It’s Election Day! Here are your 17 agenda items for today

Anxious? Excited? Nervous?

Who can blame you? We’ve all been told that this may well be the most important election of our lifetimes. Also, that we should vote like our life depends on it— because it does.

We’re not disputing it. Neither are we making light of the act of voting which is, clearly, our superpower as citizens. But sometimes we just wish these serious matters were drafted in lighter terms, and drawn in cheerier colors. Especially on this Election Day.

So, to follow the brilliant Toni Morrison‘s advice — “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it” — we’ve created that for ourselves (and you) in the form of this 17-point graphic agenda.

And — because it’s us, after all — it’s got some useful information, too.

1. Wake up.

2. Get yourself a cup of something hot and bracing.

3. Stare into your closet, wondering what you’re going to wear to the polls.

4. Realize it doesn’t matter what you decide to wear because it is brisk and you are just going to cover it up with a coat anyway.

5. Do you know where you are going?

6. Check the time.

7. Okay, you are finally on your way out the door.

8. Wait a minute … did you forget the most important thing? Go back inside and get it.

9. Whew! You made it to your polling place.

10. Hmmm. Looks like it might be a while.

11. Uh, oh. Some chucklehead is acting up. Actually, it’s worse than just acting up …

12. Finally! You are in the voting booth and you fill out your ballot.

14. Get your “I voted” sticker.

15. During the day, check the news but don’t obsess, because this thing won’t be settled tonight, amirite?

16. Serve yourself something hot and soothing.

17. Admire the way democracy works.