America is severely divided this week as we headed to the polls and cast our votes for the next president of the U.S.A. As election results trickle in tensions are high. And no matter who you voted, your anxiety might be higher than usual this week.
It can be hard to sort out your feelings and take care of yourself when you feel politically charged and the future seems uncertain. But, you don’t have to let the election linger too long on your emotions and mood.
So, what can we do to beat the Election Day Blues?
Using techniques like mindfulness, gratitude, and movement we can break through these negative emotions and work towards a better tomorrow, no matter what the final counts hold.
Five Ways to Beat The Election Blues
Avoid Social Media
We can start by limiting our exposure to media, social and otherwise. This is often harder said than done. But, if you feel your anxiety increase after a few minutes on Facebook or Instagram it’s probably time to do a little social media detox.
If you can’t quit cold turkey you can start by keeping your phone in another room, adding a time limit to your apps, or putting your phone on airplane mode.
Limiting your exposure to the news can also help to reduce your anxiety.
Create a Gratitude List
Make a list of things you are grateful for. This can help to reframe our mindset which reduces stress. By spending the time to create a list of things we are grateful for we help to retrain our brains.
Keeping a gratitude list is also a great way to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is a stress reduction technique that helps us to focus on life in the present moment. Which takes some of the anxiety and worry away from day dreaming about what the future might hold. It allows us to live in the here and now.
Start by making a list of 15 things you are grateful for. Make sure to be specific about why you are grateful for those things in your life. Write them down and revisit the list often, and add a few new items to it every day.
Let Out That Negative Energy
Negative energy can be found all around us, and it’s kind of a bummer. Negative energy is always worse during high stress times, as it becomes more difficult for us to focus on the positive in our lives. So we gotta get rid of that sh*t quick!
Release Negative Energy with Movement
And nothing releases negative energy the way that getting your body moving does! Get up and out of the house and dedicate some time to burning off your negative energy in a way that feels good to you. Go for a hike, take a swim, do a HIIT workout, practice yoga.
The intensity can be determined by your skill, energy levels, and exercise preference. My favorite is to go for a walk! Get up, get moving, and say good-bye to your negative feelings.
Negative Energy at Home
Another great way to get rid of negative energy in your home is to burn sage and cleanse your home of negative energy too. Make sure to open your windows to watch that smoke blow away from you and say good-bye to that negativity, baby!
Talk with Your Therapist
This year, I scheduled therapy for the day after the election. Whether my candidate of choice wins or not, it’s still important to talk it out. I love that my therapist is a neutral place, they should not judge you based on your political opinions. So feel free to let those feelings out!
This is also a great place to ask for help if you’re feeling hopeless about the future. A therapist can help you to reframe your mindset to focus on the things you can control in your life.
Journal Out Your Thoughts
My favorite way to practice mindfulness and mental health is to journal. Journaling for anxiety and depression has greatly helped me on my personal growth journey. And the election is the perfect time to let it all out!
Write down your thoughts, feelings, emotions, worries, and hopes. This is a safe space for you to just LET IT OUT! Journaling is widely used as a tool for both CBT and DBT therapy and it is a great stress reliever.
If you’re having trouble with where to get started you can start with these easy journal prompts.
- One things that made me anxious today was…. It made me anxious because…..
- Three things I’ve enjoyed recently are….I enjoyed them because….
- One way I can show myself more kindness is by…..
- If life were limitless I would be/do…..
You Can Beat the Election Blues!
Election Day is over but the overwhelming feelings it can stir up haven’t quite had the chance to settle. Using the above tips to help vent, relieve your stress, and be more mindful will help you take the first necessary steps to move forward. No matter the final outcome of the election.
What's on your mind?