How to Take Care of Yourself
No matter what outcome you were hoping for on Election Day, we can all agree that this year's election has been anxiety-inducing and traumatic in many ways.
If you find yourself experiencing unpleasant emotions or physical sensations as a result of political stress, try these self-care tips for recovering from the polarized 2020 election:
💙 Turn off the news.
Staying informed is important, but so is your mental health. Limit the amount of time you spend "doomscrolling" through news apps and social media, and distance yourself from any news sources that make you feel worse.
💙 Be gentle with yourself.
After the election, you may find yourself feeling drained or exhausted. As a result, you may not be as productive as you usually would be at work, at school, or at home. Extend yourself compassion and don't pressure yourself to do too much before you're ready. Take time off to recover if needed.
💙 Do something constructive.
Our coping skills are crucial to getting ourselves through periods of intense stress and anxiety. Avoid negative coping mechanisms like numbing out, abusing substances, or isolating. Instead, do something constructive with your pent-up energy. Try intense physical exercise for discharging anger and stress, artistic activities for expressing sadness and grief, or getting involved with an organization in your community for warding off feelings of helplessness.
💙 Validate your emotions.
Most importantly, remind yourself that whatever you are feeling right now is valid. There is no "right" way to feel after experiencing anxiety or trauma. You don't need to stuff back unpleasant emotions in order to appear okay. Get curious and take time to sit with your thoughts and physical sensations instead.
What will you do to take care of yourself after the election? Let us know in the comments below!
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