We are college students in the middle of midterms, a pandemic and a presidential election. There is so much that is uncertain and with such uncertainty, stress can follow close behind. This election season, it’s important to protect yourself and your mental health. Here, the members of the Student Life Editorial Board share their methods of grounding themselves and finding some peace in uncertainty.

Meditation and mindfulness actually work

My stress and anxiety in 2020 have been at an all-time high, and the election hasn’t made that any better; I struggled trying to ground myself into a space or a moment. I downloaded Headspace—a mindfulness and meditation app—on a whim, and it was the best decision I’ve made this year. Normally it costs $69.99 for a year subscription, but as a student, you can get a year’s subscription for only $9.99. Their courses have helped me sleep better and advance techniques that help calm me in stressful moments, or simply in everyday life.

-Kya Vaughn, Managing Editor

Find something tactile to focus on

I started running a few years ago, not because I had any real passion for the athleticism of it, but because I wanted to have something simple that I could focus my attention on entirely. While smaller activities like this might feel meaningless, making time to take a break from the acute stress of anything offers me some perspective that really does help. If the notion of running in this fall and winter season is less than savory, there are so many other activities that require the same amount of focus, it’s just a matter of finding one that works for you.

-Emma Baker, Editor in Chief

Take a media break

The literal first thing I did this morning before getting out of bed was to pick up my phone and type in “2020 election.” Five times. In the span of 15 minutes. I’m here for staying engaged and informed, but not at the expense of mental health. So take a break from the media—this election isn’t going anywhere soon, so make sure to take care of yourself and try to mitigate the stress of this ongoing election. Trust me, a break from the screen will do you some good.

-Christine Watridge, Multimedia Editor

Walk/drive and listen to music

Do you want to wallow in uncertainty and despair? Put on Modest Mouse and vanish into a lonely street for a while. Do you want to start manifesting joy into your life? I don’t have any recommendations, but good luck to you.

-Dorian DeBose, Senior Sports Editor

If you can’t take a media break, at least abandon Twitter

If you find yourself unable to escape from the allure of your screens, you may as well try to make the most of them. Doomscrolling on Twitter is always tempting, but there are ways of getting information about the election that are both more accurate and less soul-draining. Sure, there may be hot takes galore and memes that were a lot funnier on Monday than they are now, but the bird app will still be there whenever you decide to return.

-Matthew Friedman, Associate Editor

Watch a movie

The election is stressful. This might be the most stressed I have ever been. But do you know what doesn’t stress me out? John Mulaney’s “Kid Gorgeous at Radio City.” Pick a comfort movie, any comfort movie—something that makes you feel calm, something you’ve seen so many times you can practically recite it—and just ignore the world for two hours.

-Isabella Neubauer, Senior Cadenza Editor and Copy Chief

Donate to Mutual Aid Funds

We all know how stressful the election can be, and the large scale of it can easily make anyone feel helpless. To combat this helplessness while also benefiting your community, donate to Mutual Aid Funds! They’re a great way to actively improve the material conditions of those around you, and they’re much more immediate than future policies the next president will enact.

-JJ Coley, Copy Chief

Treat yo’self

Whatever that means to you. For me, that means my roommate and I eating caramel corn and playing video games as we watched the returns. If you feel exhausted, that’s normal. Take the time to do something that makes you happy and don’t feel bad about it. A night of homework can wait.

-Benjamin Simon, Senior Scene Editor

Have a good cry

I know what you’re thinking: ‘Why am I going to cry if the election goes the way I want it to,’ or ‘I’ll already be crying,’ and I understand. But crying can be cathartic. This election season has been heavy to say the least, and a lot of tensions have been swirling around our country. It’s normal to be stressed and feel like the weight of the world is pressing down on you; it can be hard pretending that you have everything together. Well, this is me granting you permission to let loose and ugly cry.

-Sabrina Spence, Senior Cadenza Editor