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5 Ways To Cope With Election Day Anxiety

The 2020 presidential election is less than a week away, and if that doesn't scare you, I don't know what will.

Reagan Priest

Oct 28, 2020

Arizona State University

2815

5 Ways To Cope With Election Day Anxiety

Casey Wagner / Flickr Creative Commons

We all know that this year's election will be different in more ways than we can count. Insert quote about unprecedented times here 🙂.

For those of us with anxious tendencies, this election will be more stressful than most, and I think a lot of people will agree when I say that I'm dreading election day. The constant poll-checking, projections from analysts, and 24/7 news coverage will be enough to have any sane person ripping their hair out.

To protect the precious hairs on your beautiful head, I've compiled a list of ways to combat election day anxiety.

1. Limit your poll-checking.

Photo by 🇨🇭 Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

With Twitter at our disposal, it can be easy to spend all day checking election returns as ballots are counted. However, this is not the healthy choice. Especially considering that election results will most likely not be final on the night of November 3, as this Vox article explains. Try to only check polls and election news once every two hours or longer in order to preserve your sanity.

2. Don't disrupt your everyday routine.

I know that next Tuesday will be anything but an ordinary day, but disrupting your typical routine will only exacerbate any anxiety caused by the hectic nature of election day. As this article points out, routines actually aid in managing anxiety, so you're really doing more harm when you disrupt your daily schedule due to special events or extenuating circumstances. Instead, treat November 3 as any other boring day, and do exactly what you normally do.

3. Queue up your distractions.

Even if you're not constantly checking the polls on Twitter or keeping your eyes glued to your TV, you'll likely still be thinking about the election and its outcome. This is where distractions come in. If you feel your mind wandering, stream your favorite movie or TV show, read a comforting book, or play a couple (hundred) rounds of "Among Us." Anything that can keep your brain occupied will help prevent overanalyzing results you have no control over.

4. Talk to your friends and family — just not about the election.

I guarantee that you're not the only person who's suffering from election day anxiety. Reach out to your friends and family members for a good chat (preferably one that isn't about politics). There's strength in numbers, so don't feel like you have to go through this scary time alone.

5. And, most importantly, VOTE!

Photo by Parker Johnson on Unsplash

If you're planning on voting in person on election day, get your plan ready now to save stress on the actual day. If you've already voted, whether it be absentee or early voting, give yourself a pat on the back. Nothing will alleviate stress like doing your civic duty.

* * *

I wish you luck in your endeavors to stay sane on November 3rd. These are some stressful times we're living in, but if you've made it this far, I'm pretty sure you can make it through anything.

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Lifestyle

Cool Off with These 8 Beers!

North Carolina State University

1202

Summer is hot and humid, and it's almost like summer was made specifically to drink the refreshing, cold, crisp wonderful, delicious, nutritious nectar of the gods. Which is none other than beer; wonderful cold beer. With summer playing peek-a-boo around the corner while we finish up this semester, it's time to discuss the only important part of summer. And if you haven't already guessed, it's beer. There are few things I take more seriously than my beer, in order are: sports... and beer. Here are my favorite summer brews:

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5 Ways To Cope With Election Day Anxiety

The 2020 presidential election is less than a week away, and if that doesn't scare you, I don't know what will.

1. Limit your poll-checking.

2. Don't disrupt your everyday routine.

3. Queue up your distractions.

4. Talk to your friends and family — just not about the election.

5. And, most importantly, VOTE!

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Appreciation for some of life's most discredited pleasures.

1. Sun showers

2. Smiles

3. Tight hugs

4. Discovering new foods you like.

5. Laying in bed after a long day.

6. And being completely relaxed

7. "This reminded me of you"

8. Breakfast foods

9. Over-sized clothes

10. Contagious laughs

11. Car rides with that one person

12. Random (I miss you/ I love you) texts

13. The city at night

14. Surprises

15. Blanket cocoons

16. Good hair days

17. Really good coffee

18. Days where you're in a good mood naturally and for no particular reason

19. Conquering a fear

20. When they give you a lot of guac at Chipotle

21. Being so comfortable with someone that you can literally talk about anything

22. Home-cooked meals

23. Tattoo stories

24. Leaves changing color in fall

25. Butterflies in your stomach

26. Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches

27. When you can't stop laughing

Cool Off with These 8 Beers!

Coors Light Summer Brew:

Leinenkugel Summer Shandy

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat

Want to know more about beer?

Sam Adams Summer Ale

Hell or High Watermelon

Blue Moon Summer Honey

LandShark Lager

Corona

75 degrees and sunny, plus, no humidity. I mean do I really need to say more?

Perfect Weather

You'll get an effortless tan

You can exercise with a view

You don't have to worry about bug bites

In n Out all day, every day

We have outdoor concerts

We live where people vacation

Because let's be honest, we all use lyrics.

1. “Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside. It's where my demons hide.”

2. “Tonight, we are young.”

3. “Cuz I may be bad, but I’m perfectly good at it.”

4. “Tell me how they got that pretty little face on that pretty little frame.”

5. “I can’t wait to fall in love with you, you can’t wait to fall in love with me.”

6. “Sweatpants, hair tied, chillin with no makeup on.”

7. “Why you so obsessed with me?”

8. “We ain’t ever getting older.”

9. “I didn’t know that I was starving until I tasted you.”

10. “Didn’t they tell you I’m a savage?"

11. “I’m gonna make you miss me.”

12. "Cheers to the freakin weekend.”

13. “Love’s a game. Wanna play?”

14. “You don’t know about me, but I bet you want to.”

15. “Let’s set each other’s lonely nights, Be each other’s paradise.”

16. “Trippin’ on skies, sippin’ waterfalls."

17. “Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days.”

18. “But you will remember me for centuries.”

19. “Something about you makes me feel like a dangerous woman."

20. “Don’t act like it’s a bad thing to fall in love with me.”

21. “Darling, I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream.”

22. “Find me where the wild things are.”

23. “I’m high on lovin’ you.”

24. “If you’re gonna be somebody’s heartbreak, somebody’s mistake, if you’re gonna be somebody’s first time, somebody’s last time, be mine.”

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1. "Talk about a dream
Try to make it real
You wake up in the night
With a fear so real
Spend your life waiting
For a moment that just don't come
Well don't waste your time waiting." (Badlands)