Stress Awareness Month

With taxes due, the weather constantly changing from hot to cold, and final exams and report deadlines for students, April can be a pretty stressful month. Taxes can be so complicated. The shifts in temperature and spring pollen can make you sick. And cramming for a test is overwhelming. So it makes sense then that April is Stress Awareness Month. Founded in 1992, this month is dedicated to increasing public awareness about the causes, effects, and management of stress. In honor of this month and cause, Night is Alive has curated a playlist of gentle, relaxing jazz that will help you unwind and unload some of your stress.

Lonnie Plaxico, Camille Thurman & others – Free

I don’t know about you but I tend to get stressed when I’m sick. Getting sick one day isn’t the end of the world, but I hate staying home from work. It makes me feel like I’m shirking my responsibilities and I feel thrown off my routine. Then if I don’t get better in a day or two, I feel even more off-kilter and stressed. What am I missing at work? Am I going to be able to catch up? Instead of letting myself recover, I stress myself out, which makes me sick for longer.

Instead of stressing though, what you really should do when you’re sick is relax and let yourself be free to rest and recover. If you’re not freely resting with no stress then you won’t get better. So if you’ve got spring fever this month then why don’t you curl up in a warm blanket on the couch with a hot cup of tea and listen to this song. Let Thurman’s voice guide you to a place of freedom and R&R.

John Di Martino, Joe Magnarelli, Wayne Escoffery & others – Hudson River Wind

The wind and spring storms may be raging outside your window but that doesn’t mean stress needs to be raging inside your heart. Take refuge in your warm cozy home and don’t let the winds and tides of the world throw you off balance. If you’re feeling stressed there’s nothing wrong with canceling plans with friends and staying home for a night. Don’t let the FOMO get to you! Just turn on this tune, from Night is Alive’s album Old New Borrowed and Blue and ease yourself into a warm bathtub.

WJ3 All-Stars – Cry Me A River

Sometimes life can just feel like too much. How are we supposed to get everything on our to-do lists done? In just one day, how are we supposed to sleep eight hours, eat healthy meals, exercise for at least thirty minutes, work, talk to friends and family, and make time for our hobbies? Sometimes it just doesn’t seem possible, does it? Sometimes it can be so stressful that all you can do is break down and cry. Well, that’s okay. Sometimes you need a good cry; a good cry can be a healthy, cathartic release of stress. So, this April, turn on this song, from Night is Alive’s album Lover and Love Songs and cry yourself a river.

Lorca Hart Trio – Here’s That Rainy Day

All the April rain might get you down and make you feel stressed. Maybe the rain and storms are making you have to cancel plans. Maybe you and your friend were supposed to go for a walk in the park today but it’s raining so you have to pivot. You might be angry–it’s your only day off!–but the best way to avoid stress is to let go of the things that you can’t control. You can’t control the rain, so why bother getting upset about it? Instead of fighting against it, why not try and enjoy the rest and relaxation that a rainy day has to offer? Maybe you and your friend can stay home and watch a movie instead? Or you can stay cozy in bed and binge-read that novel that’s been on your shelf!

Bill Cunliffe, Martin Wind & Tim Horner – Standing By The Window Waving Goodbye

There are many ways to alleviate stress: deep breathing, meditation, yoga. Or maybe journaling is your thing, or running, or talking things out with a good friend. No matter what your strategy is, it’s important that you have a stress alleviation toolbox at your disposal. That way, whenever you’re feeling stressed you know the steps you can take to slough it off. Before you know it, you’ll be standing by the window waving goodbye to your stress!

Check out this music and more on Night is Alive’s albums page!

written by Jacqueline Knirnschild

Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash