A survey released last week by the American Psychological Association reported that more than 82 percent of adults have felt that this presidential election cycle “has been an emotional rollercoaster.”
And 25 percent say they have lost sleep over it. “This is a major sociopolitical event that is driving an acute stress response in a large proportion of the population,” says Tony Cunningham, director of the Center for Sleep and Cognition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School.
Lessons from 2020: Cunningham studied the sociological effects of the 2020 election and found that those who experienced more stress and depression on election day were more likely to have worse sleep that night. “Sleep was uniquely terrible, [as well as] almost every metric we collected,” he says.
What can be done: Acknowledge your emotions and tailor your daily activities so you don’t feel more overwhelmed. Limit endless exposure to the news. “There’s a level between being informed and then doomscrolling at four in the morning,” says Cunningham, adding that the latter “is not going to be helpful to you.” Cut back on alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, especially close to bedtime. If sleep is hard to come by, don’t worry about it; the anxiety over NOT SLEEPING is often worse than…not sleeping.
Tips on getting to sleep from Scientific American editors:
I listen to audiobooks with CozyPhones—headphones built into soft headbands so you can sleep in them. I like to listen to comfort reads that I’ve read many times, such as the Murderbot Diaries series, to help me go back to sleep—or, at the very least, to stop thinking about the election. —Clara Moskowitz, senior editor, space/physics
I make sure I get at least some kind of exercise every day. And I listen to podcasts to fall asleep. It keeps me from reciting endless to-do lists or focusing on worries. —Andrea Thompson, associate editor, sustainability
When things got hairy during the pandemic lockdowns, I got into listening to guided meditation sessions. Hundreds are free online. There are a lot of duds, but a few seemed to really work … Thirty minutes to an hour worked best for me. —Dean Visser, chief news editor
There’s some good research on warm showers or baths before bed because they help simulate a natural nighttime temperature drop! I also drink tea with valerian, which is a sleep aid, and I drink tart cherry juice before bed because it apparently contains a small amount of melatonin. —Rachel Feltman, host of the Science Quickly podcast
I don’t get to do this enough at night, but I do go for a walk during the day with no music or podcast—just me and the sounds of my local environment. It lets my brain focus on what is tangible and in front of me rather than all the abstracts about news. —Megha Satyanarayana, chief opinion editor
