Daily stress: the 24-hour human ritual?
Daily stress is almost as ubiquitous as breathing air these days. The 24-hour day is rarely enough to do all the work, have enough fun, and pay attention to your bodily needs of sleep, food and rest. And that doesn’t even take into consideration any additional emotional needs or mental stimulation needs we all experience on a regular basis. Yes daily stress has reached a critical mass proportion in modern day times.
Take a Monday Music sound break, and remember that you can choose to say goodbye to daily stress, if not forever, then in a series of moments after moments. En Vogue’s “What a Difference a Day Makes” from the EV3 album, tells us how:
“I think I’ll run a few laps, An’ then I’ll take a hot bath and dash to my favorite hair salon… Now with a fresh do I did the nails and the feet too. It’s time to go on shoppin’ spree….Spoil myself with something lovely…”
Give daily stress the boot; go have some fun!
Perhaps everybody can’t go for a quick jog around the track. And it isn’t practical to always and only escape daily stress by disappearing into shopping or excessive indulgences. However, on occasion, with discernment, this can be exactly what you need to turn a corner. Some, but not all, of the time, it cans good to allow yourself a treat like ice cream. A steady diet of ice cream treats would not be good, nor is it a moderated approach to work-play balance. It is in the “stuffing” of needs and emotions where daily stress can really take its toll.
Generally speaking, pay attention to your needs and moods. But pay special attention to your body. Does it need exercise? Have you been too sedentary? Have you been too rigid with regards to all work and no play? Would some small form of pleasure really rock your world? Shifting your daily routine may also shift your daily stress levels out of the danger zone. And with repeated practice, your daily stress could be reduced to a minimal level.
The key is probably discernment, and non-attachment to particular outcomes….to flow when daily stress makes itself known, to flow in between options with flexibility and agility. “What a Difference a Day Makes” points in the direction of managing daily stress.
Use the Grounded Relating Music Challenge today, and every Monday, as a weekly practice to stay present to yourself.
Full lyrics for “What a Difference a Day Makes” by En Vogue on the EV3 album:
What a difference a day makes
What a difference
Six a clock in the mornin’
Oh, a new day’s born
Can’t wait to get my day started
I think I’ll run a few laps
An’ then I’ll take a hot bath
And dash to my favorite hair salon
What a difference a day makes
What a difference
What a difference a day makes
What a difference
Now with a fresh do
I did the nails and the feet too
It’s time to go on shoppin’ spree
Spoil myself with something lovely
Oh, I can’t forget
I got a date uptown, ’bout six
I’m lookin’ great and I’m feelin’ fine
It’s good to be off work some time
What a difference a day makes
What a difference
What a difference a day makes
What a difference
Back at home again
Right where I first left off
I’m glad I had some fun today
‘Cause I sure was stressin’ out
Feelin’ as high as ever
Lookin’ better
All I needed was one day
When you just can’t take it
Make time to shake it
What a difference a day makes
What a difference
What a difference a day makes
What a difference
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