How To Do a Mental Health Check-In
Many people move through life on autopilot. We juggle responsibilities, care for others, meet deadlines at work or in school, manage households, and push through stress without taking a moment to ask ourselves an important question: How am I really doing?
Oftentimes, we do not notice how overwhelmed we are until our stress begins affecting sleep, relationships, performance, motivation, or our health. Regular mental health check-ins are an intentional effort to catch warning signs of burnout, emotional numbness, anxiety, depression, or disconnection from yourself and others. Completing a mental health check-in is a quick opportunity to slow down, reflect, be more self-aware, and proactive. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself.
1. How have I honestly been feeling lately? There is no right or wrong answer here. The goal is simply to create awareness without judgment. All of your feelings are valid!
2. What has been weighing heavily on me? This question encourages us to identify the thoughts, worries, responsibilities, or emotions that may be quietly draining our energy. You do not have to carry everything alone! Acknowledging what feels overwhelming is an important step toward caring for your mental health.
3. What brought me joy this week? Make sure you balance heavy thoughts with reflecting on moments of joy. Shifting our attention towards gratitude can emotionally refill us.
4. What is something that I need more of or less of to take care of myself and what is one small step I can take? Maybe you need more sleep and less doom-scrolling before bed. Maybe you are needing more connection with family or friends and less time isolating. Maybe you’re craving a new hobby or a creative outlet. Whatever it is, identifying what’s working and what’s not working is the first step toward making some simple tweaks to boost your mental well-being to make yourself feel even 1% better.
5. How can I show myself kindness. This question encourages us to pause and recognize our humanness, and that you deserve rest, grace, love, and compassion.
One of the biggest misconceptions about mental health is that people should only seek support when things become severe. In reality, counseling can be helpful for everyone at any point. At A Link in Healing LLC, I aim to provide a supportive space for you to address the matters that are most important to you. Together, we will process emotions, create intentional habits, develop healthier boundaries and coping skills, improve self-awareness that support long-term wellness and protect your emotional well-being. You deserve support and your mental health matters every step of the way!
You are always welcome to schedule a free consultation, or get started by calling 248-800-8848 or by sending an email at amy@linkinhealing.com. I look forward to supporting your healing journey soon!