Nov. 5 has us all on edge as we anxiously await the future of our nation. Election Day is a very tense and emotionally draining Hell that comes every four years.
Contrary to popular belief, there is a way to get through the day without getting blackout drunk. Below are my survival tips for making it through Election Day.
1. Find your community
Election Day is impossible to survive alone. Find a group of people who you feel safe with — and who, preferably, are hoping for the same outcome as you — so you can all brace for impact together. Being with people you care about can relieve some of the tension by distracting you with a few laughs and providing you with relational comfort. Pick a common space where you can all spend the day together and feel safe.
2. Have an Election Day watch party
Having a watch party is a good way to relieve some of the stress of nervously watching national news. It’s fun to bring patriotic or swing-state-themed food, color in the states as they turn red or blue and make fake campaign ads for yourself and friends instead of fixating on the television. This year, I’ll be with the rest of the Scribe staff playing games, eating red, white and blue food and following along with the electoral votes using this fun worksheet from Etsy.
3. Do not forget the snacks
It can be easy to forget to eat when it feels like we may be entering the bunker the next day, but we have to eat throughout the day so we don’t get sick. Whether you’re an emotional eater or you get nauseous every time you’re anxious, it’s important to be well-stocked on snacks to keep your strength up while you watch.
4. Avoid the nay-sayers
While it is important to engage in thoughtful conversation with people who have differing political opinions, avoid it on Election Day. The last thing our collective nerves need is high-strung arguments. Stick to people who completely agree with you, just for this one day.
5. Turn off social media
As a chronic doom-scroller, I will be deleting all of my social media apps on election day. It’s also possible to deactivate Facebook and Instagram so you are no longer present there, but your account isn’t deleted. The last thing my delicate neurotransmitters need is a long scroll through TikTok or Instagram on top of seven simultaneous news broadcasts. I’m sure the very next day I will be back to scrolling into oblivion, but I’m taking Election Day off.
Photo courtesy Fox21 News.