Election Day can stir up a wide range of emotions — excitement, anxiety, uncertainty, and everything in between. Regardless of your political views, managing stress on high-stakes days is an important skill for your overall wellbeing.

Evidence-Based Strategies for Managing Election Day Stress

1. Limit media consumption. Constant news and social media refreshing amplifies anxiety without improving outcomes. Set specific windows to check for updates and protect the rest of your day.
2. Focus on what you can control. Vote if you haven't. Talk to people you trust. Do your work. Let go of what's outside your influence.
3. Move your body. Exercise is one of the most effective stress-reduction tools available. Even a 20-minute walk significantly reduces cortisol and improves mood.
4. Connect with others. Isolation tends to amplify anxiety. Spend time with people who ground you, regardless of what's happening in the news.
5. Eat well and stay hydrated. Stress eating — or stress not eating — is common on high-anxiety days. Keep your meals consistent and nutritious. Blood sugar stability has a direct impact on mood and stress tolerance.
6. Practice acceptance. Some outcomes are beyond your control. Grounding practices like deep breathing, meditation, or journaling can help you stay centered regardless of results.

On stressful days, having a satisfying meal ready takes one major decision off your plate. Our Mac Daddy Cheeseburger Bowl is the kind of comfort-food meal that actually hits your macros — no stress cooking required. For more on the relationship between what you eat and how you feel, read our post on how food affects your mood. And if you want the nutritional foundation to support stable blood sugar and steady energy, our Beginner's Guide to Macros is the place to start.

If you find that anxiety is significantly impacting your daily functioning, consider speaking with a mental health professional.