2017 is upon us, and shortly after its arrival will be the day many Americans have been dreading: the inauguration of *gulp* Donald Trump as President of the United States. I'm beginning to think that the night Trump won will become the standard upon which future days which are particularly miserable will be judged. When I hit rock bottom, I'll say, "I haven't felt this much despair since the night Donald Trump won the Presidency."

It's been roughly two months, but my guess is, many of us are still in a bit of shock. I still cannot believe this is happening, personally; it feels so surreal to me. Keeping in mind that I'm a guy who hasn't gotten over the fact that Robin Williams is dead, and the uncomfortably high likelihood that Bill Cosby is a serial rapist, who knows how I'm going to handle seeing Donald Trump in the White House for the next four years? I don't even know if I'll be able to bring myself to watch the inauguration, quite frankly.

But, whether I like it or not, this is reality now, and this will have an impact on many Americans. Based on many statements and proposals made by Trump throughout his campaign, I have reason to doubt that our incoming President will uphold some basic human rights.

In that regard, I offer a handful of suggestions on how American citizens can be proactive during Trump's presidency:

1. Don't arbitrarily reject any proposal made by Trump.

Knee-jerk obstructionism of any President is seldom productive, and is likely to play out to the detriment of the American people. Moreover, I honestly don't know where the hell Trump stands on a number of issues, which is problematic in many ways, but the upside of it is that some of Trump's actions might actually benefit the American people; among the proposals in his 100-day action plan is term limits on Congress, which are favored by many Americans. If Trump does something good for the country, we should consider ourselves lucky and take what we can get.

2. Get out and freaking vote every year, particularly in midterm elections.

Presidential elections are undoubtedly important, but frequently forgotten and neglected amidst the hype are state, local, and congressional elections, and I'm admittedly guilty of neglecting such elections myself. State legislatures are where the majority of legislation is passed in this country, legislation that has a significant impact on constituents of that state. Voting for candidates at the state and local levels who are committed to upholding our constitutional rights is an effective way to better ensure that everyone's rights are protected during the next four years.

In addition, Trump currently faces a Congress with a Republican majority in both the House and Senate, meaning much legislation which goes through Congress could basically be fast-tracked. If you're concerned about a lack of checks on Trump's power as President, vote more Democrats into Congress, so Trump might have some impediments of him going through with his more extreme proposals.

3. Stay informed about legislation.

Bills are constantly being drafted and passed in state legislatures. If you want to have an influence as a citizen over decisions that affect the masses, it's important to stay in the loop and pay attention to legislation. Much of the attention has focused on the hate crimes that followed Trump's election, and it is easy to ignore ongoing legislative battles that were being fought prior to Trump's election, and will still be fought during the next four years. If you were advocating for reproductive rights, be sure not to neglect that fight, because that will still require attention during Trump's presidency.

4. Support those who are in fear or uncertain about their future, and stand vigilant against all forms of bigotry.

To say that Trump's election struck fear in many Americans would be an understatement. In particular, Americans who still face hurdles as a result of their race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, disability, or other quality that is beyond their choice are uncertain about how they will fare under a Trump presidency, and they have reason to be; the FBI reported a noticeable surge in hate crimes since Trump announced his presidential run more than a year ago, particularly hate crimes against Muslims and transgender individuals, and Trump's rise seems to have empowered those with views which perpetuate hate against various marginalized groups in the United States.

Individuals who are among those groups need reassurance that people have their back. Some good starting points for being a supportive ally are listening, not invalidating someone's fears, speaking out against expressions of hostility toward said groups, and opposing legislation which discriminates or otherwise perpetuates hate and violence against vulnerable minorities. In addition, and this is advice that I've been meaning to take for awhile, it's a good idea to educate yourself on bystander intervention, so you know what to do if you witness a more hostile or violent display of bigotry.

5. Don't feel the need to solve every problem in the world.

There is an inordinate number of pressing issues in the world, which all have real impacts on real people, and are in need of attention and solutions. But no one individual can grant sufficient attention to every single issue in the world, and those who try would probably burn themselves out, which wouldn't be conducive to productivity and welfare for them or those affected by these various problems.

So, if you decide to get involved and volunteer time and/or money to advocacy efforts, it's perfectly acceptable to focus your efforts on one or two issues to which you feel you can best lend your expertise, as long as you are not downplaying the importance of other issues. For me, my focus will likely be on issues pertaining to human rights and social justice. If your focus is on climate change, income inequality, or nuclear disarmament, then keep doing what you're doing, because those problems need hands on deck as well.

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This is a short and incomplete list, but I believe these tips compile a good starting point for those who want to be proactive during Trump's presidency. I'll be honest, I don't know what the next four years will bring about, though I'm holding out hope that none of the damage that could be done will be irreparable. But if President-elect Trump's tone and rhetoric throughout his campaign and since his election are any indication, America is in for a rough four years to come.