So election day is finally over! Or is it?

Sure, the ACTUAL election is done. But no matter the outcome, many of us are experiencing the ill effects of election exhaustion and looking for ways to recover from election day stress.

How can you go about moving on from the election in the midst of so much emotional turmoil?

Effective Ways to Recover from Election Day Stress

Yes, polarization has made it difficult to find common ground with others. Particularly those with differing views. Even so, it’s critical to your mental health during these challenging times.

Fortunately, there are ways you can stay motivated to continue making the world a better place without falling prey to burnout or hopelessness.

1. Avoid Doomscrolling

To decompress from election day stress, you must carve out sacred space throughout your day where you are free from constant notifications and media bombardment. After all, it’s much easier to avoid doomscrolling if you limit your internet exposure.

This doesn’t mean a complete purging from it though. For most, this isn’t realistic. So consider setting a timer for a reasonable amount of time to be online throughout the day and commit to signing off when that time is up.

In addition, beware of disinformation. If you suspect anything you’re reading may not be true, seek out tools such as newslit.org to help you discern this and give you a clearer perspective.

2. Recognize You Are Not Alone

This is a big one.

Some of us are inclined to process stress and emotional exhaustion from the election by staying isolated. But such isolation can make you feel truly alone and take a toll on your mental health. Isolation roots you firmly “in your head” and can result in your spinning out.

Instead, understand that no matter how much it may seem that nobody else sees the world as you do, this simply isn’t true. One of the best ways to recognize that you’re not alone is by helping others through their own difficulties. This is an effective way to get out of your head and feel connected with a larger cause.

3. Practice Deep Breathing

The breath is one of the greatest tools for recovering from election overload. And it’s something you have with you all the time, no matter where you are.

When you feel the anxiety ramping up, check in with how you’re breathing. Chances are you’re either holding your breath, or taking shallow breaths from your chest. The result?  An elevated heart rate and the production of adrenaline. These are NOT conducive to relaxation.

On the other hand, deep full breaths into and from the belly, also known as diaphragmatic breathing, has the opposite effect. This sort of breathing activates your parasympathetic nervous system. It encourages the rest and relaxation responses in your body rather than the fight, flight and freeze responses.

Try it now. You may be amazed at how just a few deep belly breaths can reset your nervous system and calm your mind.

4. Stay Mindful

You may be feeling stressed about knowing that you’re going to need to engage in conversation with those who disagree with you. At least, eventually.

And yes, it’s understandable that you may feel a sense of unfairness or lack of justice with certain components of the election. But if you’re working from fear, anxiety, or anger and are only speaking because you think you’ll be able to change someone’s mind, you’ll likely end up feeling more frustrated and polarized.

So before you speak any words, be mindful about the intention behind what you want to say. You may want to first expel any feelings of anger or negativity by writing them out on paper and then throwing the sheet away.

Then allow your motivation to be seeking common ground through empathy and compassion rather than anger or self-righteousness.

5. Seek Support

For some of us, requesting help is akin to asking for a kidney. Yet, seeking out support from a friend or loved one you trust right now can be a serious tonic. Perhaps you’d find more solace in a community, religious, or other support group with like-minded folks.

Another helpful avenue could be enlisting the services of a life coach. This is a trained expert who will work with you to determine what manageable actions you need to move forward and to whom you are accountable for completing these actions.

Finally, if you simply can’t decompress from election day stress and it’s causing you discomfort that’s negatively affecting your life, reach out to a therapist for help. There may be some deeper issues that you need to address.

Do You Feel You Could Use Some Additional Support?

It was a long and often challenging few months leading up to election day. So it’s understandable if you’re experiencing election overload. Just remember, you’re not alone.

We hope the above tips help you to eventually recover from election day stress and to start finding the common ground we need to heal.

In the meantime, if you feel that you could use additional help from an experienced and compassionate coach, contact me today! I can help you move along the path to recovery with more ease.