Choose recharge, not escape

Once upon a season of immense stress (producing The Chainsmokers live set at Summit One Vanderbilt), I told myself something along these lines.

“Choose to recharge, not to escape.”

In the throes of a big production, it’s all too easy to pick up the phone, open social media, and enjoy a few minutes of escape. But this doesn’t do much to reduce stress. In many cases, it increases it. 

Choosing to recharge, on the other hand, is an important component of stress management. A short scroll and a short stroll both take the same amount of time. Which one will help you put your life in perspective? Which one will improve your physiological state of being? Which one will reduce stress? 

This train of thought was jump-started by a quote from one of the Earl of Chesterfield’s letters to his son. “I recommend to you to take care of the minutes; for hours will take care of themselves. I am very sure, that many people lose two or three hours every day, by not taking care of the minutes.”