We are a week away from the presidential election, and time seems to be speeding up. Media outlets continue to highlight how little time is left and how close the presidential race is. Further, the intensity of national and international events makes it feel as though the stakes of this presidential election are exceedingly high. Long story short: the press of time, importance of the issues, lack of trust and understanding, and intensity around the presidential election has never been higher.
This setup has the makings of a high-stress situation, especially when you consider that the truth seems more elusive to find than in the past. This all brings me to the question of how we are to manage our well-being during the election itself? How can we prepare ourselves to manage the excitement, stress, and uncertainty of the days ahead?
This article is the third in a series about how to manage the stress and divisiveness of the election this year. Previous articles covered: managing relationships with people who have different political views, how to maintain wellbeing during turbulent times, and how to talk to our children about the presidential election – please check them out here and here. The focus of this article will be how to manage the day-of and the days just after the election.
Make a voting plan: Be sure that you know where your polling place is, and that you know how and when you will vote. If you have neighbors or new voters in your life, reach out to see if they need help making it to the polls or getting their absentee ballot. If you plan to vote early, make sure you know which polling places are open in your county. Early voting has already begun. Information about voter registration and polling locations in Minnesota can be found on the Secretary of State website. If you have not yet registered to vote, you may still do so on voting day in Minnesota.
How will you spend Election Day and evening? Think about what will serve you best on voting day and voting night. We know from polls and media coverage that this most likely is going to be a close race. You may find yourself stressed and worried if you don’t have a plan for voting night. Think about what you will need that night. Will you like to spend it with friends watching the returns or possibly disconnect from what will certainly be continuous national updates? Maybe it is a good night to go out for dinner, to a movie, or schedule time for your favorite hobby. Whatever you do, be mindful and have a plan. If you know that watching the returns will only increase your anxiety, plan to be out of the house doing something else. The temptation to constantly check in will be powerful, so plan ahead and think about what is the healthiest way for you to spend that evening.
Be prepared for a lack of closure on voting day: Remind yourself that we may not know who has won the election on Nov. 5. Delays in vote counting and recounting may occur, especially in very close contests. For many, it will be tempting to stay up late watching updates. For some people, that may be a great way to spend the night; for others, it may put them on edge. To minimize anxiety, be prepared for incomplete information that evening and know we may have to wait another day or two (or more) for the final results.
Continue to surround yourself with your support network: As I referenced in an earlier article, finding your people – your school of fish – can be a powerful tool for connection, support, growth, and having fun. Making an effort to connect with your network in the weeks before and after the election is a good idea – it can boost your well-being, bring you joy, and give you a space to have necessary conversations about the election and other world events.
Trust in the institutions and processes of our democratic system: There is a lot of speculation about what will happen if one candidate or the other wins. Will there be protests or violence? While we don’t know for sure, we do know that our democratic system has worked for hundreds of years. Times of transition in a democracy are times of vulnerability and uncertainty, but they are also the hallmark of a well-functioning democracy. We must trust in the system – in the local, state, and national voting institutions. We have seen what happens when lack of trust and violence are allowed to take hold with the Jan. 6 riots, and we must not allow such events to happen again. Voting, remaining calm, trusting the institutions, brushing up on how the presidential election voting process works (here is a good place to start), and understanding how to constructively and peacefully participate in public processes around the election will take us all a long way.
I hope this article will help you pass the coming weeks and Election Day a bit more peacefully. Know we are all in this together and there is so much each person can do to making voting day pass productively and peacefully. We also can prepare ahead of time for what is sure to be an intense day and week. Please reach out if you want to further explore any of these ideas or strategies at [email protected]. Look for one more article to come out in December about bringing closure to the presidential election of 2024.
Leah Persky is a Parent Coach and Manager of Professional and Community Education at JFCS Minneapolis
