With the 2024 presidential election almost here, many are feeling apprehensive.

The American Psychological Association reports that in national surveys, nearly half of U.S. adults identify politics as a source of stress, noting problems such as lost sleep, shortened tempers and obsessive thoughts. And research shows that this distress surrounding politics harms both our physical and mental health.

“It can feel stressful to think of future changes and the uncertainty of an election, but I think it is important to recognize when these feelings overwhelm and affect well-being,” said Alli Beaumont, wellness education program assistant at the Wellness Resource Center. “Focusing on things one can control, like voting and continuing one’s education in school and life, is a way of making an impact and finding that balance.”

The Wellness Resource Center offers the following tips on how to stay grounded during election season.

Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness leads to greater well-being and mental clarity. Intentionally choosing to focus on the present moment can ease anxiety about the future and help us identify what we can control. You can build your practice through 

• mindful and positive movement (e.g., hiking, biking, yoga, dancing, etc.),  
• ingesting adequate nutrition (i.e., ensuring you are eating a balanced diet and staying hydrated, which will lead to more energy and less fatigue), 
• balancing political media intake with uplifting news (e.g., swiping past or temporarily muting certain accounts), and 
• advocating for your beliefs in a productive and positive way (e.g., joining peaceful demonstrations, signing petitions, engaging in healthy conversation on political or general topics).  

Create boundaries
Reduce feelings of anger, anxiety, fatigue, depression and stress by offering “I” statements that help others understand your expectations (e.g., “I would like five minutes to talk about the election, and then we discuss something else. If we can’t do that, I may need ...”). Set aside specific time(s) or parts of the day to do research on candidates and their policies and then set it down and move forward with other tasks. Limit your time speaking about, absorbing and commenting on political issues. This can include muting the volume of political ads so that you don’t have to hear it. Hold yourself accountable for protecting your peace.

Create distinctions between people and their viewpoints and opinions
We can always practice leading with love and empathy. Everyone does not hold the same opinions, and that should be celebrated. We can’t move forward and break barriers if everyone thinks the same. Therefore, we can remind ourselves that we can love someone and not agree with them. While our views are important, they are not the only things that define us.

Be mindful about what types of news you ingest
Ensure you are digesting neutral, unbiased and accurate information. This way you are well-informed and are not distracted by false information.

Disengage from unhelpful conversations
Respect your peace. If there’s a conversation happening that you no longer want to be a part of, you have the option and the right to remove yourself from the conversation. Although people have different opinions, never contribute to disrespecting and/or bullying others.

Health and well-being resources

• For additional mental health support from licensed counselors, students can access Tuttleman Counseling Services. This office provides culturally sensitive mental health services that support the psychological health of the diverse community of Temple students and thereby their academic success. Tuttleman offers a variety of counseling services such as its Let’s Talk drop-in sessions, group sessions and free online mental health resources.
• Welltrack Boost is a self-guided, clinically supported set of digital tools and resources used to assess and understand behavioral health. The service allows folks to track their mood, deal with stress and anxiety, connect with resources, and much more. Temple students can access the app using their temple.edu email address. 
• Togetherall is a free, safe and anonymous online community with trained mental health professionals. The service is available 24/7, 365 days a year to support folks through whatever they’re going through. Temple students can register for the service using their @temple.edu email address.