If the wait for final election results is testing your patience right now, you’re not alone. It might be a tiny comfort, however, to remember that experts have long said this year’s ballot-tallying process would be longer than usual. A surge in absentee voting means longer wait times for full and complete results, and that’s OK. Counting every vote is crucial, but it does take time.
As many of us have proven in the past day or so, no amount of push notifications or Twitter scrolls will speed up the painstaking tallying process. If you’re looking for an alternative that feels productive or even a tiny bit soothing, we’ve got you covered with ideas for healthier ways to pass the time. From helping to cure ballots in swing states to stretching out the tension, we have a range of activities to navigate this uncomfortable waiting period with a bit more ease.
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Sign Up For Ballot Cure Training
The enormous amount of absentee or mail-in votes this year means many Americans will need help fixing or “curing” their ballots. (If an absentee ballot’s signature doesn’t match the signature on record, for example, that may need to be fixed in order to be successfully counted.) This remediation process will be particularly important in swing states, where races may become razor thin. Train to become a volunteer ballot curer through Vote Save America today.
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Fire Up the Group Chat(s)
Experts agree that tapping into our friendship network has a positive impact on our mental health. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your community and re-book that group FaceTime or virtual one-on-one coffee date while we wait for this election uncertainty to pass.
YouTube user Sydney Cummings
Stretch Out Some Tension
If you’ve been frantically scrolling Twitter, consider this a friendly reminder to unclench your jaw and un-hunch those shoulders. This 20-minute stretch routine is equipment free and perfect for relieving some of the tension we’re all carrying around in our bodies right now.
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Queue Up a Calming Playlist
As tempting as it might be to keep CNN updates on high volume all day, it might not be the best move for your mental health. See how it feels to sit down, pop on your headphones, and try out one of these soothing playlists for a few minutes instead.
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Brush Up on the Electoral College
We have a handy guide on how to explain the electoral college to kids, but let’s face it: most adults could use a refresher, too. Now’s a great time for people of all ages to review this important information.
Amazon
Pick Up a (Very) Long Book
We recently polled our POPSUGAR Book Club members on their favorite lengthy reads, and many mentioned The Warmth of Other Suns as one that’s both riveting and relevant to our current political climate. Now is the perfect time to dive into this 622-page read.
Getty / JGI / Jamie Grill
Dance It Out
We rounded up some endorphin-boosting, heart pumping, 15-minute dance video workouts for you. Pop one of these on and feel only slightly ridiculous flailing around your apartment. If nothing else, this totally counts as fifteen less minutes spent waiting for The New York Times push alerts.
