Member-only story
This Circle Taped to My Wall Is Keeping Me Calm-ish Today
And other strategies I’m using to compartmentalize my election stress
The day after a tense, unfinished presidential election seems like a good time to exercise my trusty compartmentalization skills. Throughout my life, I’ve been able to box up and set aside life stressors — on a temporary basis, of course — in order to crank out something that resembles a productive workday. Here are five ways I’m doing that this week.
A couple notes: One, no one should be expected to work to their normal productivity today. And two, psychologists say compartmentalization is useful for people who are mentally healthy, but left unchecked, it can lead to emotional disconnection. It’s crucial that you find ways to express your anxieties about this election. These tips are merely meant to help you focus on the welcome respite of your job, if you see yours that way.
I’ve taped a drawing of the “circle of control” on my wall
I voted. Even though it’s not easy, it’s time to acknowledge that where things go from here is out of my hands. That’s where the “circle of control” comes in. (Here’s a primer on the “circle” — it’s a modification of the original Stephen Covey “circle of influence” from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.) I’ve put “what happens in the weeks to come” in the outermost ring because it’s out of my control. I’ll focus on the inner ring, what I can control, which includes my attitude and how I spend my energy in the days to come.
I’m putting a hard check on my social media
I will forego commiserating on social media with people who share my anxiety in the moment, and I definitely will resist any urge to bicker about politics in the comments sections. I acknowledge that even a quick social media scroll in times like this erodes my mindset. So every time I pull out my phone, I’ll be mindful. I’ll pause and ask myself, “Is what I’m about to do the right way to spend the next two minutes (or hour)?” If I simply must do it, I’ll set some time aside after work in the evening.
