It is the day after election day, and while you may be experiencing a range of emotions, it’s important to prioritize your mental, your emotional well-being, and your relationships. This post offers practical tips to help you manage post-election stress and maintain relationships.
Tune In to Yourself:
- Check Your Emotional State: Take a moment to assess your feelings. Are you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or simply tired? Understanding your emotional state is the first step to effective self-care.
- Set Realistic Expectations: Be kind to yourself. It’s okay to not be at your best right now.
Set Healthy Boundaries:
- Limit Social Media: Consider taking a break from social media to reduce exposure to potentially stressful content.
- Curate Your News Intake: Limit your news consumption to reliable sources and specific times of the day.
- Communicate Your Needs: Let friends, family, and colleagues know if you need space or a break from election-related discussions.
Practice Mindful Communication:
- Active Listening: Give your full attention to the speaker. Use verbal and nonverbal cues to show you’re engaged.
- Empathy: Try to understand the other person’s perspective, even if you disagree. Hopefully, they will do the same for you.
- Neutral Language: Avoid inflammatory language and personal attacks. Focus on expressing your own feelings and opinions calmly and respectfully.
Remember, it’s okay to take things one day at a time. By practicing self-compassion and mindful communication, you can navigate the post-election period with greater ease and resilience. No matter what happens, we can all use kindness – to ourselves and to others.
By Teresa Ralicki, Ombuds Lead at Pinterest, founder of Ombuds Institute, and Co-Editor of Ombuzz