We know that election campaigning has an impact on wellbeing, with two-thirds of MPs identifying that stress negatively affects their health. Stress can affect you both emotionally and physically, and it can affect the way you behave. Common signs range from feeling over-burdened or lonely, to smoking or drinking alcohol more than usual, to experiencing headaches.
With this in mind, here are our tips to help look after your wellbeing during the campaign:
Make time to relax
If you know that a certain activity helps you feel more relaxed, set aside time to do it – whether it be mindfulness practice, being active by going for a run or swim, listening to music or taking your dog for a walk. And even five minutes of relaxation can help.
Make time for family and friends
When you’re on the campaign trail at all hours this might seem impossible, but it can help you feel more positive and less isolated. Sometimes just telling the people close to you how you’re feeling can make a big difference.
Get good sleep
Stress can make it difficult for you to sleep, and you may develop sleep problems. Being well-rested can increase your ability to deal with difficult situations, and making sure where you sleep is comfortable and relaxing before you go to bed can help.
Look after your physical health
When you’re on the move, it can be easy to eat too much of the wrong kinds of food or to eat too little. But what, and when, you eat can make a big difference to how well you feel, and physical activity can be important for reducing stress levels too.
Use your support network
If you feel like you need some professional support, you can speak to your doctor. They can check your overall health, and help you access treatments.