Election 2020: 5 Immediate Ways to Manage Highly Stressful Times
The 2020 Election Day is finally upon us after weeks of being bombarded with phone calls, door knocks, mail, commercials, and endless dialogue & debate with friends, family, and associates. The 2020 Presidential Election season has already broken many records including the number of mail in ballots that have been requested & submitted; as well as the amount of people who participated in early voting.
With the concerns for the outcome of Election Day, paired with the fears of the pandemic and the continual uprising against racial injustice nation-wide, it is clear why so many people are experiencing higher levels of angst and anxiety. This election season is also breaking another record that people should be cognizant of and that is related to the mental and emotional toll it is having on Americans. The 2020 election season will most likely go down as one of the most stress-inducing elections of our time, and as a Coach I want to remind each and every one of you to maintain control. None of us, individually, will have the power to determine the outcome of Tuesday’s results; but each one of us have control over our mental, spiritual and emotional state through these unprecedent times.
I just wanted to chime in today to offer some support. Be reminded of the following 5 ways to manage your stress and anxiety:
BREATHE: Deep breathing, often referred to as diaphragm breathing, is a powerful anxiety-reducing technique because it activates your body’s relaxation response. Diaphragm breathing, which encourages full oxygen exchange, helps your body go from a fight-or-flight response of the sympathetic nervous system to the relaxed response. Here is how to practice Diaphragm Breathing:
Lie on your back on a flat surface (like the floor or bed) with your knees bent. You can even use a pillow under your head and your knees for support.
If you are able, put one of your hands on your upper chest and the other hand on your belly, just below your rib cage.
Breathe in slowly through your nose. Let the air in slowly and deeply, towards your lower belly. The hand on your chest should remain still, while the one on your belly should rise along with your diaphragm.
Tighten your abdominal muscles and let them fall inward as you exhale through pursed lips. The hand on your belly should move down to its original position.
MINDFULNESS: Recognize the emotions you are feeling, and do not try to run from them. This is not the time to rely on alcohol, or drugs, for example, to help you cope with your emotions. Lean into them and ask yourself questions like “why do I feel like this?”, “what am I fearful of”, and “what is it I have control over in this moment?”
AFFIRMATIONS: The last Gateways to Greatness blog post delved into the power of using affirmations during tough times. This is the perfect time to put affirmations to use. Counteract negative thoughts with ones that better serve you in this time.
MEDIA BREAK: This may be the perfect time to disengage from social media for a little while. I’m sure that at this point, friends and associates are posting and sharing many things concerning the election and some of those post are highly triggering. Protect your peace by logging off until you get your head on straight. I would suggest even turning off the news for a while; especially considering political officials are expecting the final results of this election may not be determined until after election day, as mail ballots will have to be fairly counted. If you have already done your part by voting, focus on self care from here on out. Take a walk, workout, watch a funny movie, spend additional time with family and friends, sans politics talk.
SLEEP/REST: This may seem like a no-brainer, but getting the right amount of rest and sleep is actually something we need to focus on to allow our brains and bodies to properly handle the stress we may be enduring. Over the next few days and even weeks possibly, you may want to put aside more time for additional rest and sleep. Especially considering how when we are feelings stressed, we naturally feel more tired anyways. Give your mind an body the rest it is asking for.
Whatever the outcome of the 2020 elections will be, remember that there is still an after. There will still be work to do and progress to be made both personally and collectively. Take care of yourself so that this one day does not consume you and overwhelm you.
Until Next Time, In Greatness,
Coach Shara