Caring for yourself and others this election season

Over the last few months, we have all borne witness to one of the most divisive and contentious election years in recent history. Various surveys show that most of us are experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety about the upcoming elections, including the potential for a period of uncertainty about the results and the possibility of violence, whatever the outcome. I wish I could tell you that the anxiety and fears are not justified, but I cannot. What I do feel confident about is that there is no community I’d rather be a part of as we deal with the uncertainties ahead than the UW, whether related to the elections, COVID-19, racial injustices or the economy. As we have at other difficult times in our country’s history, the UW always finds a way to pull together. We can and will again.

As we work through the days ahead, it will be important for us all to focus on those things that help us stay grounded. This includes eating healthy meals and snacks, keeping up with your regular exercise routine and engaging in any mindfulness, meditation or spiritual activities that bring you calm. Although it may be tempting to stay glued to the television or social media, it is important to pull yourself away from time to time, as too much screen time will only exacerbate the stress.

This is also a good time to make plans to be with, or in good touch with, the people in your life who are supportive and uplifting. Whether the results are those you hope for, but especially if they are those you most fear, it is best to be with people who care about you. If you find that despite practicing self-care and reaching out to others, your stress or anxiety remains hard to manage and makes your daily activities difficult to carry out, do not hesitate to reach out to our counseling services through the UW Counseling Center or by contacting SafeCampus. 

A number of our schools and colleges and the UW Counseling Center will be hosting virtual listening circles in the week after the election, and I encourage you to connect with your community through a number of post-election activities. And while it will be important for us to have conversations across our divides to move forward, it is best not to intrude on the potential celebrations or protests of those you disagree with. We want everyone in our community to be safe.

Because emotions may be running hot in the days following the election and announcement of results, we urge you to exercise care when you leave the safety of your home. Be thoughtful about outings and be aware of your surroundings when you do venture out. If you haven’t already downloaded the UW SafeZone app and signed up for UW Alerts, this is a good time to do so. You will receive an alert if we become aware of activities on or near campus that might threaten your safety. If you become aware of any immediate threats to your safety or that of others on our campus, please report them to UWPD and if you know of online threats or doxing, please report them to SafeCampus.

Your safety remains our top priority. We > Me.

And if you can, remember to VOTE! It’s not too late. In Washington, you can still register to vote in person up to and including the day of the election.

Above all, please take care of yourself and each other. Ultimately, our democracy is built on the idea that we are stronger together, and that what unites us is greater that what divides us. I know our whole community will always work to uphold these values.