The Mindful Voter’s Playbook: A Realistic Guide to Election Season Self-Care
In 2024, “election anxiety” isn’t a buzzword– it is America’s shared experience.
Each year, the American Psychological Association (APA) surveys Americans about stress, including where it comes from, how intense it is, and how people respond mentally and physically. As you might imagine, specific sources of stress come up every year: health, family, and the economy.
While those stressors still take their toll on Americans, this year’s results differ.
The most commonly reported stress sources are politics and the upcoming election. 77% of adults surveyed reported the future of our nation as their most significant source of stress; 69% of respondents identified the presidential election as a primary stressor. These results hold across party lines. No matter who you are and what you believe, you are probably feeling some anxiety related to what’s to come on November 5.
Let’s pause here for a brief micropractice. Drop your head toward your chest for a few breaths. See what that feels like in the back of your neck. Come back to your regular position. Look up toward the sky. See…
