Your Stress Management Guide to the Election
WASHINGTON — After a long season of twists, turns, rallies, and polls, tomorrow marks the final day of the 2024 general election. Whichever candidate you prefer, this time likely creates stress and anxiety. Waiting for the election results (historically, it can take days or weeks) is the ultimate experience dealing with the discomfort of something you can’t control.
It is normal to feel stressed, but chronic stress without stress management can negatively impact your health. We’ll explain the research behind it, the science-backed tips for reducing stress and some healthy ideas for navigating Nov. 5 and beyond.
How Stress Affects Health
Stress is a regular human response to a situation that presents a challenge. This type of stress is acute stress. However, your body interprets stress as a danger or threat. Your heart rate and blood pressure increase, your muscles tense, and your brain sends signals to elevate your stress hormones.
Feeling acutely stressed frequently can lead to chronic stress. Research indicates that when the systems in your body continually respond to danger, it leads to serious health issues.
According to the American Psychological Association, the following body systems can suffer negative consequences due to chronic stress:
- Cardiovascular System.
- Immune System.
- Musculoskeletal System.
- Respiratory System.
- Endocrine System.
- Gastrointestinal System.
- Nervous System.
- Reproductive System.
The Mayo Clinic and other research state that chronic stress leads to chronic inflammation, increasing your risk of the following health conditions:
- Heart Disease.
- Hypertension.
- Atherosclerosis.
- Heart Attack.
- Stroke.
- Muscle Tension.
- Chronic Pain.
- Migraine Headaches.
- Exacerbates pre-existing respiratory Illnesses like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Chronic Fatigue.
- Metabolic Disorders, including type 2 diabetes.
- Autoimmune Disorders.
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
The APA and the CDC recommend the following ways to manage stress to prevent it from becoming chronic and leading to health concerns:
- Get regular exercise.
- Eat a healthy and nutrient-dense diet.
- Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.
- Maintain relationships for social support.
- Sit less and get more movement, including stretching and walking.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking.
- Practice meditation and breathwork.
Managing Stress Around Current Events
Keeping all of this in mind, you can make an effort to manage your stress levels in your everyday life. However, the election (and other current events) are unavoidable stressful events, and the results impact all of our lives. Here are some specific tips for Election Day and the coming days and weeks.
Register and Vote
Stress and anxiety often arise from the fear of not being able to control an outcome. Your first step to de-stressing this election is to make sure you vote. There were opportunities in the last few weeks for early voting, but it’s not too late; you’re right on time.
If you are not registered to vote, you can still register today. You can then vote in person at your local polling place.
Visit vote.org for everything you need to know. You can check your registration status and register. You can click on your state for more specific information on requirements and find the closest polling place.
Another step you can take is reaching out to friends, family, or neighbors to remind them to vote. You may live near older adults needing assistance or transportation to your local polling place. Offering them a ride may help ensure everyone exercises their right to vote.
Election Day
Try your best to act on all the best stress management tips. Get to bed early, eat healthy throughout the day, go for a walk, go to the gym or take a yoga class, chat with a friend and take a few moments to breathe or meditate.
Remember all these tips when it’s time to sit down and watch the results trickle in. Take a moment to accept that you’ve done all you can as an American citizen with the right to vote. Get up and stretch every 30 minutes. Walk around the room to get some more steps.
Alcohol consumption is common on election night; be sure to drink plenty of water if you partake. Inviting friends or family over to socialize and share your anxiety can also relieve physical stress.
Remember, the results won’t be instant. As different states report their results, the overall outcome can change drastically. Limit how closely you follow the news and social media, especially if it goes on for several days. Try to go to bed for another good night’s sleep, and try a free meditation on YouTube to help your body relax.
Election Stress
Many Americans will feel the height of stress and anxiety as the election season culminates. Chronic stress takes its toll on your health; practice healthy coping mechanisms on election night to keep your brain and body safe.
Our website content, services and products are for informational purposes only. The Well News does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have medical concerns or questions, discuss with your health care professional.
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