Post Election: How To Restore Your Personal Operating System

Okay. The election is over and we reluctantly or eagerly head back to some older routine, perhaps -- like work, play, shopping, reading fiction, exercise, sleep. It has been a relentless process, sandwiching real life between polls, debates, rallies, canvassing and just worrying. With the advantage of 20/20 hindsight, let's take a real look at how we handled these last few weeks in particular.

Did you find yourself compulsively checking your favorite election blog sites (up to 10 or more times a day?)

How many hours each day did you listen to talk radio or 24 hour news stations?

Do the number of forwarded emails/videos do you still have on your computer with Sarah Palin as the subject threaten to swamp your laptop?

Was your sleep pattern disrupted by late night coverage and SNL?

Did your stimulant and depressant intake increase (i.e. coffee, tea , Red Bull vs. alcohol or sleep meds)?

Did you find yourself a bit snappish at your partner or work colleagues.

Are you behind on projects at work and home?

Does your sleep-deprived mind act like a sieve unless it is processing the electoral vote map?

How many times have you misplaced your car keys or cell phone in the last 60 days?

If these questions are hitting close to home, then take note and learn about how you typically handle stress over the long-term. Awareness is the first step to making a change. Everyone has coping strategies for mitigating pain, anxiety, or any strong emotional responses -- some healthier than others. For a short term crisis or events, those strategies may be just the thing to help us through a few hours or even days. But it is the journey, not the destination that really counts.

The election season has been a long and sometimes difficult journey. Many of us have been training our minds and bodies to get into some pretty self-defeating habits.

Why wait until the New Year to start making and breaking resolutions? You can get a 7 week head start and channel some of that adrenalin addiction into something that might make a difference in your life. Don't think of it as selfish. Caring for ourselves makes us much better at taking care of others. Here are a few strategies for de-toxing and de-bugging our personal operating systems.

Go cold turkey for 24 hours. I dare you -- no phones, media, computers or newspapers. Silence or uplifting music or the sounds of nature are in order now.

Treat yourself to a little nurture: warms baths, sunshine, massage, yoga, candlelight, walks in the woods or park. You've been through a lot. It's time to re-boot.

Cut the caffeine and alcohol. Watch out for withdrawal symptoms. You may have to do this over several days. Notice that your body may bark back at you with a little more agitation. That's a sign that there is a definite dependency that developed during the last few months. Remember, you don't really need those things and your body already knows how to balance itself. It just needs a chance.

Make some soup, bake some apples, take time to enjoy and taste some really simple fresh food.

Straighten your desk. Purge your computer. Clean out the refrigerator. Nothing brings in new energy like removing clutter and restoring a little order. If it seems overwhelming, just pick one thing each day.

Watch the leaves turn or the snow fall. To everything there is a season. Don't miss out on life by spending it all in your head wondering "what if, what next, what the bleep?"
Read a really good fiction book.

Remember:
Don't approach changing your recent habits with the same obsessiveness and anxiety that created them.

Get a grip (on yourself) and let go.

Kay Goldstein, MA teaches meditation and writes poetry, fiction and articles addressing the challenges and joys of daily living and spiritual practice. www.kaygoldstein.com

Comments

[zeldaz12311]

Can anyone help me???
Altho I love your withdrawal ideas - After I recooperate from an obsessive involvement and an addiction to huff po., I hope someone can direct me to an inter-party organization that is along the lines of an inter-faith organization.
With the goal being to better understand each others political philosophy in a respectful atmosphere.
After the distortions and vile attacks of this campaign, I think that this may be one good way to change the atmosphere one step at a time.
What do you think?? Does any one know of such an organization?? Would anyone like to help me start one??
It may sound corny, but after having joined an inter-faith group two years ago - I think it is doable. It wont be earth shaking, but it could be a positive way to interface with "the others"

[Kay Goldstein - Huffpost Blogger]

Terrific out of the box idea. Maybe there is such an organization, but I don't know about it. Anyone else know? If not, I say go for it.
There are certainly a lot of models out there even in corporations- for example programs designed to reduce racial or sexual discrimination. However you approach this idea,it seems that there are at least tthree essentials: one, courage to look at and accept our own dark side, our fears and prejudices.
two, willingness to step outside our own comfort zone and see how we may be like others who may appear or act very differently that we do.
three, a willingness to forgive and maybe even forget...
KG

[Berkeleyan]

I am in, too. 7 days cold turkey, or whatnever it takes to finish all the work that piled up at work and at home. If you happen to see me post any comments from now on until Tuesday next week (11/18), it means I fail miserably (and I don't plan to fail if Obama and we could win the election). Not only I need to finish my work, I need to get rid of 10 lbs or more to get back to the thin me (sign!) and get rid of a big (biggest ever in my life) pimple on my face for eating too much sweet. I had been so nervous (to the point of crying) about what names Obama 's opponents (especially the vicious Gov Sarah Palin) would call him next, or what news they could dig up to bash him, or if O. bin Ladin would release any video to push Americans to vote for Republican candidates (like in 2004 to make us poorer and more miserable like the past 4 years). No more HuffPost or CNN for 7 days, Ha!

[Kay Goldstein - Huffpost Blogger]

seven days. wow. A lot of us out here are pulling for you...Let us knwo howit goes. KG

[SonomaSunshine]

Go for a hike! Get away from your computer and think about all the things you would have been doing if the country wasn't in such bad shape! I cleaned up my yard and did a bunch of paper purging and laundry. We went for a hike in the rain and burned calories. I feel like a million bucks (but frugal) after this election. Electrified by Obama!

[Chip W]

Yes, indeed. Obsessive exposure to the toxic political world, where truth is irrelevant and dishonesty is normal, has been disorienting and anger inducing.
I've found myself with the attitude "I'm right, you're stupid," and "If you don't think as I do, your thinking is wrong."
Time for some very long, deep breaths, and acceptance that how others think isn't up to me. (But the transition of administrations beckons my attention).

[ZimboChick]

omg thank u for this article......i am in deep. going cold turkey starting in the morn. am i allowed to peep huffpo at least 5 times a day? i promise to decrease. did i say cold turkey? sigh

together divine ease.....

[Xenussister]

For me, going from completely apolitical to totally obsessed with politics is something I never would have imagined happening. I can't seem to shake it off. For the first time in my life I'm actually interested in presidential appointments. I'm someone who could never have named a previous president's Chief of Staff or Senior White House adviser, but I know Barack's. I'm impatient because I can't wait to hear about all his appointments, people I'll then read about and get to know.

For years I did everything I could to avoid reading or hearing about Bush because I hated him so much, but now I'm intensely interested in everything that Barack does and will do as president. The White House is (or will be) a fascinating place to know. It's just downright weird for me, a midwestern grandma. Fun, though.

[Kay Goldstein - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for your comments.
Enjoy the fun part. Glee beats glum any time. Find some fun whoever is in the White House.

Remember that complete avoidance and obsessiveness are just two extreme sides of the same behavioral continuum.
Find balance and a degree of detachment and yes, joy wherever you are in your own life. KG

[peace1970]

I read this and I was thinking...did I write this earlier and forget?? I to was never interested in politics and have become obsessed with it...Huff Po, CNN and Obama's cabinet....it was good to read this article and others comments as well....I've not completely lost my mind...LOL

[peace1970]

Oops, I meant this as a reply to Xenussister and can't figure out how to switch it....I'm tired from reading Huff Po at 1:30am...Huff Po is so addictive with the stories changing all the time....no wonder none of us can stop reading it ....

[llmitchellb]

I am SO GLAD I'm not the only one Jonesing for campaign news. I just posted on my FB wall that I need to read a book and exercise and do things to help me detox from campaign news.
I feel the DTs coming on...

[skinnycoach]

I am in!
I take the dare - 24 hours, cold turkey, with my famous lentil soup.
:-)

[Kay Goldstein - Huffpost Blogger]

I'm there for you. How about a little of that soup?

[SallyStraight]

My post on My Space today was about TIME VAMPIRES. I invite you to read it: http://myspace.com/sallystraight. I didn't even get into all of the time that the Time Vampires devoured during the campaign. My goodness. I'd sit down to listen to CNN or MSNBC for just a minute and the next thing I knew it was three in the afternoon. I was just going to write a short entry on the blog and there I was off and running about another fiasco that happened that day.

At last I'll be able to return to getting things done--- or not. Read my post on Sally Straight today.

'Nuff said.

SALLY STRAIGHT --MyComments2

[Kay Goldstein - Huffpost Blogger]

Is it time to start a 12-step program?