Three Ways to Move Forward After the 2020 Election

No matter how you voted, we can all agree on one thing—the 2020 election season was HARD. Everyone is anxious, and nobody is quite sure what to expect, regardless of the election outcome.

We’re reaching the point where we can put the election behind us, which leaves us with one question.

Now what?

It seems fitting that the election comes right before the holiday season, which is traditionally a time of peace and joy. What we all need right now is a path forward that allows us to reconnect with each other and find some much-needed peace.

Our mission at @Ease Family Solutions is to give families peace of mind with our caregiving and estate services. At the same time, we offer job candidates a way to find placement in a home they love. We fully believe in the value of bringing people together and have seen first-hand how people can come together in extraordinary ways, even in the face of adversity.

We want you to feel @ease in all parts of your life. We’re offering three suggestions for how we can all move forward after the election and work together to create a world we’re all proud of.

1. Recognize and embrace your feelings

It’s perfectly normal to experience a range of emotions after an election, no matter the outcome. If the candidate you voted for won, you might not feel as satisfied as you had hoped, knowing that there is still a big divide among parties. If the candidate you voted for lost, you might feel anger, frustration, or even grief. After the 2016 election, a Stanford lecturer explained the phenomenon of having emotional ties to an election, saying, “When we lose it feels wrong, our sense of control unravels and that’s when grieving begins.” The first step to moving on is recognizing your feelings, so you don’t keep them bottled up. Talk to friends who are experiencing similar emotions. Cry if you feel like it. Let your aggression out during an intense kickboxing session (or three). Acknowledge how you feel and why you feel that way, instead of keeping your feelings bottled up inside. Then, you can let go and move on.

2. Practice self-care over unhealthy coping mechanisms

It’s easy to turn to unhealthy coping strategies after an upsetting event. Some ways that people might cope include overeating, overworking, obsessively scrolling news feeds, or excessively binge-watching TV. These actions might seem like they are helping, but all they are doing is distracting you from your real concerns and making you feel worse overall. 

Finding positive ways to cope with feelings of anxiety and stress can feel impossible when things are shut down, but there are still plenty of ways to take care of yourself from home. Buy a binge-worthy book to read, or call a good friend when you start to feel overwhelmed. Take time to exercise with a relaxing yoga video or a heart-pumping stint on your Peloton. Do things that bring you joy without stressing out over the unknowns.

3. Be the change you want to see

While it might feel like you are losing control because of the election outcome, the opposite is true. We all have the power inside ourselves to control how we act toward others and what we do to help our communities. Now, more than ever, we need to work together to build strong communities. That work starts from within ourselves. 

If you can, volunteer for a local charity or donate to a worthy cause. Find an organization that you are passionate about, and offer your talents, time, or money to help them create change in the world. Whether or not volunteering is available to you right now, find ways to be a positive light to those who come into contact with you. Being kind has a ripple effect. It’s incredible how much good just one positive encounter can produce on a community.

Let’s Move Forward Together

Here at @Ease Family Solutions, we believe in the power of community. We know our families and providers are anxious. We also know that we will emerge from 2020 stronger than ever, no matter what the outcome. We are continually impressed at the level of care and commitment our families and providers give to each other, and we are thankful to be a part of your care and estate management journey.
If you’d like to learn more about our caregiving and estate management options for families and providers, email solutions@ateasefamilysolutions.com. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook!