Is it over yet? Just when you thought it might be safe to come out again, the election goes into overtime. It’s enough to make you drink—which I’ve been doing pretty much since the polls closed Tuesday evening. I’m sure my life will return back to normal, when and if they ever declare a winner.
Yet there’s more to stress-relief than a strong pint of ale or a glass of red wine. I’ve written previously about how to de-stress almost immediately and three of those tips are worth repeating here. If the election results have you feeling down or worried, try one of these tactics:
Breathe deeply. When people are in stressful situations, they often engage in shallow breathing. What you need to do is take a deep breath. Innnnnnnnnnn. Outtttttttttt. Repeat. The increased oxygen intake has a way of clearing your head and calming your nerves. It’s something you might try repeatedly throughout the day.
Go for a walk. Stress has a way of tightening our muscles, including the one inside our heads. Take 10 minutes to go for a quick brisk walk, even if it’s just around the block. There’s something about putting the body in motion that makes the mind feel better. In the words of Terri Guillemets, “Walking is good for solving problems — it’s like the feet are little psychiatrists.”
Repeat a mantra. I’ve written about meditation before and finding a key phrase, or mantra that works for you. While it can be hard to find time to meditate, a quick interior repetition of a personal mantra has a way of reminding you of the meditative state, relaxing the mind. Consider phrases like “God give me strength” or “Everything is going to be alright.”
Deepak Chopra also has a few ideas on stress-relief.
In a recent New York Times article, Deepak Chopra talked about navigating the political divide that may exist in your own home or between you and your friends or neighbors. While written before the election, I think that some of the points he made apply to the post-election landscape as well. Here are three:
Just walk away (from an argument). This includes on social media. It’s time to move on. What’s past is past and there’s no point in doing a victory dance or berating the win of someone else’s favored candidate. The wound you can potentially inflict, especially to those you count as family or friends, can last a lot longer than any fleeting feelings of vindication.
If confronted, take a deep breath and smile. You can choose to be reactive and even nasty, but it’ll be easier on your nerves to “cultivate mindfulness.” Chopra advises us to “notice the moment before you get angry, then let it die away before it gains any more energy.” Just letting the person across get out their point-of-view may calm them as well. Look, listen, move on.
Be prepared to forgive. According to Chopra, you might not feel the other person deserves forgiveness—but it’s time to forgive and forget. Stop judging someone’s past behavior. Look to the future and change the subject. You can hold off on the political talk for at least another year or two, or possibly four. (And isn’t that a refreshing thought?)
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