With democracy, literally on the line, this election, along with women’s rights, criminal justice reform, gun reform, environmental protections, and voting rights protections, people are stressed.
Just thinking about an America, that has never been pro-Black, having a Commander-in-Chief (Trump) who has promised “retribution and revenge” to his enemies (anyone who votes against him or criticizes his positions), is a stress-inducing proposition.
Add to that, Trump is calling for “military tribunals,” the kind of stuff Third World dictators do when they want to execute their enemies, coupled with a Supreme Court that has already ruled that Trump can do anything he wants while in office without having to face criminal charges, and we’re talking about seriously dangerous times for Blackfolk and others.
Moreover, we are inundated with election season negativity and dangerous lies about Black people (using the code words immigrants, Haitians, etc.), and a Republican candidate lumping all people of color under the under of those “enemies within” whose blood is tainting the pure blood of real Americans, and it’s just more stress lumped upon stress and even more stress.
So, what can we do to stay politically engaged and informed while also avoiding things that can lead to unhealthy levels of stress?
UNPLUG
It’s unhealthy to purposely expose yourself to things you know will trigger you and induce more stress. So, set limits to your social media scrolling and cable news viewing. Unplugging is a sure way to help lower stress levels.
EDUCATE
Educate yourself on the issues and the candidates. Print out a sample ballot and make your informed selections now before it’s time to go vote. Engaging in the pre-voting work can ease your stress level.
MAKE YOUR VOTING PLAN
Decide now when you’re going to vote (early voting takes place from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1), where you’re going to vote and how you’re going to get to the polls. Again making those decisions now frees you from stressing over things all the way up to Nov. 5.
CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION
Go to www.harrisvotes.com to check your voter registration status. Do it once a week to make sure you’re straight. The sooner you knock out all the pre-election work, the sooner you’ll let go of that stress so many people are feeling right about now.
AVOID NEEDLESS DEBATES
Decide now to avoid all unnecessary political debates. You know where you stand. Most others know where they stand. It’s straight up wasted energy to attempt to convince someone who is voting for a different candidate than yours that they are making the wrong choice. If you’re going to extend any election conversation energy, do it with folk who are talking about not voting. Share with them, the advice former Houston City Councilmember Amanda Edwards recently shared with the Defender… that this election (and all elections, really) is less about the candidates and their personalities than it is about the issues and the kind of world you want to see for yourself. Vote for that.
ENGAGE IN RADICAL SELF-CARE
Make sure to do those things that lift your spirits, whether it’s gardening, painting, working out, going to the movies, binge-watching shows at the crib, cooking, going out to eat, yoga, meditation, etc.
