Election Stress? Five Ways to Keep the Peace.

The day of a federal election can stir up intense emotions. Whether your preferred candidate wins or loses, the results of an election can create feelings of joy, sadness, or sometimes anger with those around you. When we look at any event in our lives, our emotional response is what the mind remembers. How we perceive the aftermath of the event is how we move forward.

Here are five strategies to manage the aftermath of election-related stress at work.

1. Notice how you and those around you are feeling. Everyone around you will have a different reaction and avoid invalidating how anyone feels.  By accepting that everyone processes the results differently, you create a culture of respect and understanding.
2. You can listen to another person’s viewpoint without having to debate or persuade. Simply giving others the space to express themselves is a powerful way to build mutual understanding and avoid arguments of belief systems.
3. If political discussions in the workplace are adding stress, consider taking a break. You can learn to set boundaries around discussions as it preserves emotional energy. Politely decline to engage if you have to.
4. Mental self-care practices like deep breathing, grounding activities (see below), sleep, exercise, and spending time with loved ones can all support how you feel moving forward.

Grounding exercise

 Take a few deep breaths, and focus on naming five things you can see, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This can help calm your mind and bring you back to the present moment

5. Encourage the coworkers to take breaks or organize a team-building activity unrelated to politics. This can help maintain connection and engagement.

Election seasons can be divisive, but they don’t have to be disruptive. When you learn to understand how people interpret and react to events, we can create a workplace that is respectful and empathetic.

If you’re interested in more ways to support a mentally healthy workplace, consider signing up for a free mental wellness workplace assessment or scheduling a stress management workshop. Let’s work together to create a supportive environment for everyone