With the election just under 3 weeks away, we thought we'd share some common things our clients are talking about in session and what we can do to deal with any election-based anxiety.
The "I don't want to think about it until later" approach. We get this commentary almost daily in session with our clients. And we get it. We understand that avoidance isn't always recommended but that it has its place. This might be that time to consider this tactic, provided you do the following things: (1) tap into any optimism that you do have and (2) scale back the negative chatter so that you don't get stuck in the same thought process.
Build a support system now. Think about family members, friends, colleagues, groups you're a part of, and anyone else on your list. Who are your allies during this time and who are the people who you may want to temporarily distance yourself from?
Separate out what you can and can't control. Let's face it, we can't control how many vote are in the electoral college. We can't control what information is being disseminated in the media or the opinions of those around us. But, we can control our choice to vote, who we vote for, and any involvement (or lack thereof) we want to have in the political arena.
Take a news/social media break. You may have heard this one before, but it is worth repeating. If you're finding yourself more anxious around the election, stepping away from the news and social media will help you reconnect with more in life than the election itself. Plan on a 30 minute breaks every once in a while when you're feeling particularly anxious.
Prepare to not know the result on November 3. With mail in ballots in full swing, it can help to mentally prepare to not know the full result of the election on November 3. Yes, still have an election watching party, but keep in mind that the end result may not be finalized until days to weeks later. Putting this into perspective now will help avoid any extra anxiety and potential disappointment on election day itself.
Interested in a more personalized approach to working through election anxiety? Contact us for a free 15-minute consultation. We're here to help.