Election day self-care
I know I need it. Maybe you do too.
I am on edge today. News outlets are reporting that some polling locations in the United States have installed panic buttons for election workers, extra fencing has been built around key election-related sites, and voters in certain locales will notice drones, National Guard troops, and possibly even snipers as they go to cast their ballots. All of these steps have been taken to protect poll workers, voters, and the promise of a fair election. And all of these efforts point to where we are as a nation that such extreme measures are necessary.
I know that I will be called to faithful action as what’s next unfolds. But for today I will be gentle with myself, understanding that if I don’t, I won’t be helpful to myself or others. Here are some of the things I plan to do, in case they are useful for you as well:
Vote. Alabama doesn’t have early voting, so I will be heading to my polling location. This is the agency with regard to the bigger picture that I have for today.
Engage in grounding exercises. I need to stay connected to myself today. I can do this through deepening my breaths and by scanning for where my body is holding tension and releasing it.
Limit media intake. This includes mainstream media and social media. It’s unlikely that a winner will be called in the presidential election today, and I don’t need to get hooked by projections, hand-wringing, or vitriol.
Fuel my body and hydrate. I can’t ignore basic needs no matter how much my heart and mind are spiraling.
Keep turning my anxiety over to God. I truly do believe that God is always at work - even and especially in chaos - and that terrible things are not the last things. But sometimes I have to reconnect to that deep knowing.
Not set my self-expectations too high. I won’t get much done today, especially when it comes to deep work. That’s ok.
Complete the stress cycle. As the Nagoski sisters taught us in Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, we have to shepherd stress all the way through and out of our bodies so that it doesn’t become lodged there. For me this often looks like physical movement.
Lean into routine. Today I’ll watch my son’s tae kwon do class, which I always do on Tuesdays. I’ll tuck him into bed. These are givens that provide helpful structure for the day.
Give myself something to look forward to. Maybe it will be something I want to watch on tv or a special dessert. I haven’t decided yet.
Stay connected to my people. I’m not alone, and neither are you, thanks be to God. We don’t have to navigate hard things by ourselves.
Take care, friends. I’m praying for us all, and I persist in a gritty hope.