Election Year Self-Care: The Balance Between Being Informed and Being Stressed
A few weeks ago, I went to the gym to zone out on the treadmill. Sometimes I listen to music on my headphones, and sometimes I enjoy the quiet in my brain, but usually, I get distracted by one of the many mounted TVs flashing all kinds of commercials and news.
This time, I happened to catch a glimpse of a news channel covering the upcoming election and noticed my heart rate immediately spiked.
If you’re like me and the political stuff wears on you, know that we are not alone.
Election Stress affects most U.S. adults.(1) About three-quarters of adults who live with anxiety identify elections as a source of anxiety. (2)
It probably doesn’t help that we are bombarded with political ads on TV (because you know I won’t pay extra for ad-free,) yard signs on our way to work, and text messages throughout the day asking us who we will vote for and if could we please donate.
Not only does it make it hard to tune it out, but I also wonder when is tuning out for our own mental health helpful and when it becomes willful ignorance. This has become a regular topic of conversation in all my circles.
How can we feel informed without feeling hopeless? What does that balance look like?
I suspect the balance between being informed and being consumed looks different for everyone, as everyone’s “political tolerance” is different. It’s important to figure out what yours feels like to know when to pull back.
My own political awareness has fluctuated in recent years. I once thought of myself as a very civic-minded person, and I still believe in the importance of using your voice and your vote and knowing what you are voting for. But do we need to know what the candidates are saying about each other? Is it helpful to read the rage bait and the comments that follow?
You don’t have to read the comments in real life either.
If you don’t have the bandwidth to engage in a political discussion, or it doesn’t feel safe, say so. It’s also perfectly okay to say, “I’d rather not discuss that,” or “Let’s not.” And it can feel pretty good to send a big STOP to the mass soliciting texts.
Misinformation is out there, and election season is prime time for it to spread. Make sure what you read is from a reputable source. Do not get your news from social media. I suggest myvote.wi.gov to see what’s on the ballot and votesmart.org to help you make your decision. If you do like to keep up with the news, take the headlines and data with a grain of salt.
Finally, keep your worries within your scope of control.
I know what I’ll be doing in November, and nothing is going to change that. What’s more, no amount of worrying and stressing will change the results.
The only thing that I am really in control of is myself - showing up to vote, and encouraging those around me to vote too. That’s it. And while that can be kind of scary, it’s also kind of freeing, isn’t it?
The stuff in the news can be heavy. It can worsen feelings of anxiety and hopelessness if we are constantly exposed to divisive language and clickbait headlines. Here’s your permission to not be so informed for the next couple of months - swap the morning news for a funny cat video and go touch grass.
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Abrams, Zara. "Managing political stress." American Psychological Association, 23 July 2024, www.apa.org/monitor/2024/10/managing-political-stress. Accessed 17 Sept. 2024.
Connors, Erin. "American Adults Express Increasing Anxiousness in Annual Poll; Stress and Sleep are Key Factors Impacting Mental Health May 01, 2024." American Psychiatry Assocation, 1 May 2024, www.psychiatry.org/News-room/News-Releases/Annual-Poll-Adults-Express-Increasing-Anxiousness. Accessed 17 Sept. 2024.