What Would a Humanist Do? Losing Myself in Election Stress
Photo by SEO Galaxy on Unsplash Today we bring you our latest installment of “What Would a Humanist Do?”—offering multiple AHA staff opinions on reader questions. Because while humanists are committed to being good without a god, sometimes we need a little advice on how to pull it off.
Q: I hardly think I’m unique in this struggle, but the ramp up to next week’s election has been bringing a debilitating amount of stress into my life. With every corner of this country yelling about this latest in a series of the most important elections of our lives, what are some ways my fellow humanists have been coping, processing, and staying grounded during this time?
A’s:
Going for a nice long walk, playing with my dog, listening to my favorite music, having some laughs with my friends—all of these are stress relievers. I’m comforted by the fact that no matter what happens, there will be advocates, nonprofit organizations, experts, and more always working hard to protect our civil liberties and human rights.
—Isabella Russian
There’s so much in this world we can’t control, so I try to stay grounded in what I can do. I made a plan to vote early to avoid the stress of Election Day and had voter guides available so I could zip through the process. I showed appreciation to each poll worker who helped me, to spread some kindness during a busy shift full of repeated instructions. I’m trying to limit the time I spend on social media and increase the energy I put into connecting with loved ones. And I’m doing a lot of deep breaths and stretches to not carry stress in my body all the time.
—Emily Newman
I think the best way to cope with election stress is to get to work. I have a vivid memory of being with my mother one time when I was in high school and she bumped into a friend. They were talking about the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment (which fell short of the states needed for ratification by the deadline in 1982) and my mother said, “I wish I had done more to get it passed.” One of the things that builds stress around the election is the idea that you don’t have any control over the outcome, but we can have an effect. Work for the candidates and causes that matter to you. Work to get out the vote in your area – or in swing districts where you can make a difference by door knocking, postcarding, or making calls. You can still have an effect in these last days before the election. At least when the results come in, you won’t have to say that you wish you had done more.
—Nicole Carr
You’re right—you are far from alone in feeling overwhelmed by this election season. We might feel an intense pull to stay informed and active because the consequences are far reaching and affect us all in serious ways. But it also helps to make time for our mental and emotional health, especially when stress begins to feel all-consuming.
Some ways that can help:
Set Boundaries with Media Consumption: It’s easy to feel obligated to keep up with every news update, but not every piece of news deserves your mental space. Consider limiting your intake to a few trusted sources at specific times of day, allowing your mind the room to rest. Remember that staying constantly informed does not equate to staying engaged or making a difference.
Find Meaningful, Small Actions: Redirect your energy into actions that feel purposeful, like volunteering in a campaign, writing postcards, or organizing a community event. Taking action can foster a sense of agency and ground you in a community working toward common goals—reminding you that you are not alone. And if you need a complete break, afford yourself that break. Take time to get lost in the things you love — the things that enrich you and make you feel whole.
Practice Mindfulness and Compassion for Yourself: Simple practices, such as deep breathing or mindfulness meditation, can help you reconnect with the present moment and quiet the noise. Studies show that being in nature can uplift our mood as well. Be gentle with yourself and recognize when you need to step back and recharge. Compassion is not only for others but for ourselves too. Give yourself permission to pause and take care of yourself.
Embrace the Humanist Community: You’re already one step ahead with this one! Engage in conversations with fellow humanists or supportive communities where you can discuss and process your feelings. Often, simply knowing that others feel the same way—and hearing how they manage—can lessen the weight of your own stress.
These suggestions probably won’t fix all your stress. Sometimes the reality of things is that little can. And when that happens, we can do our best to make peace with it and find ways to continue on. We have to try to care for ourselves so we can care for the world. Whatever the outcome of next week, there will be important work to do—and we’ll need you with us.
—Meredith Thompson
Oh reader… you have my sympathies and understandings. I, too, have been trying to find the elusive balance between genuinely caring and engaging in this immensely important election while not letting the drumbeat of the news cycle destroy my mental health. All of the ways in which I can think to make recommendations here are total clichés, but I suppose clichés become clichés because they are widely tested and followed.
First, avoid temptations to check for news updates every ten minutes. Turn off breaking news notifications on your phone. Trust that if something outrageously important happens, you will hear about it – and it’s ok not to be one of the first people on the planet to know. I’d venture a guess that if you are reading this, you are already an educated voter, so broaden your reading material. Read about the latest scientific discovery. Read about travel recommendations for New Zealand. Read about some salaciously entertaining celebrity gossip. Read fiction! It is OK to take breather from national political news.
Second, dedicate an equal (or greater!) amount of your energy into your state and local elections. The big, shiny federal prize grabs attention and headlines for obvious reasons, but tremendously important things are happening down the ballot. Instead of spending hours of your day analyzing what a presidential campaign surrogate did or did not say on CNN, learn about who is running to be your mayor, your county supervisor, your education board members—races that don’t get as much attention, but have lasting impact.
Third, and I can’t believe I’m about to write something so basic and obvious… go outside. Go for a walk. Go on a hike! Sit by a large body of water. Stare up at some trees or down at the majestic colors of freshly fallen leaves. Do something to get out of your anthropocentric mindset—nature can be healing! And it can be a welcome reminder that there is awe and wonder and peace beyond our everyday human existence.
—Peter Bjork