In this post, I share a ridiculously simple, free and mobile practice to reduce stress, increase your wellbeing and build resilience in highly sustainable ways. It begins with asking yourself a simple question:
“How are you?”
How many times a day do you ask people how they are?
“How are you?” “How are things?” “Are you well?”
We check in with others about their well-being all the time.
But how often do you check in with yourself: take a breath and ask,
“How are you?”
“What do you need right now?”
Checking in with ourselves regularly is one of the most helpful and productive habits we can build to reduce stress and cultivate and sustain well-being.
In doing so, we take a moment to
1. Notice what is happening in our minds (thoughts) and the emotions and physical sensations present, such as tension in the jaw or shoulders holding stress.
2. Know how to tend to what’s here in skilful ways.
3. Ground and steady ourselves and begin again.
There is a saying in mindfulness:
“Every moment is a new beginning. Every moment is an opportunity to begin again.”
I love this saying because applying it regularly brings immeasurable value to our lives.
We often designate new beginnings to the 1st of January, our birthday, or, if you are Irish and born before 1985, Lent.
Instead, moments are abundant throughout our day, every day, to pause, take a breath, check in with ourselves and ask,
“How are you?”
Notice the thoughts and emotions present, and ask:
“What do I need right now?”
This simple act of pausing is a gateway to self-care, grounding, and aligning with our intentions. It’s a moment of power, a chance to begin again, and a step towards a more mindful and intentional life.
However, if it was that simple, why isn’t everyone doing it?
Well, the answer lies in the very reason why we don’t practice checking in—because most of the time, we are racing through life on autopilot, operating from the same old habitual patterns, thoughts, and behaviours without even realising it and believing, “That’s just the way I am; I can’t help it.”
When the truth is, you can help it and help yourself. You can transform your day and cultivate peacefulness. By checking in with yourself regularly, you develop new habits that support healthy experiences and enhance your well-being.
Anytime & Anywhere
The beauty of a self-check-in practice is that it is entirely mobile. You don’t need to lay out the meditation cushion, light candles, or play soothing music. You can check in at your desk, at traffic lights, in a meeting, or even in the restroom.
Here are a few helpful and straightforward ideas for building, developing, and sustaining your self-check in practice.
1. Set reminders on your phone to pause and check in with yourself—for example, schedule intervals every two hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
2. At home, place a sticker on the fridge reminding yourself to check in.
3. Place another on your bedside table, on the dashboard of your car and your laptop or desktop.
Checking in with yourself regularly is a ridiculously simple way to stay present and sustain your well-being and self-nourishment. Embrace the idea that every moment is a new beginning, and give yourself the gift of checking in. This small but significant habit can bring immeasurable value to your life, helping you stay connected with your needs, cultivate intentional living, and experience a deeper sense of well-being and contentment.
Let me know how this practice goes for you or if you have your own practice for cultivating presence throughout your day. I would love to hear about your practices.
Mindfully,
Hilary.
How can I help?
If you would like help building the skills that nurture your well-being and create more peacefulness, steadiness, and happiness in your daily life, get in touch. My mindfulness-based coaching programmes are tailored specifically to ways that help you live skillfully and cultivate joy, fulfilment and self-realisation.
If your organisation would benefit from learning how to enhance clarity, communication, and progressiveness, get in touch. Together, we can devise a tailored program to grow a culture of compassion throughout your organisation and build sustainable well-being, growth and flourishing for your employees.
