How to Deal With ‘Election Stress’

Aurora Biggers  

NEWBERG, Ore. — According to the National Public Radio (NPR), two-thirds of Americans said they were feeling stressed before Tuesday's election. 

With concerns over the future of the nation, individual rights, the pandemic, and potential post-election violence, Americans have had plenty to be stressed about.

Although election night has passed, “election stress” may not have. Biden and Harris have been declared President and Vice President Elect, but Trump has stated that the election is not over. 

So, let’s talk about stress management. Lynn Bufka, a psychologist with the American Psychological Association (APA), and Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation at APA, spoke with NPR’s Rhitu Chatterjee about coping with ‘election stress.’ 

Here are their tips to Chatterjee:

1. Prepare mentally for delayed results

Bufka says to plan how you will spend the time waiting for results. Of course, now Biden and Harris have been declared President and Vice President Elect, but many American still feel stressed by the current state of limbo, the 100 day waiting period until transfer of power, augmented by Trump’s refusal to concede the election

So Bufka says, if watching TV or scanning the news stresses you out, don't do it. Instead, do something that brings you joy: for example, take a physically distanced walk with a friend, go for a bike ride, or read a book.

“Find things that tend to keep you less distressed and less overwhelmed, and make a plan to do those things,” she said. Planning ahead reduces uncertainty, she says, which in turn makes us calmer.

Making a plan in times of uncertainty, she said, can give us a sense of control, which reduces stress.

2. Double down on stress-reducing habits

“Find things that tend to keep you less distressed and less overwhelmed and make a plan to do those things,” Bufka said.

There are also some simple, healthy habits that are known to buffer us against stress, says Wright. 

“We need to be eating healthy. We need to really be getting the right amount of sleep,” she says. “We need to be staying active. That can mean even just going for a walk. And we need to maintain those social connections.” 

3. Replace scrolling with something nourishing

It helps to unplug from news and devices every now and then, Wright says. “We need to know what's going on, but we don't need the late-breaking news every second of the day,” she says. “We know that that connection to our devices ... a constant connection to information, actually drives up our stress levels.”

4. Look for signs of hope

A new survey conducted by APA also found that the majority of Americans still feel hopeful despite their stresses. 

Listen to or read the full segment with NPR here.