Support for Political Stress

Strategies for Finding Peace

With stress related to the pandemic, social unrest, economic concerns, and natural disasters, the world's current events have challenged us all! We want you to know that CAPS is here to support you. CAPS services are for every University of Arizona student, including students of all races, genders, sexual orientations, political affiliation, ages, religions, abilities, and sizes. We welcome you.

Try these strategies:

Mind Your Time & Energy
Focus on What Really Matters
Have Constructive Conversations
Empower Yourself
Create Little Moments of Peace

Mind Your Time & Energy

All of us are coping with multiple layers of stress, which can leave us feeling depleted. Mind your energy by being intentional about how you spend your time.

TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF

Practice good self-care to help maintain your resilience in stressful times. Sleep, nutrition, and enjoyable movement are a great place to start. Include leisure time and other activities that help you feel mentally, physically, and emotionally balanced in your daily routine.

CREATE A WELLNESS PLAN PERSONALIZED TO YOU

SET BOUNDARIES WITH NEWS, MEDIA & POLITICS

Set intentional time for media consumption, limit scrolling
Filter feeds to positive content, limiting posts that may cause stress
Read stories from trusted sources and be cautious of misinformation on social
Avoid news right before bedtime
Turn off notifications and avoid reading comments as needed
Know when to engage and when to let it go.
Accept that you may need to agree to disagree.

(adapted from @afspnational)

BE SELECTIVE ABOUT WHERE YOUR ENERGY GOES

Put your energy where it will make the biggest impact and have the most meaning in your life.

Prioritize wellness
Notice what drains you
Focus on constructive conversations
Take care of yourself after hard conversations

UNPLUG, SET BOUNDARIES & PRACTICE SELF-CARE

Focus on What Matters Most

FOCUS ON MEANING

Meaning is one of the building blocks to our well-being. So, focus on meaningful interactions, stay mindful of your interpretations of situations, and find ways to contribute to your community.

5 WAYS TO LIVE A MEANINGFUL LIFE

CLARIFY YOUR CORE VALUES

No matter what's going on around you, you can live a value-driven life by identifying your most important values and living in alignment with them. Consider what matters most to you in life. What is your personal vision for your life? What are the beliefs, ideals, ethics, or morals that make you who you are? Most importantly, how do you incorporate these values into your daily life?

AFFIRMING IMPORTANT VALUES ACTIVITY

KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS

Knowing your unique strengths can help you choose where to focus your energy, understand other people's perspectives, navigate challenging situations, and boost your overall resilience. There's no end to the unique combinations of strengths each of us possesses.

DISCOVER YOUR UNIQUE CHARACTER STRENGTHS

Have Constructive Conversations

It can be tricky to navigate conversations about politics with family and friends. Two people can have a very different inner experience of the same situation or issue, which can lead to misunderstandings and tension.

Tips for Making a Difficult Conversation Constructive:

Don't debate if you're not in the right mental or emotional state.
Avoid taking an "us vs. them" approach by staying mindful of personal comments and generalizations.
Remain open to learning where another person's perspective comes from even if you don't agree.
Remain aware of your personal triggers and what you can do to self-soothe.
Decide whether a conversation is going to be meaningful or constructive.
Pay attention to how you feel during the conversation, and take the steps you need to remain composed and decompress after if needed.

Empower Yourself

BE AN ENGAGED CITIZEN

Combat political stress with empowerment. Educate yourself on current political issues from fact-checked sources. Take action by calling your elected officials voting in elections.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT GUIDE

HELP YOUR COMMUNITY

Everyone has the power to make the world a better place, starting right where they live.

101 SMALL WAYS YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR CITY

NEVER STOP LEARNING

Being a lifelong learner is good for your well-being and can be a great way to cope with political stress. Take the time to check your facts, learn about the issues facing underrepresented groups, and stay informed about the candidates and their platforms.

HOW TO BE A LIFELONG LEARNER

Create Little Moments of Peace

Take your mind off the news and let everything be okay for just a minute by creating little moments of peace for yourself. Get outside and take a walk. Read a book. Practice a meditation. Call a friend. Doodle. Take a shower. Listen to an inspiring talk.