Don't Let Election Stress Derail Your Life
It’s November 5, two days after the election, and obviously there’s still a lot we don’t know.
They’re still tallying up the results for President, and even in some local, state, and regional races.
I was thinking this morning about how I stayed up late Tuesday night to try and see the results and to figure out some local voting and tallies in Indiana as well as what everyone had on their minds.
Skip the doom scrolling.
Something I was thinking about — no matter what, it’s been a strange election for both sides. Given the options we had, it’s been just frustrating. Even when we have the results and whoever stands as our president and newly elected leaders in January, we still have responsibilities.
We still have people we need to care for and there are still things we can do as a country and as individuals. If we get fired up about one issue or another, we can still continue pushing for what we know is right and what we believe.
I voted!
That’s the beauty of being an American, and it’s also in some ways hard. We want quick results! But I am hopeful that the same number of people that showed up to vote continue to share their opinions and vote, not just in an election, but with your dollars, your voice, your actions, your volunteering, your support of other Americans.
I know that I personally haven’t shared a lot about politics. I am a non confrontational type of person, and it’s been one of those years where no matter what I would say, I’m sure — actually I know there’s an opposing view.
Overall, my goal as a person and as a business owner is to support other small businesses, especially those that need it the most — solo-owned businesses, which are usually women-owned or minority-owned. I hope everyone makes a conscious effort to support them in moving forward into the holiday season and a new year.
For now, take a deep breath, and we’ll see how this election shakes out.
The overall message I keep going back to and that I love is to simply be kind. Be kind to people. With everything that’s gone on this year, even before covid and the election, with the natural disasters the world needs a little extra kindness.
Be kind, because people are waking up today wondering about the election, but they also have personal problems to battle through alongside election stress. Maybe they are going through a morning of losing a loved one or their job. Maybe they have to move during a pandemic. Maybe they live alone and haven’t seen their friends and family in months.
How to Help Yourself
For anyone struggling with added election anxiety and lack of self care right now, here’s a few resources I’ve found helpful this past week to keep my sanity while continuing to learn with regards to the current events in our country.
Author Austin Channing Brown has been giving me great positive vibes and self-care reminders while doom scrolling through Twitter.
Glennon Doyle is another author whose books and tweets have been so relatable during this time.
Myisha T. Hill and her organization Co-Conspirator Lounge launched a podcast earlier this year that I love.
Author and fellow mom Jen Hatmaker is great because her focus is at the crossroads of politics and Christianity.
Whatever you do, remember that no election results will decide your future, but you still can.