This morning, a friend of mine broke down in tears when I greeted her. A colleague mentioned he needed to take the entire day off because he couldn’t focus on work. Another friend confessed she was up all night and feeling sick with nerves. Google analytics show that searches for “grounding techniques for anxiety” increased by over 140% in just the last day, according to Simon Rogers, a data editor at Google.

After a contentious build-up to the elections, it seems everyone shares a sense of anxiety about the potential outcomes in the coming days and weeks.

Are we poised to witness the same turmoil as the last presidential election? Is our society becoming even more polarized? Will we maintain safety in our homes, jobs, healthcare, and among family and friends? Will we be okay?

A recent survey by the American Psychological Association indicates that more than 70% of adults, approximately 80%, view the nation’s future as a major source of personal stress.

According to Jenna Glover, clinical chief with the mental health app Headspace, “This increase in stress is likely due to how individuals relate their lives to ballot issues like reproductive rights, immigration, and LGBTQIA+ rights. When they can see how an administration’s decisions can impact their lives, it often triggers heightened emotions.”

Last weekend, after a therapist suggested I check out the Headspace app, I searched for “politics” in the app. I found a whole category dedicated to this theme called “Politics without Panic,” which offers guided meditations on subjects like “Finding Post-Election Peace” and “Coping with Political Change.”

Dr. Glover added, “This election has stirred up a whirlwind of feelings for many voters, often pushing them to worry about the future rather than stay present with their thoughts.”

Since Saturday, I’ve listened to all 22 programs in the “Politics without Panic” section. It has been a refreshing source of positivity amid this uncertain atmosphere. The app offers a free two-week trial, after which it costs $70 per year.

In addition to the usual advice to “get outside, take a walk, watch a movie, spend time with loved ones, and avoid political discussions,” here are several other resources to help you maintain your sanity during this stressful period:

1. Cuddle a puppy through Nextdoor

Have you noticed the puppy-cuddling events popping up nationwide? My hometown recently hosted one at a local shelter, which I discovered through Nextdoor. An animal rescue brought puppies to the YSL News office in Washington D.C. today. Also, Aloft hotels in cities like New York and Atlanta organized “Not Watch Pawties” for today.

You may even be able to enjoy pet cuddles without leaving your home. Interacting with dogs, cats, guinea pigs, or even talking to your goldfish can reduce stress, combat loneliness, increase feelings of connection, and boost your mood, according to the NIH.

2. Say goodbye to doomscrolling on social media

Remember, it’s perfectly fine to disconnect. Some have taken a day off work to enjoy the outdoors and escape all things digital. My daughter decided to delete key social media apps from her phone for the week, while my husband shut off notifications from all social media and news platforms. Others are limiting distractions using features on their devices or opting for apps like RescueTime, StayFocusd, Freedom, FocusMe, and LeechBlock. These apps help you silence distractions for a set duration or create “do not disturb” alerts across your devices.

3. Seek feel-good content online

Take a break by watching uplifting videos like Animal Odd Couples from The Dodo, showcasing a golden retriever picking apples for his bunny pals. Explore.org’s YouTube channel is also enchanting. I just caught a live feed of a sloth doing… well… absolutely nothing from Costa Rica. They also have a specific channel titled “Escape Election Coverage” that features countless hours of soothing nature footage.

Experience everything from the stunning live streams capturing bears in Alaska to the captivating views of zebras, elephants, lions, and tigers provided by safari cameras across Africa. Additionally, there’s plenty of uplifting television to enjoy. Right now, I can’t get enough of the show ‘Shrinking’. I’m also entertained by Snoop Dogg’s contributions in this season’s ‘The Voice’. If those options don’t spark your interest, YSL News has many suggestions for “fun, light-hearted shows” as well.

4. Identify Fake News Online

The recent AMA poll reveals that misinformation is a pressing issue, with a significant majority (82%) of U.S. adults expressing concern that many people are forming their beliefs based on incorrect or misleading information.

To avoid falling for falsehoods, rely on trustworthy fact-checking resources like the Associated Press AP Fact Check, FactCheck.org, Politifact, and YSL News’s dedicated fact-checking sections. Other valuable sites include the U.S. Cybersecurity Agency’s rumor control page and the browser extension NewsGuard, which evaluates over 4,000 news outlets for their accuracy. Additionally, Ground News provides a snapshot of how major news organizations covered a specific story (and if no major outlets report on it, it likely isn’t true). Analyzing videos for authenticity is trickier, but we recently outlined strategies to help with that.

5. Consult Someone Virtually

Experts suggest seeking professional help, and it’s more accessible now than ever thanks to teletherapy. Online platforms like BetterHealth, Doctor on Demand, Wellnite, Larkr, Real, ReGain, AbleTo, and MDLive offer affordable options, often accept insurance, and allow easy scheduling for sessions. Apps like HearMe, Wisdom, and Lyf (available on both iOS and Android) connect you with individuals or groups ready to listen and provide support without the need for a formal appointment. For example, HearMe lets you engage in anonymous text chats within a couple of minutes after logging in. Lyf fosters connections with hundreds of users to share experiences. Meanwhile, Wisdo provides support groups and enables one-on-one sessions with trained coaches or moderated discussions led by mentors.

As a casual catchphrase suggests, “Keep Calm-ala and Carry-On-Ala.” This amusing line from a recent Saturday Night Live cold open had me laughing when my friend shared it with me, and I’ve since passed it along to others.

The key takeaway? Remember that we will overcome these challenges, according to Dr. Glover. “I encourage anyone who feels heightened emotions concerning the election to adopt a mindset of radical acceptance — recognizing reality as it stands at this moment. Ultimately, while we can’t revise the election outcomes, electoral cycles will pass, and it’s most productive to concentrate on what lies within our control,” Dr. Glover emphasizes.