By being durably involved in your community and by being aware of and not ignoring the consequences of your actions, of the policies you advocate for, the actions of the politicians you endorse, etc. By not just voting once and moving on.
"Being aware"
"advocate for"
What are you talking about? Should you hound co-workers that don't work for you? Leave pamphlets on cars with bad bumper stickers? Subscribe to the New Yorker?
If you're interested in politics you should read it, but you should not let it affect your life in any meaningful way.
Oh, I’ve got really bad news for you.
I have picked up garbage around my neighborhood. Kept my sidewalk clean and tidy. Helped neighbors w basic tasks.
Does this count?
And of course those things count, but it's arguably only focused on your immediate surroundings. I've done some pretty significant cleanup of parks in my area. It's very rewarding.
Are you interested in being less antagonistic about basic civics?
When you’re apathetic, these decisions don’t just disappear. You implicitly delegate them to everyone else. Now, knowing what you know about most people, does that sound like a wise idea?
It’s sort of like saying “I don’t care where we eat” in your friend group, and then they choose sushi and you hate fish. Whoops.
Yep, 100%. It's unavoidable.
Being able to vote? You have that right because people engaged in politics.
Being educated for free as a child? Politics.
Clear air to breath? Politics.
5 day work week? Politics.
Not held in chattel slavery? Politics.
Allowed to worship at a church of your choosing - or not worship at all? Politics.
Our entire modern lives were built by people engaging in politics. Ignoring political issues is wreckless and shortsighted.