Is your mind racing?  Is your body tense, contracted?  What feelings might be in the driver's seat?  The practice of checking in with yourself, noting how you are feeling, what mood you are in and what you are thinking, can help you become familiar with the landscape that is you. 

 By becoming aware of what is driving us at any particular moment we pause, and we gain insight into our own reactivity.  This awareness provides us with a choice as to how we want to respond to what is happening in and around us, as opposed to walking around on auto pilot.  While we cannot control all that happens any given day we do have a choice about how we respond it which can prevent stress and burnout.