# 59 Cover Your Bases: Election Day Lead Up: What Distractions Are Working? And My Plan for Tuesday Night

Yeah, it's a white-knuckle moment

Hello! How are you holding up? I’m heading into survival mode around Tuesday's Election; my tension has become so great I need effective avoidance tactics. 

 Here’s what is working for me right now:

GETTING TO TUESDAY

• VOTING: done!

• News Diet–Avoiding Media, Polls, Pundits

  • No news stories

  • No news on TV

  • Careful and limited consumption of pieces by Heather Cox Richardson, Seth Abramson, Timothy Snyder, Etc.

• Distractions: 

  • Planning My Fall Wardrobe (including shopping in my closet)

  • Binging Elin Hilderbrand romance novels (this is a world where all problems are related to cake or romance, not cognitively impaired Fascists.)

  • Exercise: Walking, Hiking, Working Out

  • Watching movies and media: The Martha documentary on Netflix is fantastic, and The Lincoln Lawyer is back.

TUESDAY NIGHT

I made a voting plan for my ballot, but I have also made one for election night (advice welcomed). Here’s how it’s evolving so far:

• 7-8 PM: Election Night local party for a candidate I supported, Lateefah Simon

• 8 PM-9 PM: Go out and eat some food in a spot with no streaming media.

• 9 PM-11 PM: Watch a movie and work on my text thread sharing with family and friends. Check Internet news, but not CNN, MSNBC, or other click porn.Like, ALL of it.

• 11 PM: GO TO BED. GO TO BED NO MATTER WHAT.  PLEASE GO TO BED AND DO NOT STAY UP AGONIZING OVER THE INEVITABLE INSANE DRAMA.

• 1 AM: Wake up stressed and fight with myself about not checking the news. Go the F back to sleep.

What is the best coping plan for you?  Please share! I need more help, here.

Warmly,
Susan