As the election now enters its final weeks, emotions are running high. Because of this, I have to
try all the more to watch my thoughts—to see where they go, determine if I want them to go
there, and make sure they are going in the directions I would have them go.

So much of trying to manage the stress surrounding current politics is simply self-care. In order
to stay mentally and physically healthy, it is good to do what we are able to do to minimize the
wear-and-tear that stress can cause. While these suggestions are nothing new or anything you
haven’t heard before, it is always good to be reminded of them from time to time—or lots of
times in more stressful situations.

The first thing to remember is to try and stay positive and focus on those things I can control. At
the very least I want to stay positive in the conversations I have with others and with myself.

I want to remind myself not to villainize groups and people, stick to established facts, and not
hypothesize motivations. In practicing empathy, a good exercise would be to remember how my
thoughts have changed through the years. My past views do not define who I am now, and I
appreciate that people have given me the room, and information, to grow. Keeping this in mind might give me more patience towards the views of others, and can help keep me positive as a
potential new source of information for others. Especially with family and friends, our
relationships are built on so much more than political views, so I want to be able to separate a
person’s value from their viewpoints.

In a conversation or a dialogue, it is good to remember what my goal is. Will I really change a
person’s mind or have them admit I’m right? It may be good that I speak up and present an
alternative view or provide facts, but realistically anticipating the outcome might make me alter
what I say or how I say it. Also, validating the feelings of others, feelings being neither right nor
wrong, helps establish common values. And staying curious is always helpful—what might I
learn from somebody, even if I do not agree with them?

When I feel I’m getting heated, I try to bring myself back to the the moment I am in, where my
surroundings can be surprisingly tranquil and pleasant. If I am on a walk and pass a sign that
upsets me, I might consider how splendid the weather is, how happy Piper is to be out, and just
enjoy the chance to be out walking. If I am doing something joyful, I want to do all I can to enjoy
it. When, for whatever reason, things seem to be getting distracting or overwhelming, I will make
a point to stop and breathe deeply. Occasionally I will find myself doing it behind a shopping
cart, while driving, and sometimes even in the middle of a conversation with a group of people.
Taking a few deep breathes does wonders to help refocus the mind.

It is good to remember some golden rules; don’t villainize if I don’t want to be villainized; don’t
generalize or name call. I will set boundaries ahead of time, like only read or watch the political
news for 30 minutes. And even more importantly, I want to make an effort to provide time to do
the things that renew me and give me joy. As much as I am able, I want to place myself in the
middle of the people and places that allow me to be relaxed and happy.