Self-Check Check-In

So, here’s the deal, how often do we go-go-go only to crash (or crumble) for no apparent reason? The point of this post is to remind us that we are not crashing for no reason at all, we are crashing because we have not taken time to say, “Hi, how are you?” to ourselves.

In my other world, I’m a school social worker. Twice a week I run a social skills group for middle school students. At the beginning of each group, I have student’s complete a “Self-Check/Check-In”. I ask students to answer a few short questions. I can stand from my school social worker point of view and spout of 100 reasons for why it is important for students to do this check-in on a regular basis. However, I rarely complete the check-in myself. Then, at the end of the week, or the middle of the day, I’m finding myself exhausted, and irritable, for “no reason”. I guarantee that if I’d checked in with myself at least weekly, I’d experience burn out much less often.

Therefore, I give you (and myself) a challenge. Check-in with yourself, daily, if not daily at least weekly. Answer these questions for yourself. Track your mood for a month and see if saying, “Hi, how are you? What do you need?” to yourself periodically is helpful.

The Check-In:
1. I am proud of myself because:

2. Today, my favorite coping skill is:

3. Right now I need:

4. To take care of myself, I will.

5. Today’s affirmation: “I am…”

Okay, let me know how it goes: tasha@growingsage.org. I’ll let you know how it goes for me!

In Kindness.

Tasha Novotny, LICSW