4 Ways to Cope With the Stress of Political Chaos
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the news cycle and how it’s impacting everyday life?
You’re not alone. Every day can feel like there’s something new to be overwhelmed about.
While there are things we can not control, there are a few things we can do to help ourselves feel better in this moment.
Here are 4 things you can do to help cope:
Consume news from reliable sources
In a 24 hour news cycle, outrage gets clicks. Focus on reliable sources that stick to the facts. Pick a few sources to check regularly, and then let yourself off the hook for keeping updated with the rest.
It may also be helpful to limit your consumption of news to a certain amount of time per day. The news will still be there later and we don’t always need minute by minute updates.
Get to know your neighbors
One way to feel less overwhelmed is to feel more connected to the area around you. Getting to know your community, your neighbors can help you feel more connected to your area and be a nice reminder that you’re not alone.
Do you know the names of the people who live around you? Make it a point to introduce yourself when you see your neighbors out and about. You might be surprised at the new relationships you form.
Do something in your community
You can’t do everything, but we can all do something to make our communities better. Getting involved is a fantastic way to meet like-minded people and to make real changes on a local level.
Whether you volunteer your time, make a donation, advocate or find another way to contribute, you’ll probably feel better when you realize that there are many people out there who care fiercely about the same things that you do.
Explore coping skills for stress reduction
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, having a few go-to coping skills can be helpful. There are many different ways to cope, so it might take some time to find some helpful techniques that work for you when you’re in a state of stress.
Try practicing your coping skills when you’re not in a state of overwhelm, so that it’s easier for you to remember what to do when you are overwhelmed.
Here are some coping strategies to explore to get started:
- Guided meditation
- Paced breathing techniques like box breathing
- Moving your body
- Making art
- Grounding exercises