Election Week can be a real roller coaster of emotions for many people. The days immediately following an election are fraught with emotion, whether your hopes or predictions have been realized or not. For seniors, this stress from a contentious election cycle may be even more extreme, particularly when combined with other areas of tension in life, such as health concerns, isolation, or other stressors.
If the election leaves you mentally exhausted, anxious, or stressed, please remember that it’s OK to step away and take time for yourself. Your mental well-being is just as important as your physical health, so give yourself what you need; take care of yourself!
Here are some relatively simple, down-to-earth ways to take care of yourself:
1. Give Yourself Permission to Take a Break
It may feel like you need to know all that’s going on regarding the news both during and after an election. But constantly being barraged with news, social media, and politics can easily overwhelm you and could cause anxiety or stress.
If you start feeling overwhelmed or tired, that’s perfectly fine, understandable even. You don’t have to stay glued to the news all the time. That isn’t required to feel connected. Instead, take time every day to disconnect, especially now. No TV, no phone. Delight in the quiet. An hour or even a whole day to disconnect will greatly benefit you. This time can provide you with a clear vision again and help reduce your level of stress.
2. Listen To Your Body
Your mental health and physical well-being go hand in hand. Taking good care of your body can reduce your level of stress, boost your level of energy, and heighten your mood.
Get Moving: Light exercises, like stretching, brisk walking, or yoga, help the body relax and improve your mood. Sometimes, a short walk around the block does wonders for clearing your thoughts and uplifting your mood.
Eat healthy: This will also help in building physical and mental health. Regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains regulates energy levels in the body and helps maintain a good mood.
Prioritize Rest: Sleep is integral to emotional resilience. Not getting enough sleep will feed into anxiety and stress even more. Set up a pre-sleep routine that relaxes you, such as reading a book, sipping some warm tea, or listening to soothing music.
3. Practice Mindfulness and Relaxation
Taking time to just breathe and focus on something else can greatly benefit your body and provide you with a sense of relaxation. It can help keep you focused on the present moment.
Deep Breathing: The next time you feel that stress is building up, take a minute to focus on your breathing. Breathe in for four seconds, hold for four, and breathe out for four more. This simple technique will calm your nervous system and help calm your mind.
Guided meditation: A guided session can be done using apps like Calm and Insight Timer, or you could find a video that suits your tastes on YouTube for quick meditations to help you relax.
4. Stay Connected With Loved Ones And Friends
It is very important to keep up social contact, especially during periods of stress or uncertainty. Frequent communication when you are not able to be in close vicinity with family and friends helps in reducing feelings of isolation and offers emotional support.
Phone/Video Call: Call a friend and talk about something you both enjoy doing to get your mind off of politics. It’s okay to feel the need to distract yourself. Describe your day, share how you feel, or simply catch up to bring the two closer.
Social Support: Engage in local or online community groups. This may be hobbies, book clubs, or even volunteering. This helps deepen your community ties and can reduce stress in everyday life.
5. Take Time for Hobbies or Creative Outlets
Sometimes, hobbies can be an amazing outlet for your stress. They can help you set your worries momentarily aside and focus on something you enjoy doing. This may be painting, knitting, gardening, baking, or reading something that helps you escape into another world that feels safe.
If you don’t yet have a hobby, well, it’s never too late to find one! Find something that makes you happy, keeps you present in the moment, and, of course, puts a smile on your face.
Whether it be taking a break from the news or spending quality time with loved ones, these small acts of self-care could go a long way in reducing stress and increasing one’s psychological well-being. Take care of yourself by practicing self-care today and every day!
Written For Senior Industry Services By Lauren Hope Bartling
