7 Practical Ways to Manage Election Stress and Anxiety
Election seasons bring heightened emotions, intense discussions, and sometimes even conflicts, especially when outcomes impact us personally. Whether you’re actively involved or simply feeling the impact from the sidelines, managing election stress is essential for maintaining your mental and physical health. With so much at stake, it’s no wonder many of us feel overwhelmed or anxious. Below are some effective techniques to reduce election stress and anxiety, helping you maintain balance and regain peace in your daily life.
1. Set Limits on News and Social Media Intake
While staying informed is essential, overexposure to political content can elevate stress levels. News apps, social media, and the 24-hour news cycle are designed to keep you engaged, but this can easily lead to information overload. By setting boundaries, you can stay informed without feeling totally drained.
Choose specific times to check the news, like after breakfast or before dinner, instead of throughout the day.
Use social media mindfully: if a platform feels more stressful than helpful, consider taking a break or limiting your time on it.
Focus on trustworthy sources that keep you in the loop without stirring up extra anxiety.
2. Practice Mindfulness and Breathing Techniques
Mindfulness doesn’t have to mean meditating for hours. Simple breathing exercises or grounding techniques can work wonders when anxiety flares up. By bringing awareness to the present moment, mindfulness can help reduce election anxiety and anxiety over past or future outcomes.
Try a 5-minute deep breathing exercise: inhale for four counts, hold for four, and exhale for six. Repeat a few times, and notice how your body responds.
Explore mindfulness apps like Headspace or Calm, which offer short exercises that make it easy to bring mindfulness into your day.
Practice the 5-4-3-2-1 technique to ground yourself and bring you back to the present: name five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste.
3. Focus on What’s Within Your Control
Election seasons can leave us feeling powerless, especially when outcomes seem beyond our reach. Shifting focus to areas of life where you have influence can help reduce feelings of helplessness and find where you can make a difference to help you regain a sense of control.
Volunteer locally for causes or organizations that align with your values. This way, you can make an impact without the weight of national outcomes.
Set small, achievable daily goals that bring a sense of accomplishment, such as organizing your space, cooking a meal, or engaging in hobbies.
Remind yourself that while the bigger picture may be uncertain, there’s a lot you can do each day to create positive change, one step at a time.
4. Stay Connected (But Keep Conversations Light)
Social support can help reduce election stress, but it’s crucial to focus on relationships that make you feel comfortable and supported. Connecting over non-political topics can be refreshing.
Reach out to friends or family who lift your spirits and chat about shared interests or plan activities that keep your mind off the news.
Join groups focused on non-political interests, like a book club, hiking group, or crafting circle, where you can connect without diving into election conversations.
Set boundaries if people around you want to talk politics more than you’re comfortable with. Letting them know you’re taking a break from political discussions can help reduce stress and protect relationships.
5. Engage in Physical Activity
Exercise is not just beneficial for your body; it’s a game-changer for mental health. Physical activity releases endorphins—those feel-good chemicals that help counteract stress and anxiety.
Aim for 20-30 minutes of movement daily, whether that’s walking, running, dancing, or stretching. The key is to find something enjoyable.
Try exercising outside if you can; fresh air and nature have been shown to reduce stress and increase clarity.
Even short breaks, like a quick walk or stretch, can make a difference in how you feel and help reduce election-related anxiety.
6. Write Down Your Thoughts and Practice Gratitude
Journaling is a simple yet powerful way to process emotions and gain clarity on overwhelming feelings. Writing can help “clear out the mental clutter” that builds up, especially during stressful times.
Set aside 5-10 minutes daily to write down concerns, hopes, or reflections related to the election. No need to edit—just let your thoughts flow.
Gratitude journaling can shift focus onto positive aspects of life, even when external circumstances are challenging. List things you’re thankful for, big or small, to cultivate a sense of calm.
Write a list of values and goals to remind yourself of what’s important beyond any election outcome. This can bring perspective and reduce the intensity of election anxiety.
7. Practice Kindness and Patience (with Yourself and Others)
Election stress often leads to strained relationships and additional anxiety. Cultivating empathy, both for yourself and others, can go a long way in reducing tension.
Practice self-compassion by acknowledging your stress and accepting that it’s okay to feel anxious. Give yourself grace, as everyone handles stress differently.
Remember that others feel stress too, regardless of political affiliation. Showing patience and kindness in tense conversations can alleviate stress that stems from social conflicts.
Embrace positive affirmations to remind yourself that you’re doing the best you can. Phrases like “I can take this one step at a time” or “It’s okay to feel how I feel” can be grounding and calming.
When to Seek Extra Support for Election Stress
If election stress is affecting your daily life, relationships, or mental well-being, consider reaching out to a licensed therapist. Speaking with a professional can help you build healthy coping strategies and provide personalized support.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What causes election stress and anxiety?
Election stress is often caused by the feeling of uncertainty and the pressure of high-stakes outcomes. Constant news exposure can add to these feelings.
2. How can I avoid election anxiety when political conversations come up?
Politely change the subject or take a break from the conversation. It’s okay to prioritize your mental health.
3. What if family members want to talk about politics all the time?
Setting boundaries is essential. Let them know you’re choosing to take a break from political discussions for now. Most people will understand.
4. Why do I feel physical symptoms from election stress?
Anxiety can lead to physical symptoms like tension headaches, stomach aches, or fatigue. Managing stress through mindfulness and exercise can help reduce these symptoms.
5. What online resources can I turn to for managing election stress?
Apps like Headspace and Calm offer meditations specifically for stress relief. At MyMindset NYC Counseling Services we offer online sessions for mental health support.
6. When should I consider therapy for election anxiety?
If stress is affecting your sleep, mood, or daily life, talking with a therapist can provide helpful guidance and coping strategies.
Remember, election seasons come and go, but taking care of your mental well-being is something you deserve year-round. By using these techniques, you can better manage stress, protect your peace, and stay grounded.
How to Get Started
If you're ready to take the next step in your mental health journey, Jessica is here to help. You can easily schedule a session by visiting her profile on MyMindset NYC Counseling's website: www.mymindsetnyc.com. Don't wait—start your journey towards better mental health today with a therapist who truly understands and cares.
Jessica Thomas, LMHC is a Haitian-American and licensed mental health therapist based in Brooklyn, NY. I specialize in working with motivated early and young professionals striving to improve their mental health through stressful times, navigating life transitions, building a work-life balance, releasing stress, burnout, repairing their self-esteem, figure out their sense of self, and more through online counseling. Learn more and book a free 15-minute consultation with her here.
