This election season has been a bruising one, leaving many Madisonians feeling exhausted and stressed out. (And if you’re someone who was very happy with the results, surely you know someone who feels that way and want to extend care and compassion to them. Right?)
Here are some ways you can practice a little self-care and recharge.
📱 Put Down Your Phone and Go Outside
We’re in the midst of a beautiful fall in Madison. Take a day trip to hike up at Devil’s Lake State Park. Walk out to Picnic Point. Take your pup to the nearest dog park. Or just take a stroll around the block and say hi to your neighbors. Your social media timeline will be there when you get back.
🧘 Try Yoga or Meditation
We’re lucky to have a lot of yoga studios and wellness centers in Madison for people of all abilities, including Insight Counseling & Wellness, Perennial Yoga and more. Need a moment of mindfulness? Check out the Healthy Minds app from the UW–Madison Center for Healthy Minds.
🤝 Volunteer in The Community
This time of year, and really all year round, there are ways you can help out your neighbors in the community. Both Dane County and the City of Madison are constantly updating their lists of volunteer opportunities whatever your interests are.
🫶 Meet With Friends
Getting out of the house and connecting with friends is great for your emotional health. Meet up at a new restaurant or coffee shop, enjoy a game night together, or see a standup comedian (maybe not one who does political-heavy jokes, though).
🎥 Watch a Dumb Movie
As a movie critic, I’m usually a booster of well-made, thought-provoking movies, but sometimes you just need to lose yourself in something silly. Flix Brewhouse Madison is screening both “Uncle Buck” and “Clue” this week, and “Red One,” in which The Rock rescues Santa Claus, looks like one of the most gloriously stupid things I’ve ever seen.
🙀 Let It Out. It’s Good For You.
It’s not healthy to try and hold your emotions in. City Cast Madison’s Hayley Sperling wrote a memorable list of the best places to cry in Madison, and this Reddit thread collected suggestions for the best places to scream in town.
▶️ Dust Yourself Off and Move Forward
If you’re politically active, there’s another election around the corner on April 1, including one which will determine the political balance of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. There’s always work to do.
