This Election Day, Slow Down. Take Time for You. Remember Who You Are. - November 4, 2025

At the publishing of this blog post, it is the eve of Election Day 2024.

We are living through a politically charged period of time, one that will likely be discussed for decades to come no matter the outcome. Whichever side of the political spectrum you fall on, chances are that your nervous system is in a high alert state as all Americans (and some well-informed people overseas) wait anxiously for an outcome that will hopefully be delivered on November 5th or 6th.

During this nail-biting era, I’m reminded of this powerful quote:

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

- Viktor E. Frankl

This quote reminds me of one often forgotten word… CHOICE. Remember that you have a CHOICE in how you respond, always. In today’s blog post, I’m sharing with you how I personally am approaching a period of time that feels extremely high-stakes, with the goal of forging a path forward that is rooted in self-care and preparation.

My objective is to set myself up for success, so I can make the best choice for myself and my life, and the people I care for. I wish that for you, too.

Make Plans for the Election

Because my nervous system is highly activated right now, there are things I know I need to do and to give myself in order to remain grounded and effective in the work that I do and in all the roles I play in life.

You know the feeling you get when you are “hangry”? When my blood sugar drops, you can rely on me to become bad-tempered and irritable (the definition of “hangry”). I also experience brain fog and find it difficult to function effectively until I have a healthy snack or meal.

Since I know this about myself, I plan ahead and try really hard not to get hangry in the first place. My son is no longer a toddler (far from it!) but I still carry snacks with me at all times. This way, if a meeting goes long, if I’m rushing from appointment to appointment or get stuck in traffic, I can avoid becoming hangry. Otherwise, I’m just not effective.

What does this have to do with the election? It’s a reminder to get prepared. Have a plan. Remember that it could be several days or longer until we know the outcome of the election, and this could keep people on high alert.

I invite you to ask yourself: What do I need to give myself to ensure that I am continually replenishing my energy during this challenging time?

Continue to Replenish Your Energy

If you’re in a state of high alert, you’re expending energy. Imagine that your car is constantly idling: Even if you’re not moving, it’s burning through gasoline. At some point you need to fill up the tank or get stuck.

We know that when a person has a full tank — that is, they’re rested, well fed, and energized — their capacity to pause, slow down, and make an effective choice in responding increases dramatically.

When someone is hangry or experiencing any of the HALTS emotions (hungry, angry, lonely, tired, scared) their ability to thoughtfully choose a response to any stimuli is significantly reduced. Instead, they’re much more likely to react.

Reacting is always a stress response… and it’s never our best response.

Here are some ideas for taking care of yourself this week:

•   Turn off the TV. Yes, I know there will be news running 24/7 on 246+ channels! That doesn’t mean you need to watch it all. Give yourself a break.

•   Go outside. I blocked off time on November 6-7 on my calendar. I will not be seeing clients on those days; I will be taking care of myself and in nature on my favorite local hiking trail around a lake.

•   Call a friend. Be proactive about connecting with people who care about you. Reach out and see how they’re doing, and maybe talk about something other than the election.

•   Minimize time on social media. Experts have already predicted that there will be a swath of misinformation circulating on social media. Take yourself out of the equation by closing the apps.

•   Make nourishing food. It’s always a good idea to plan ahead when it comes to healthy eating, and this week is no exception.

•   Stick to a regular sleep schedule. No matter how tempting it may be to stay up late with cable news, your mental health is more important! Take a cat nap if you need to during the day.

•   Retreat, if needed.  While most of us need to keep working during election week, I suggest focusing on projects that don’t require much interaction with others, if possible. I will be in my home office working on a writing project for much of the week.

The idea is to put yourself in a place where your body and brain have the capacity to respond thoughtfully. Breathe. Meditate. Walk. Try anything that will calm your nervous system and give you some mental space.

Move Forward with Empathy

I talk about this kind of self-care with my clients all the time, particularly those in leadership positions. I urge them (and you!) to have empathy. If you come across someone who seems reactive or testy during election week, give them grace. It’s a tough week. If you feel comfortable, remind that person that they have ways of taking care of themselves that can help calm their nervous system. Help them get to a place where they can create the space between the stimulus and the response.

This week, do the things that give you energy. Let go of the things that drain you. Most of all, take care of yourself. Slow down. Pause before you respond.

Deep breath.

I’ll see you on the other side.