63 Magazine - Issue 4

Listen to podcasts, books,
music—anything to take a
mental break from the work.
“I like that mental disconnection from the
work so that it kind of gives you a little bit
of a break, and that’s also helpful to the
work itself.”
Continue to prioritize your health
throughout the whole campaign.
There are always crazy times throughout
campaigns—they never stop. If you say to
yourself, “I’m just going to quit running
through this busy week,” you will never start
again.
Buffy’s right: sometimes, you really just
need a break. When you’re an organizer, you
almost never get a break; the work is always
on your mind. It’s natural that your brain
will run in circles each time you’re not doing
something, but it will drive you bonkers and
eventually, make you less able to actually
execute the work.
It’s super hard to quiet your mind, so try to
distract it while you’re running. Listen to
something that’s not immediately related to
the work you’re doing every second. It will
help your mind relax for a bit and that short
break will help you to focus more effectively
when you come back to the tasks in front of
you.
Looking for a podcast to listen to? We
suggest The Riveters Podcast! Hosted
by Buffy Wicks and Sally Smith, The
Riveters Podcast is an unfiltered ode
to the good, bad, and hilarious that is
#ladylife in 2016! It constantly gives
props to organizing and is funny,
smart, and uplifting—you’ll love it.
Your health is absolutely vital to your success,
now and in the future. Everywhere you look,
people are going to tell you to give everything
you have to the campaign. That’s all good, but
if you aren’t healthy, you can’t give nearly as
much.
Do not feel guilty for prioritizing your health
at any moment. You can hit your goals and
work hard while still taking a few hours a week
to invest in your mental and physical wellbeing.
Don’t underestimate the power a
run can have on your attitude and
outlook on life. Even if the only time
you have is the 30 minutes between
your last meeting and the start of a
debate, lace up your shoes and get
out there. I saw a great t-shirt during
my last race: “running is cheaper
than therapy.” I swear to you, my
commitment to running has gotten
me through this campaign. Even with
my phone buzzing constantly in my
hand, getting in a few miles and a few
minutes to admire this incredible city
[NYC] gives me just the perspective
I need to sit back down and deal with
my inbox.
—Emily Samsel, surrogates for
Hillary for America