Election Anxiety Has Everyone Stress Cooking and (Mostly) Ignoring Social Media

Tonight my partner and I are going to make one of our favorite winter soups to kick off soup season, which we’ll pair with some fancy hard apple ciders I splurged on at the grocery store (very autumnal). I have laundry ready to fold to keep my hands occupied while we watch “The Map Show,” a.k.a. election coverage. If things really take a turn for the worst, though, we have 12 leftover Jell-o shots from our Halloween party at the ready. —Anastasia Sanger, senior manager, video development

On “suspense nights” like the Oscars, I avoid the TV and find out the results in the morning; I don’t do well with suspense. On election night in 2016 I went to bed and hid my head under a pillow like an ostrich. My husband, however, will be glued to the news with his poli-sci master’s degree and a bottle of honey Jack Daniels, so I’m certain I’ll hear updates as the night goes on. I’ll wander a bit aimlessly around the house or watch bee-removal videos; I may go for a walk to get the jitters out. If it’s too close to call by midnight, I’ll do the ostrich thing again, I’m pretty sure.
—Talley Sue Hohlfeld, copy director

Honestly I’m feeling energized by this election cycle, as I’ve been engaging with friends and trying to convince them to vote. I’m trying to focus my energy into positive works so I can at least feel that I’ve done my part and the rest is up to the fates. And of course, I’ll have a trusty bottle of wine to see me through. —Lauren Brown, senior visuals editor

For better or worse, I foresee cable news being on in my house until the bitter end—or until I simply can’t keep my eyes open any longer. I’m sure I’ll give into election anxiety by texting with family, answering an overabundance of questions from my savvy five-and-a-half-year-old, and—at some point—opening some wine. One thing I’m not planning on doing? Obsessively scrolling. —Perrie Samotin, digital director

I usually find comfort in family and friends during a time as stressful and momentous as this. Luckily, we’re all politically aligned. Some of my family will be glued to the TV, but I prefer a half-in, half-out approach. To keep ourselves occupied as results trickle in, I suggested we make a Filipino dish called lumpia—spring rolls—which will help keep our mind off of things. I will definitely be drinking a glass of wine and maybe—hopefully—even a glass of champagne by the end of the night. —Ariana Yaptangco, senior beauty editor