Many of us are already feeling election-related stress, worrying about what will unfold on Tuesday and how it will impact the future of America and our own lives.
More than 73% of Americans say they feel anxious about the election, according to the American Psychiatric Association, while the Pew Research Center found that 65% of us feel exhausted when thinking about politics.
There are, of course, some tried and true ways to alleviate election anxiety. You probably know them already: meditation, exercise and plenty of sleep, while limiting consumption of mind-altering substances, unhealthy food, social media and, ahem, headlines.
But if you’re looking for more Bay Area-centric ideas to practice self-care or have time with loved ones before Tuesday — and really, any time anxiety encroaches — here are seven things you can do in the coming days to escape the hamster wheel, if only for a little while.
Getting outdoors is a mood booster under any circumstances. Adding the briny tang of the sea and world class views to that outing will brighten your outlook almost instantly. The San Francisco Bay Trail — which runs from San Jose to Marin, Napa and back through the East Bay — takes you along moody wetlands bristling with reeds, over rocky cliffs cloaked in updrafts of iridescent sea spray and through waterfront parks ranging from the Presidio Tunnel Tops to the mystical yellow portals of Alviso. The trail may be 350 miles along, but you can pick and choose hikes along the way, exploring places new or familiar, paved or gravel-packed — or near some tempting coffeehouse or beer garden.
OK, you might not entirely escape election stress by going to see “Conclave,” the nail-biter new movie about the selection of a new Catholic pope. The drama focuses on an election that pits liberals against conservatives, battling it out for the soul of the 1.3 billion-member church. But “Conclave” is fictional, as well as stylish, clever, entertaining, a bit ridiculous and brilliantly acted by Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini and others, so it actually offers two hours of escape from real-world drama.
Set in the Vatican, seemingly holy, red-cloaked cardinals vie for power in the Sistine Chapel and in shadowy corridors and austere bedchambers, maneuvering and engaging in a few “Succession”-like acts of betrayal. Cliffhangers come every 10 minutes until the final big reveal, which offers a surprisingly reassuring vision of an election leading to a righteous and moral outcome. “Conclave” is playing in theaters throughout the Bay Area.
Yes, you could listen to music at home. But here’s a much better idea. Modest Mouse, one of our longtime indie-rock faves, is heading back to the Bay Area to perform at 8 p.m. on Nov. 5 — yes, election night — at the Fox Theater in downtown Oakland. And these Pacific Northwest powerhouses have something really cool in store this time around. They’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of their biggest-selling album — 2004’s “Good News for People Who Love Bad News” — the record that delivered such crowd pleasers as “The World at Large,” “Ocean Breathes Salty,” “Dance Hall” and, of course, the hit single “Float On.”
Who can focus on who’s ahead in the voting in, say, Arizona as the Mouse tears through tremendous rockers such as “Bury Me with It” and “Satin in a Coffin.” Tickets start at $74 (subject to change), ticketmaster.com.
In times of deep uncertainty and worry, sometimes the best thing to do is completely clear the mind. Navigating through the sinuous curves of a labyrinth is a time-tested method of achieving zen nothingness, with a history dating back to… well, at least the invention of Pac-Man.
Here in the Bay, there are plenty of labyrinths to circle aimlessly through, many with killer scenery to boot. The one at Land’s End is perhaps most famous, near the mist and crying seabirds of the Golden Gate (just don’t approach the cliffs). The Marin Headlands has the Tennessee Point Labyrinth overlooking the crashing ocean and historic shipwrecks – a reminder that, all things considered, you could be in a worse spot. There are other outdoor labyrinths at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in Oakland, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose and Briones Regional Park in Martinez. Or just type “labyrinth” into Google Maps. Namaste!
Perhaps no flower better symbolizes resilience and hope for the future than daffodils, and this weekend would be a great time to plant bubs in the expectation that the bright, yellow flowers will bloom in a few months, no matter what happens on Tuesday.
The Northern California Daffodil Society says it’s always good to wait to plant bulbs until nights are cool and soil temperatures have dropped, which is why November is an ideal time to plant. Sunday also looks to be good day for gardening, with the National Weather Service saying that rain on Saturday is expected to give way to sunny and warmer weather on Sunday.
So, head to your local nursery to pick up bulbs and get directions for planting – usually 6 inches deep and 6 inches apart. Why a Bay Area nursery and not online? Being in an outdoor space, surrounded by beautiful plants is always self-nourishing. So is digging in the soil and placing the bulbs, pointy ends up, all while imaging a time, starting as early as February, when your garden will showcase a burst of bright, happy yellow, white or golden trumpets.
Sometimes a good way to forget about our problems is to focus on someone else’s problems, especially when they are put forth in a gripping legal thriller by a legendary cinematic storyteller (and Northern California icon).
“Juror #2” is the latest and possibly final film from Clint Eastwood, a two-time Oscar-winner as director (“Unforgiven” and “Million Dollar Baby”), whose 40th film, opening this weekend. It’s a legal thriller starring the much-in-demand Nicholas Hoult as a juror in a murder trial whose ethical issues throw his life, and maybe the trial, into doubt. Toni Collette, J. K. Simmons and Kiefer Sutherland round out the sterling cast.
As Bay Area News Group film writer Randy Myers’ review puts it: “As this tense film suggests, the scales of justice are burdened by human flaws — ambitions, special interests and our difficulty in confronting inescapable pasts and presents.” The film, which opened Nov. 1 and is rated PG-13, is screening at AMC Bay Street 16 theaters in Emeryville, the Cinemark Century Mountain View 16, and the AMC Metreon 16 in San Francisco.
There are few things more comforting than a hearty stew on a cold evening, whether that chill stems from weather or worry. The process of chopping, stirring and simmering is meditative. And the flavor of that savory bowl and the aroma wafting through your kitchen will remind you that someone is taking care of you – even if that someone is you. If you’re looking for how-tos, Marin resident Lynda Balslev’s rich and meaty stew brims with hunks of meltingly tender beef and chunky vegetables in a potent, savory broth. Vegetarian? Try Laura McLively’s pumpkin pot roast made with red wine, fresh herbs, mushrooms and a sugar pie pumpkin.
