It's going to be a WEEK, y'all...

(I sent this to my email community last night… if you’re not on my mailing list, please join for occasional updates!)

I've been up since way before dawn (thanks, daylight savings time) feeling all sorts of ways at once about Election Week- inspired, full of dread, energized, already exhausted, optimistic, fearful, grateful, grieving, impatient, whatever-the-opposite-of-impatient-is.  No matter how things unfold, this is going to be a WEEK, y'all.  Let's try to meet it as best we can, together.  Here's the best I've got so far:  

Let it be heavy. 

I'd rather do just about anything than admit something is a Big Heavy Thing and sit in its messy, scary, teary yuck.  But it is what it is (my fave 2020 quote, courtesy of Michelle Obama).  My friend laura's excellent recent podcast episode reminded me to acknowledge the weight and big feelings of election week and resist the temptation to ignore or diminish them in myself and others. 

Ask yourself what you want to be true about you this week. 

That's my favorite coaching question for tumultuous and uncertain times. My answer: I want it to be true that I worked hard getting out and protecting the vote.  I want it to be true that I was present for my kids and that we helped them understand and process this week.  I want it to be true that I supported my people.  I want it to be true that I responded to others from love instead of fear and judgment. (Note: being clear on my answer does NOT MEAN it will be easy to pull off…)

Create space. 

I'm seeing extra-crunched calendars for the week ahead, maybe due to the fact that many organizations and schools are closed on Tuesday for Election Day.  Do whatever you can to give yourself (and your colleagues and family) some breathing room this week.  Everyone will be tired and fried and likely have a hard time focusing 100%.  It's not too late to cancel or postpone work meetings or opt out of soccer practice for a few nights. Similarly, take a peek at your to-do list and deadlines for the week, and scale everything waaaaay back. Punt as many tasks to next week as you can and defer any non-essential deadlines for you and your team.

Personalize your self-care. 

There's no one-size-fits-all solution to election week self-care. Figure out what's going to make the biggest difference for YOU. Optional virtual zoom lunch break with your colleagues? Outdoor adventures with a second grader and some extra yoga classes (that's me)? Time alone at home with just your dog? Prepared meals in the fridge for the week (h/t Corrie)? A calm but uplifting election playlist with just enough Indigo Girls? If a quiet hour of focused work time with some friendly faces fits into your plan, sign up here to join my free Wednesday Work Sprint, 2-3pm ET. (Obvious but true: we probably could ALL do with more sleep, less doomscrolling, and more sunshine.) 

Sending so much good energy to you and yours this week.  Hang in there. And VOTE if you haven't yet, and make sure everyone you know gets to the polls.  

xo,

KHP

PS- In addition to laura's podcast linked above, I really appreciated Anne Helen Petersen's piece (for more angles on election fatigue) and this NPR story (for ways to keep calm).