After this year’s elections, you are likely either ecstatic or deeply discouraged. Maybe it is a little of both. Whatever your politics, half of America is disappointed with the outcome and, in a deeply polarized society, the loss can feel unbearable. What should people do? Crawl under a rock? Move to Canada? Possibly, but I have a better idea. Here are 10 ideas for coping with election disappointment.

It Isn’t That Bad, Is It?

We tend to inherit a gloom and doom attitude when elections don’t go our way. But it is rarely as bad as we initially believe. As an example, let’s look at the last two presidential elections before this one. In 2016 Trump won. Democrats were apocalyptic. In 2020, Biden won. Conservatives thought the world might end. It didn’t. Sure, elected officials can have a large effect on our lives. But elections come and go and politicians don’t last forever. If you feel like you don’t know how you are going to handle the next several years, take comfort in looking toward the future. You will survive. You will be ok.

Look at the Election Silver Lining

Every situation, no matter how dire, has something positive aspect you can identify. For example, let’s say you are pro-choice and worry that the elections will weaken a woman’s right to choose. You can take heart in the knowledge that the efforts to eradicate abortion have actually backfired in many instances. It has caused a consolidation of pro-choice supporters and the creation of state laws to legally codify abortion, even in many Republican states. Moral of the story: nothing is all bad all of the time.

Practice Mindfulness

When you are wistful for the past and worried about the future, mindfulness is exactly what you need. Mindfulness encourages you to be present in the moment and helps you to cope with defeatist thoughts. Maybe best of all, mindfulness will help you reduce post-election anxiety and find the will to go on with your life.

Act on Your Values

You may not be able to control who wins elections but you can perform acts that support your personal causes. Do you want to help those who suffer from food insecurity? Volunteer at a food bank. Worried about education? Tutor a child. When the world feels out of control it makes us feel good to know that we still have control over our own behavior. Besides, supporting a worthy cause is highly rewarding. When all else feels lost, know that you can still have a positive effect on the world.

Debrief With Like-Minded People (But Don’t Overdo It)

When an election doesn’t go your way, you need to process the results. You want to examine what happened and what is next. You want to commiserate with other people who also feel disappointed. However, you don’t want this post-election analysis to go on forever. There is a difference between processing your thoughts and emotions and endlessly ruminating about a situation you can’t change. So, take some time and talk about the results with like-minded individuals. Just make sure to set a limit when that will end. If you still can’t accept a result several months later, you have probably gone too far.

Sleep

I know I sound like a broken record, but if there is one thing you can do to take care of yourself in trying times, it is to focus on your sleep. Sleep literally makes everything better, including your mood and your quality of thought. If you don’t know what steps to take to upgrade your slumber, check out my suggestions to improve your sleep hygiene.

Recognize Our Commonalities

In these divisive times, it is quite easy to belittle people who voted for another candidate. You might think some of the following: “What is wrong with these people?” “They must be idiots”. “They have to be awful human beings”. Although that might be true for some, it is false for the majority. People share many more commonalities than they do differences. Yes, you may have some political distinctions, but we all want the same basic things: food on the table, a roof over our head, friendship, love, and family. When you find your blood pressure rising, think about the things we have in common to cool your temperature.

Limit Election Doomscrolling

When your candidate loses an election, the internet becomes a dangerous place. You can spend hours each day reading articles and social media posts that support or conflict with your views. Some of this may help you process your emotions but it can also cause you to fall down a rabbit hole and never get out. The best recommendation is to limit your phone and internet use following an election loss. Actually, that is not bad advice to follow for the rest of your life.

Have Fun

No matter how bleak your outlook, it is still important to have fun. First, having fun feels good. Second, it is a great distraction. Just make sure that what you are doing isn’t destructive. Drinking martinis every day might be fun but it isn’t going to make you feel good the next day.

Seek Professional Help

Elections can have a huge impact on our mental health and some people simply can’t cope with the results on their own. For those individuals, psychotherapy or medication is an option. You may think that an election is a silly reason to seek help but if you are suffering—and you are having difficulty with aspects of daily functioning—it is as good a reason as any.

You are not alone. Election disappointment affects millions of Americans. People have very strong emotions when their chosen candidate loses. And that is okay. Individual differences is what makes our country strong. Just remember, hope is not lost. There is always next time. In the meantime, you can still be healthy. Utilize these 10 tips to survive your post-election doldrums. Then, look toward the future and try to make a difference. Your time will come.