you have the means) and donate some kai to foodbank – there are heaps around, so have a Google to find one near you. There’s also heaps of great Christmas initiatives around you can support, like Kiwi Christmas Books, which gifts brand new books to families whose children would otherwise go without at Christmas time. 

• Make friends with an older person! The Age Concern Visiting Service will match you with an older person who’s socially isolated or lonely, so you can help them feel connected and get some nuggets of life wisdom at the same time. 

• For $20, you can gift a safe night to a woman and her children who are suffering family violence, via Women’s Refuge.