Feeling Anxious About the Elections? 9 Tips to Alleviate Stress

Feeling Anxious About the Elections? 9 Tips to Alleviate Stress

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Stress is something we all deal with daily, whether it’s from work or personal issues. It doesn’t take much to feel anxious and overwhelmed. With the Delhi election just around the corner, it’s clear that politics can really divide people. For some, election season is thrilling—an exciting time to rally behind their favorite candidates and causes. For others, it’s a wild emotional ride, with stress and anxiety ramping up as the day gets closer. It’s easy to get caught up in political news, whether you’re scrolling online or watching TV, but that obsession can just add to the stress. So, how can you keep your cool during election season? Here are some simple tips to help you stay calm and relaxed.

Feeling stressed and anxious during elections is totally normal. According to a poll by the American Psychiatric Association, almost 73 percent of people reported feeling anxious about the election.

Typical signs of stress during election season

To figure out how to ease election stress, we should first check if the elections are actually causing us anxiety. If you spot any of these signs or symptoms while the elections are happening, you might be dealing with some election-related stress.

  • Constant worrying
  • Feeling nervous or uneasy
  • Fear of the wrong candidate winning
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Difficulty focusing on work or other tasks
  • Increased irritability or anger
  • Physical symptoms such as headache or stomach ache

Recognizing these signs can help you find ways to handle your stress during the election season

Tips for easing election anxiety?

Check out these 9 tips to help you manage election stress and keep your cool:

1. Limit news consumption

One simple way to cut down on election stress is to manage your news intake. It’s easy to get sucked into watching the news or scrolling through social media, but being constantly bombarded with political updates can really wear you out and make you anxious. Instead of binge-watching news all day, try to stick to just 15-20 minutes daily. You might also consider muting those annoying commercials or steering clear of social media platforms that ramp up your stress levels. By setting some limits on how much news you take in, you can stay in the loop without feeling overwhelmed. Research from the American Psychological Association indicates that those who limit their news exposure tend to feel less stressed.

2. Avoid heated discussions about politics

It's totally normal to have different views on politics with your friends, family, or coworkers. But diving into intense political debates can easily spark arguments and ramp up stress levels. To help ease that election-related anxiety, start by accepting that it's perfectly fine to disagree. Remember, relationships matter more than political opinions. Try to put yourself in the other person's shoes and see their perspective. If you feel a conversation getting heated, it's usually best to change the subject or wrap it up politely. At work, you might suggest that everyone takes a break from political talk to help keep the atmosphere chill.

How to end an argument

Steer clear of arguments to keep your cool. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

3. Keep up with your usual routine

Feeling overwhelmed by election stress? Keep your routine intact. It’s super easy to get swept up in all the election madness, but sticking to your regular schedule can really help you feel more centered. Just keep doing what you normally do—whether it’s work, studying, or hitting the gym. By staying on track with your daily activities, you’ll find it easier to stay chill and avoid extra stress.

4. Concentrate on the things you can manage

Feeling stressed and anxious during election time often comes from feeling powerless. You might wonder if your vote actually matters or feel like there's nothing you can do to make a difference. Instead of dwelling on what’s out of your hands, shift your focus to what you can control. For example, try voting early in the day to fulfill your duty as a citizen. This straightforward act can make you feel like you're really part of the democratic process. You could also consider volunteering for a campaign or helping others get informed, which can help ease that stress even more.

5. Read a book

Sometimes stepping away from all the election chatter and diving into a good book can really help you chill out and reset your mind. The Journal of American College Health suggests that reading is a solid way to shift your focus away from those stressful thoughts and keep your cool. Whether you’re into stories or real-life accounts, getting lost in a book lets you relax and concentrate on something uplifting and interesting. It’s definitely one of the top strategies for managing election-related stress.

6. Try doing some stretches

Stretching is an easy yet powerful method to ease tension and lower stress levels. Research published in the Psychology of Sport and Exercise shows that stretching can help soothe your mind and alleviate worries. Try some light stretches, such as neck rolls or shoulder shrugs, to let go of any tightness. Just a few minutes of stretching can make you feel more at ease and reduce anxiety.

7. Try focusing on the present moment and take some deep breaths

Mindfulness and deep breathing are great ways to tackle election stress and chill out your mind, especially when things start feeling too much. If you’re feeling anxious about stuff that’s out of your hands, take a breather and focus on the now. Find a comfy spot to sit or lie down, close your eyes, and take a deep breath in through your nose. Hold it for a few seconds, then let it out slowly through your mouth. Do this a few times until you feel more centered and relaxed. A study in Frontiers in Physiology found that these techniques can really help lower stress and keep those racing thoughts at bay.

mindfulness

Try some deep breathing exercises to help relieve stress and anxiety. Image credit: Adobe Stock

8. Check out some soothing tunes

Music is an awesome way to chill out, especially when you're on edge waiting for results or feeling anxious around voting time. Put together a playlist of relaxing tunes that ease your mind and keep you calm. Whether you prefer instrumental tracks, nature sounds, or your go-to mellow songs, cranking up some music can really help take your mind off the election and lower your stress levels.

9. Take a stroll

When you're feeling super stressed or just overwhelmed, going for a walk can really help. Just getting outside and moving around, especially in nature, can clear your head and ease your stress, according to a study in Environment and Behavior. So, take a nice stroll to breathe in some fresh air and hit the reset button. Plus, walking keeps you active and helps shake off that tension while calming your mind.

These easy tips can guide you on how to tackle election stress and let go of those extra worries!

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