Written by: Dr. Don Wood, PhD, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
According to polls conducted by the American Psychological Association, 70% of Americans experience high stress levels when asked about the upcoming November elections. Unfortunately, the stress levels have remained high due to recent events like Covid and the war with Ukraine. That is not surprising and completely understandable, as is the impact that this stress is having on our ability to focus on daily activities.
A study conducted in 2019, before the Covid outbreak, reported that almost 40 percent of Americans said politics was a source of significant anxiety, insomnia, and even suicidal thoughts. Young people reported higher negativity states as did people with more political engagement. Others that had more significant effects were individuals opposed to the government. To make matters worse when the election is over the stress does not seem to go away. How do you manage post-election stress? Do you have any strategies in place? If not, you should start to develop them quickly. Here are a few ideas to ponder.
Avoid talking politics before bedtime.
Establish boundaries with friends and family about when and where you discuss politics.
Limit television coverage to a set time each day or week and stick to it.
When you listen to political news, attempt to listen to opposing views for perspective.
Accept that you are not in control and play a small role in the plan.
Keep perspective and if the party you did not want to win wins, think of it as temporary, election cycles change every 2, 4, or 6 years. Nothing is forever in a democratic society.
Vote early to avoid information overload. The chances of you changing your vote right before an election is slim. Voting early also avoids the crowds which reduce additional stress.
Do not forget to vote, that will add stress, especially if your party loses.
Studies have determined that stress affects voter turnout. So, does stress influence vote choice as well? Apparently so. What would explain such a relationship? It is because voters who were more stressed tended to vote for a new candidate and even party if the stress was overwhelming. That is why politicians always talk about kitchen table issues when trying to appeal to voters. Outside the United States, people are experiencing heightened levels of stress due to the coronavirus pandemic. Great Britain removed a new Prime Minister only 44 days after removing the previous Prime Minister, Boris Johnson for controversial reasons. The contentious 2020 presidential election is compounding the unprecedented levels of anxiety and uncertainty here in the United States. To put things into context, ahead of the 2016 election, 52% of Americans said the election was a significant source of stress and according to a survey in August of 2020, 76% of Democrats, 67% of Republicans, and 64% of Independents reported feeling election-related stress. If elections tend to overwhelm you then you have even more reason to develop strategies to manage the stress. We discussed a few earlier however it is important to discuss an area that is quite common for people who become stressed easier. A common reason is because people tend to make even the smallest situations into worst-case scenarios. It is a common issue. A typical worst-case scenario may be assuming the new government taking power will tank the economy or put us into another war.
As humans, we have evolved to avoid uncertain situations because the fear of the unknown tends to elicit negative emotions. So, if you find yourself thinking about situations that you have no control over, develop a new habit of switching thoughts to something beneficial, appealing, and possible. Research has demonstrated that ruminating or thinking involving excessive, repetitive thoughts or themes can impair thinking and problem-solving. Creating distractions to pull your attention away is a simple and manageable technique. Practicing making these shifts is extremely effective if it becomes a technique utilized on a consistent basis. Meditation is another way to stop the rumination cycle. What else can you do? Try this on and see how it feels before you dismiss it outright and say it is not comfortable. Embrace change. Here is what I mean; your party loses the election, and you feel the stress building. What is going to happen to our country, my job, and my home? Here is an opportunity to adapt and accept that change can be positive. The party you supported just lost power, so now they need to become organized, and start making changes to win back votes. That can be positive for not only the country but possibly you as well. A different party may bring strengths that your party does not have and have a positive effect in an area not served by your party. Make sense? So, why is embracing change important? Change makes so many things possible. It can allow you to enjoy new experiences, develop new skills and ideas, meet new people, gain new knowledge and information, and achieve new insights. Change can help you transform and have breakthroughs. You will never know what can become and what can happen until you do. So then, why is embracing change so hard? It is because people believe they will lose something of value or fear they will not be able to adapt to new ways. There is usually a good reason for the changes. Your party might not be delivering on what they promised.
What does it mean to embrace change? It means you see adversity as an opportunity. Embracing change means you want to try new things and be optimistic that things will work out in the long run. To embrace change, you need to see things in a positive light and know you can adapt, and it is in your DNA. When you have the right perspective, embracing change becomes easier. Realize that accepting change is an integral part of life. Develop an attitude of being open-minded to current ideas and proposals. Demonstrate a willingness to do and see things differently. Make suggestions for improvement. Take a creative approach to change that challenges your assumptions and does not depend on enhancing existing practice.
Keep in mind the famous words of one of the greatest politicians and Presidents which said, “This too shall pass.” This was one of Lincoln's favorite sayings and what he said is applicable in any and every situation one could encounter.
And there it is!
Dr. Don Wood, PhD, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Don Wood, Ph.D., author, speaker, Founder & CEO of the Inspired Performance Institute and creator of the patented TIPP method. TIPP is a cutting-edge method inspired and developed through the newest developments in neuroscience and designed to clear away the effects of disturbing or traumatic events, repurpose old patterns, and set the individual’s mind up for peak performance. In essence, it “REBOOTs” the brain’s stuck thought pattern, making it possible to enhance alpha oscillations with a noninvasive and effective shift in brain wave activity. Author of two top-selling books, Emotional Concussions and You Must Be Out of your Mind.
