TheCorporateCounsel.net

The good news about Election Night (and beyond) is that each of us is in control of our own sanity. Although we all need to stay informed to some extent in order to do our jobs, we probably do not need to inflict ourselves with thousands of metaphorical paper cuts, imposed one by one as we consume every opinion piece, prediction, and statement. I don’t want that for myself, and I don’t want that for you!

It’s hard to accept that we won’t have immediate certainty about the election outcome. But just like planning ahead for business risks, that “not knowing” is a foreseeable scenario, and you can prepare now to address it head-on rather than being surprised next week by the amount of time and energy you’ve wasted by following each breathless play-by-play update. This article from Temple University shares ideas to get you through the week:

– Establish boundaries.

– Limit social media. Social media accounts can also be set up to reduce and/or restrict political content.

– Schedule a midday walk, and keep your phone in your pocket.

– Set up a scheduled time to block apps and notifications.

If you’re a lawyer and you want to put energy towards something election-related, the ABA Task Force for American Democracy recently published ways that individuals and bar associations can help support a fair and peaceful election – and promote civics education for the long-term.

Personally, I’m making great use of my library card right now. I’ve queued up a few page-turners in Libby. When I want to doomscroll, I open one of those instead. I’ve also been revisiting the uplifting third entry in this 2020 blog from John.

– Liz Dunshee