November 3 is almost upon us, and these are simply not ordinary times. Amidst a national pandemic, the impending stress associated with such a critical election is palpable. While it’s not possible to mute all of the news and noise, there are some intentional strategies that you can employ to make the next week or so more manageable. We have a great responsibility as citizens, and we also have a responsibility to ourselves to take care of ourselves mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Quiet social media
There are varying degrees of disengagement we can pursue when distancing from social media (not to be confused with social distancing- which we should also continue to do). This is a time to do what you need to feel ok, and not to worry about what others think. Some people can scroll and feel unaffected by the posts, the banter, and the verbal sparring. Others need to weed it from their view. Unfollow, block, or take a brief vacation from social media, if it will be helpful to you.
Disable notifications
If you are like me, a notification that pops up on your phone or computer is the shiny object that distracts you from whatever you were just doing, and often leads you down a rabbit’s hole that starts with breaking news about Britany Spears and leads to the latest Wikileaks update. It rarely ends well. Disable any unnecessary notifications for the coming week and prevent the distraction from those disruptions.
Choose your news source and time, intentionally
Pick one news source and let it be your guide. Decide what time and what source you want to get your information, and stick to that. Whether you are a first thing in the morning news reader, a nightly news watcher, or a frequent re-Tweeter, pick one and stick to it. Trust your source and know that you’ll hear the big news when it surfaces. Now is not the time to hear it on repeat from 15 different sources over the course of one day.
Do something (ANYTHING) else!
Times like these call for some serious distraction activities! Choices are more limited than usual due to the pandemic, but there are plenty of ways to try to get enveloped in other things in the non-political hours of your day. Conversely, if you are someone who is active in the political volunteer scene right now, first of all- THANK YOU, and secondly, please find some balance for yourself in the off hours. Books, movies, household projects, crafts, and other hobbies are at your disposal. This week is a great time to swap out the background noise of the news for some of your favorite music or podcasts while you make dinner or do the dishes!
Set boundaries
Don’t want to talk about it with the person you ride the train with each day to work? Don’t! Put in those headphones and enjoy some mood-enhancing music. Not interested in hearing what Great Uncle Harold thinks for the 297th time this year to sway your political opinion? Politely decline his call for now. Now is a time for self-preservation and limit-setting. It’s more than reasonable to say “I’d rather not talk about it” and offer another topic with whomever you might find yourself stuck behind in line at the store.
Lean in on your support people
Despite a sense of great divide right now, one thing is true- we are all in this together. It’s possible to empathize and relate to one another, even with differing views, without discussing the details of politics. Regardless of who you vote for, if you are voting, you are invested in the outcome. That investment feels taxing because it feels out of our greater control, and that’s a shared experience. Reach out to people who you trust and let them know what you need from them.
Take a mental health moment
Maybe PTO isn’t an option for you, and you have to get creative around creating some “you time". Whether it’s giving yourself an hour unplugged, doing something in nature without the buzz of news in your ear, a day where you are not in front of a screen, or simply a later start if you are working from home- give yourself a little TLC and honor what your mind, body, or heart are telling you. Do you anticipate that you’re going to be a nervous wreck on Tuesday? Maybe that day is best structured and distracted, but Wednesday will be a useful day for a break. You know yourself best. Do what feels right.