The Votes are In… and the Stress Still Lingers
A simple approach to post-election peace
Forget Christmas, your birthday, or the last day of school….
The most anticipated day this year in America happened yesterday.
Maybe you're thrilled with the results. Maybe you're crushed and feel unsettled about the future. (Those are the only two options during this “all or nothing” election, after all.)
Either way, if you haven’t been living under a rock, your nervous system has been on quite a ride as of late. And just because voting is over doesn't mean those stress levels instantly and automatically drop back to normal.
So if you’re feeling:
Mentally exhausted from consuming all. the. news.
Physically tense from the constant anticipation and uncertainty and watching pages reload (dammit, refresh, refresh!)
Emotionally drained from the whole experience
Unable to focus on — well, anything — because your mind keeps wandering to doomsday scenarios
Like you need a vacation (on a remote island... with no wifi… and ideally, an easy-to-get digital nomad visa)
I getcha. I’ve been right there with you. And it’s totally normal.
Our minds and bodies aren't designed to handle the constant stream of high-stakes information we've been processing lately. And following politics, for most people, is something you do in your “spare time”. It’s not like you get to swap out one of your usual responsibilities – client work, deadlines, management-y type things, aging parents, kids’ activities, and everything else on your plate.
But here's something critical.
No matter what's happening in the world, you have the power to regulate your own nervous system and find your center again. And the tool for doing that is literally right under your nose.
Yeah, I'm talking about your breath. This little miracle is the only thing that:
Goes with you everywhere
Is completely free
Works instantly
Can't be taken away from you (unless you’re watching Top Gun)
Doesn't require any special equipment or perfect conditions
There’s a reason I always say your breath is a reset button for your nervous system that you can press anytime, anywhere. When the world feels chaotic, your breath can help you instantly feel grounded.
And it just happens. You’re breathing all the time. I bet you’re doing it right now!
Breathing for Post-Election Stress
I’ve got a technique for you that's perfect for post-election stress: resonance breathing.
Yeah, it’s kind of ironic since lots of us don’t seem to be in resonance with each other right now. But our breath can be.
In resonance with what? I’ll tell you in a moment. Let me tell you why it’s so amazing first.
This breathing technique feels very calming. And it’s been shown to lower your blood pressure and your stress levels, as well as improve mood.
Plus it's subtle enough to do anywhere (even during tense political discussions), yet powerful enough to shift your state in just a few minutes.
When I’m not thinking about anything else – I’m thinking about doing resonance breathing. There are certain traffic lights that, the moment I pull up to them, I’m already starting my resonance breathing.
Do yourself a favor right now before jumping in and roll your shoulders back and down as far as they’ll go. Then do a few slow head rolls in one direction… and then the other.
Better, right?
Now you’re ready.
Resonance Breathing
Get comfortable. Sit down or lay down, keeping your spine relatively straight.
Inhale gently through your nose for a count of 5.
Exhale gently through your nose for a count of 5.
Continue this pattern for at least 3-5 minutes (more if you can).
That's it! No special equipment, no complicated patterns to remember. Just a steady, gentle rhythm.
And if it sounds familiar… it’s the same count as another technique we did recently, but this time with no breath hold. So this will feel different from last week’s 5-5-5 breath.
When you breathe at this specific pace (about 6 breaths per minute), something cool happens in your body. Your heart rate, blood pressure, and breath sync up in a way that calms your nervous system, reduces anxiety, and helps you think more clearly.
That’s the “resonance” part ^.
It’s kinda like finding the perfect rhythm in music -- when everything aligns, a song naturally feels more harmonious and balanced.
And it makes this technique useful in countless everyday-life circumstances. Like:
First thing in the morning, to start your day feeling calm and balanced
Before checking news or political analysis (better yet, stop checking altogether for a bit if these upset you)
During challenging conversations with your client, or colleague, or neighbor, or parent, or child, or their teacher…
When you need to refocus on work
Before bed if your mind is racing with "what ifs"
The beauty of resonance breathing is that it's not about forcing relaxation or suppressing your feelings about the election. Instead, it's about giving your nervous system natural support to process everything in a more balanced way.
Because regardless of the results…
Life goes on. Business continues. Clients still need your services. Your family still needs your presence. And most importantly – you still need (and deserve) to feel good in your body and mind.
The key is learning how to stay grounded and centered regardless of external circumstances. This doesn't mean being detached or not caring about the issues that are important to you. Instead, it's about maintaining your emotional equilibrium so you can continue showing up as your best self – for your business, your loved ones, and yourself.
You always have the power to influence how you feel in your body and mind, no matter who’s in charge of the country. And you can do it starting with your next breath.
Last Gasp
“Be faithful in small things, because it is in them that your strength lies.” — Mother Teresa
Do you have a “go-to” move when you’re stressed? I’d love to hear it in the comments below.
My parents need this... they're convinced the country just ended. Just like they were last time around.