The “Check-In”: Taking a moment for your mental and physical well-being.

As a Licensed Massage Therapist, it is your job to take care of others. But I wasn’t doing an excellent job in taking care of myself. So I decided every day I would do a “Check-In” before I could move on with my workday.

I was inspired while waiting in multiple Check-In lines on a trip. During my frustration, I asked my husband, “why do we have to do this at every point!”

Since I had the time, I thought about the answer & its place in the travel process. Before you get on a plane to head off to your destination, you must go through the “check-in” process. When you get to your hotel or the vacation resort, you can’t just go to your room or jump into the pool (or, in my case, get my first cocktail). You have to Check-In first. Annoying, yes, but necessary to take a moment to make sure you are going to the right place and things are in order before moving on to that next point or destination. This process spoke to me. Not only did I gain respect for its importance in the travel process, I realized I needed a morning “Diana Check-In” before I moved on to the next part of my day. And I’ve been recommending it to my clients ever since.

Here are some Tips & examples of how I use the “Check-In” in my day.

Tip #1 - Find a place that works for you.

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When, where & how long is all up to you. Different days may require certain places. There is no right or wrong place. I try to find a somewhere where I can sit still for about 10-20 minutes before heading off for work. I can sit in a quiet place or zone out in a crowd. Sometimes it was in my car, other times it was waiting for a train. I’ve done it sitting alone in a busy coffee shop, and when weather permits, I go down to the beach near my home.

The “Where” is what works for you. It’s about finding those moments with yourself. Now I know 10/20 minutes doesn’t sound like a long time, but you will be amazed how time slows down when your body and mind are still.

Tip #2 - Try a "Check-In" on your emotional state.

I ask myself, “How am I feeling?” Every day isn’t going to be roses and sunshine. And for those days I’m a little off or working through something, I want to be aware of it. I don’t want to put that baggage on the people I come into contact with (family or clients). Instead, by acknowledging it, I can figure out my next move. Maybe that means taking more time to sit still or even making time to talk to someone about it.

Tip #3 - Try a "Check-In" on your physical state.

I ask myself, “How does my body feel?” Does anything feel off? I’m 50, so something new is always hurting or changing. By staying on top of it, I can decide if I need to address something in my wellness routine or something I need to speak with my doctor.

"It's better to prevent an illness than to have to treat it. That's why regular checkups are essential." – Healthline.com article "How often should you see your doctor for a checkup?"

Tip #4 - It's ok to take some time and celebrate yourself.

I also use this time to have a “Yay Me!” Moment. We take plenty of time being hard on ourselves. We seem to find the time to be critical of something we did. But when was the last time you took time out of your day to show yourself appreciation & gratitude. I didn’t do it enough. So I decided to make sure I make the time, even for a moment, to celebrate and “big up” myself for an achievement.

Make the time for your physical and mental health.

The Check-In might not be my favorite thing when I travel, but it has become my favorite part of my wellness journey. It wasn’t an easy process to add to my day. But I decided to take the time for my physical and mental health.

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