7 Great Ways to Relieve Election Stress This Week in the Bay Area

Many of us are already feeling election-related stress, worrying about what will happen on Tuesday and how it will affect the future of America and our own lives.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than 73% of Americans say they feel anxious about the election, and the Pew Research Center found that 65% of us feel fatigued thinking about politics.

Of course, there are some tried and true ways to ease election anxiety. You probably already know them: meditation, exercise and getting enough sleep while limiting your intake of mind-altering substances, junk food, social media and, ahem, headlines.

But if you’re looking for more Bay Area-focused ideas to practice self-care or spend time with loved ones before Tuesday—and really, any time anxiety hits—here are seven things you can do in the coming days to save yourself from a hamster. wheel, at least for a little while.

Ocean breeze, paved paths

Going outside improves your mood under any circumstances. Adding the salty taste of the sea and world-class views to this walk will improve your view almost instantly. San Francisco Bay Trail – which runs from San Jose to Marin, Napa and back through the East Bay – takes you through moody wetlands bristling with reeds, rocky cliffs covered in rising currents of iridescent sea spray, and through coastal parks, starting at the tops of the tunnel Presidio and ending in mystical yellow. Alviso portals. The trail may be 350 miles long, but you can choose hikes along the way, exploring new or familiar spots, paved or gravel—or near some tempting coffee shop or beer garden. Here Nine of our favorite sites along the Bay Trail.

Elections that are truly interesting

Okay, maybe you can’t completely avoid election stress by watching “Conclave,” the new film about the election of a new Catholic pope. The drama focuses on an election that pits liberals against conservatives as they battle for the soul of the 1.3 billion-member church. But Conclave is fictional and also stylish, smart, interesting, a little ridiculous and brilliantly acted by Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini and others, so that it effectively offers two hours of escapism from real-life drama. .

The action takes place in the Vatican. Red-cloaked cardinals, seemingly saints, vie for power in the Sistine Chapel, in dark corridors and austere bedrooms, maneuvering and committing several acts of betrayal similar to “Legacy”. Exciting events occur every 10 minutes until the final big reveal, which offers a surprisingly hopeful vision of choices leading to a righteous and moral outcome. “Conclave” is playing in theaters across the Bay Area.

Mouse in the house

Yes, you can listen to music at home. But there’s a much better idea. Modest Mouse, one of our longtime indie rock favorites, returns to the Bay Area to perform at 8 p.m. on November 5—yes, election night—at the Fox Theater in downtown Oakland. And this time, these Pacific Northwest powerhouses have something really cool in store. They’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of their best-selling album, 2004’s Good News for People Who Love Bad News, the record that brought hits like The World at Large, Ocean Breathes Salty, and Dance Hall. and, of course, the hit single “Float On.”

Who can focus on who’s leading the vote in, say, Arizona when Mouse is tearing up such stunning rock numbers as “Bury Me with It” and “Satin in a Coffin.” Tickets start at $74 (subject to change). Ticketmaster.com.

Walk through the labyrinth

In times of deep uncertainty and anxiety, sometimes it is best to completely clear your mind. Navigating the twisting curves of a maze is a time-tested method for achieving zen-like nothingness, with a history that dates back to… well, at least the invention of Pac-Man.

Here in the bay there is many labyrinths through which you can circle aimlesslymany of which have stunning scenery to boot. The one at Land’s End is perhaps the most famous, next to the fog and screaming seabirds at the Golden Gate (just don’t go near the rocks). In the Marin Headlands, the Tennessee Point labyrinth overlooks the crashing ocean and historic shipwrecks—a reminder that, all things considered, you could end up worse off. Other outdoor labyrinths are at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in Oakland, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose, and Briones Regional Park in Martinez. Or just type “maze” into Google Maps. Namaste!

Daffodils for spring

Perhaps no flower symbolizes resilience and hope for the future better than daffodils, and this weekend will be a great time to plant some buds in anticipation of the bright yellow flowers blooming in a few months, no matter what happens on Tuesday.

Northern California Daffodil Society says it’s always a good idea to wait to plant bulbs until nights become cool and soil temperatures drop, so November is the ideal time to plant. Sunday also seems to be a good day for gardening. National Weather Service reports Rain on Saturday is expected to give way to sunny and warm weather on Sunday.

So, head to your local nursery to pick up bulbs and get planting directions—usually six inches deep and six inches apart. Why daycare in the Bay Area and not online? Being outdoors, surrounded by beautiful plants, is always good for you. The same can be said for digging into the soil and arranging the bulbs with their pointed ends, imagining a time starting in February when your garden will show off an explosion of bright, happy yellow, white or gold trumpets.