Politics can be a heated subject. Let alone now. Here are self-care ideas for navigating a stressful election season. I hope these tips help you to find more peace during these next few months.
1. Limit Your Media Intake
Some devices have settings where you can limit screen time by an allowed period of time for certain apps. If you don’t have this set up, I highly recommend doing so. At least, until election season is over or you feel less stressed with media.
Supporting Tips:
- I was listening to Jay Shetty’s podcast and he had a guest on that shared this. When scrolling on social media, pause and ask yourself “what is this helping me achieve?” As simple as this question is, I think it is important to bring intentionality into our technology leisure time. The next time you find yourself on your favorite app, pause and ask why you are on it and what this is helping you achieve.
If the above aren’t helping, try deleting the apps altogether for a period of time- get rid of the distraction on your device. If this feels like too much of a commitment, that’s okay- start small by turning off all push notifications. Click here to read why 2.5 years ago I turned off social media notifications.
2. Unfollow Accounts That Are Triggering
Social media doesn’t need to be stressful. There are a lot of things we can’t control in life, but who we seen in our feed in one more so within our control. Spend time going through the list of people you follow and hit the unfollow button on those who do not spark excitement, peace, kindness, and ultimate positivity. Your digital space is sacred.
How To See Who Appears The Most In Your Instagram Feed:
Instagram has a feature where you can see those who appear most frequently in your feed. On your phone or tablet, go to your profile and select “following”. Three categories will appear under the search bar. Select the second option, “most shown in feed”. From here, unfollow those you no longer want to see. If unfollowing feels too scary or may cause a rift in a friendship group, you can mute the account so their posts and stories will not be shown to you. The other person will not know unless you tell them.
Supporting Tips:
- As you scroll your feed and see content that is stressful, annoying, or upsetting, hit unfollow.
- If you like posting about current events but dislike strangers’ negative engagement, switch your account to private.
3. Get Outside
The American Heart Association published an article stating that research proves a 90-minute walk in nature can “lower activity in the part of the brain linked to negative thoughts”. But, don’t let the thought of a 90-minute walk deter you. The article elaborates that “research has shown spending 120 minutes a week in nature improves health and well-being.”
Tips To Get Outside More:
- Many animal shelters need volunteers to help walk dogs. If you can’t adopt, this is a great way to show love to an animal and help make their time at the shelter less stressful, isolating, and scary. Plus, it’s free! You could also organize a group of friends and all walk dogs, together!
- Sit/ stand/ roll out your yoga mat to stretch, meditate, or do a yoga flow. There are free options on YouTube for as little as 5-minutes!
- Bring your laptop outside and finish your work. Weather permitting, of course!
- Take a mid-day break and go for a walk around the block. This will be good for those who are sitting at a desk all day and can give your eyes/ brain a break from staring at the screen.
4. Reconnect With What Makes You Feel Good
Ask yourself what you enjoy and start there- if you aren’t sure, try new things and ask friends/family/co-workers how they enjoy spending their free time.
Supporting Tips:
- If you like reading, revisit a favorite story!
- See if your local library is hosting any craft workshops. Often, libraries will host free events and a majority of the time they’re beginner friendly!
- Have the courage to lean into the things that bring you joy and help you feel settled. I’ve heard so many people say they aren’t sure what their hobbies are and as a result, they felt embarrassed. I don’t think think we should be embarrassed for these things. This is all a part of life and the journey of getting to know ourselves.
5. Call A Loved One
Schedule a “walk-and-talk” with your loved one where you both carve a time out to be active- walking outside- while catching up. This is a great way to blend two self care ideas in one while also taking part an activity many people included in their weekly routine.
In my interview with RJ Hatanaka, he shared how he includes this in his daily routine. When he’s cooking he loves video chatting with his friends/ family to hear about their day and spend time together.
Supporting Tips:
- Start a crafting club, book club, or another hobby/ activity club!
6. Set Boundaries
Before you set boundaries in the moment, take time to reflect on which ones you’d like to set and with who. If there are certain events that keep happening which frustrate you, identify those and practice the boundary you want to implement.
Supporting Tips:
Boundary setting can seem scary but I promise this is a superpower! Speaking with a therapist/ councilor or trusted mentor to help encourage, identify, or teach you how to set boundaries is another way to feel more comfortable understanding the power of this action and how it will protect your mental health and energy.
7. Watch Your Favorite Shows/ Movies
Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all. When you have no energy to do anything else on this list, put your comfy clothes on and press play on a movie or show.
Supporting Tips:
- Looking for streaming suggestions? Check out the entertainment section of the blog! I have tv and movie suggestions.
- Explore new genres or culture by diving into movies you’ve never seen. During the 2020 lockdown I watched a lot of Bollywood movies!
8. Journal It Out
Be intentional and ask yourself “how am I?” write in full sentences, draw, or bullet points any words or emotions that arise. Explore prompts and questions you are asking yourself or seeing in your surrounding. Put pen to paper or fingers to keyboards and release all those thoughts/ feelings.
9. Move Your Body
When I feel overwhelmed, I like to do something active. The movement helps me to work out what’s in my mind and I like the distraction that comes with doing a movement-based activity. It helps me get out of my head and shift focus to what’s around me.
Supporting Tips:
- Call a loved one and go for a walk.
- Join a sport.
- Take a fitness class.
- Set a goal to hit a certain amount of steps or miles per day.
10. Vote
The very reason you’re stressing can be put to rest (to a degree) when you use your voice to fight for what you believe in. Backup your words with actions by going to the polls to vote. No matter what you think or what anyone else says, your voice does matter. It matters today, in this election season, and every day after that.
Supporting Tips:
Read: If You Want Environmental Change, Be Politically Engaged
This post was inspired by my friend, Gina, who wrote the kickoff post I built off of her strategy . Read Gina’s blog post, here.
