East Bay residents are finding ways to relax before the final stretch of election season

WALNUT CREEK—Election exhaustion is hitting people hard. After two years of non-stop campaigning, it’s over.

Saturday night, some people in Walnut Creek tried to relax for the last part of the election season, but it was difficult.

“Almost everyone I know has frayed nerves, including mine,” says Ariane Michas of Berkeley.

“Definitely worried,” said Tracy Jones of Oakland. “I want it to be over.”

“Frightened, worried because we don’t know what the outcome is going to be,” said Dan Jefferson of Vallejo.

Worried was the most common adjective people used to describe their feelings just days before the general election.

A survey by the American Psychological Association shows that almost 70 percent of Americans are stressed about the election.

Jefferson came to Broadway Plaza for a distraction.

“I’m shopping, doing a little retail therapy,” Jefferson said. “But there are definitely conversations while shopping. It’s on everyone’s mind.”

For Tracy Jones, it was just one of many activities to keep her mind off things.

“We’re trying to stay busy,” Jones said. ‘At least I do. I work a bit on the weekend. Something I don’t normally do.’

But Ariane Michas chooses a different approach.

“I would say just stick to a routine and keep things quiet,” Michas says of how she combats election anxiety. “Don’t drink, that never helps me.”

Regardless of who wins, Michas only hopes for a smooth transition of power.

She says that can be more difficult with all the information available on social media.

“It’s so easy to tunnel vision into only your own views,” she said. “It’s so easy to find a justification for not accepting or accepting an outcome based on how you feel about it. I think there’s just information overwhelm.”

But whatever happens, she’s determined to keep things in perspective.

“Just remember the specifics of your situation: the people who love me still love me, the roof is still over my head, I still live in California where the politics here largely reflect my values ​​and protects my rights,” Michas said.

Everyone agreed that they are ready for the end of this election cycle, because until then it would be one country under total pressure.