In 2008 I was a mess during the election process. I'd never paid as close attention to an election my entire life. I watched every televised speech of President Obama that by the end of the election cycle I could recite those speeches word for word, I started my day watching C-SPAN, Joe in the Morning, listening to progressive radio (shout out to http://chicagosprogressivetalk.com/) on the ride to work, then streamed it all day long while at work, looking at Huffington Post, TPM, & Daily Kos throughout the day as well as listening to NPR on the way home from work. Once, I'd get home I would put the channel on MSNBC for the rest of the evening. I knew I would have a good day or a bad day based on the release of poll numbers. I mean it was too too much. I learned alot since 2008 and I'd like to share some of what I've learned so that this election cycle will reduce stress & blood pressure levels. They are as follows:
1. Expect the He Said She Said. Journalism as we know it is dead. It wasn't present in the 2008 election cycle, since the election cycle & won't be present this election cycle. The goal for progams like Meet the Press, This Week, Face the Nation, or any political news shows is to create a close election not report truth or challenge blantant lies by the candidates so the American people will have good information to make informed decisions. When you get angry get busy (door knock, phone bank, have house parties, etc.)
2. Limit yourself to the amount of political information you consume per day. Remember most of the stuff we hear day to day are based on opinion. If you really take the time to look at the history of the opinionators you'll notice they are mostly WRONG. Too much negativity will weigh on you. When you feel "anxious" get busy working for the campaign (i.e.door knock, phone bank, have house parties, etc.)
3. Ignore the polls. Most pollsters have a vested interests in getting a result they want not what is true on the ground
4. Get busy & be active in this election cycle (i.e. door knock, phone bank, have house parties, etc.) I don't think we have seen or will see another election like this one in our life time. Unprecidented amounts of money is going to be spent against President Obama. Our challenge will be to match the $$ with boots on the ground. We can do it.
5. If all else fails turn off the radio, tv, or internet and get busy (i.e. door knock, phone bank, have house parties, etc.).
6. Stop echo chambering the Right and start echo chambering our views.
This election won't be easy by any stretch of the imagination but these are just a few tips that I can think of that so far has allowed me to keep my sanity and not need blood pressure medication since President Obama was elected in 2008.
Hope it helps...oh and remember to GET BUSY (i.e. door knock, phone bank, have house parties, etc.)