Election Day is here. This means the endless stream of political advertisements and solicitations for donations will soon be over.

There is one small hanging chad to account for first, though: Awaiting the announcement of who will be the next president.

With political divisions at a fever pitch and proclamations that this is the most consequential election of our lifetimes, there is going to be anxiety to contend with as Americans potentially wait for days to learn the final results.

It all may be too much, which is why it is important to find ways to keep yourself occupied.

For those inclined and able to do so, exercise is always a good distraction. Go outside. Touch grass. Get those endorphins flowing. You can do this by taking walks outside or heading over to ShipRec and trying one of their fitness classes.

Spending time with friends and indulging in your hobbies is always time well spent as well. Plan your next Dungeons and Dragons game. Hit the town and try that new restaurant you have all been meaning to go to. The ballot counting will continue just fine while you sip a London fog at a café. 

Though it may seem counterintuitive, other stressors are a good distraction. We all have plenty to do. The writers at this publication as well as most of its readership are college students, after all. Exams are always on the horizon and projects are due regardless of whom the president is. The bonus of these stressors in comparison to election anxieties is that feeling of relief and accomplishment that accompanies the completion of work.

Staying off the internet and avoiding the results may be easier said than done. After Tuesday, there is nothing more you can do. Instead of focusing on what the future holds, you can focus on what you can do for yourself in the present. Spend time with loved ones and loved moments; those things, you enjoy. If it is too overwhelming, it is fine to need a mental break. This is a significant time in history, and it is valid to be mentally drained from that.

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