The Power of a Self Check-In

By Karin Brady

February is that in-between month, the year is underway and the pace starts to pick up. It’s easy to move from one thing to the next without stopping to ask how we’re actually going. That’s where a simple self check-in makes a difference.

For me, it’s just a pause. A quiet moment with a cup of tea, or a breath between meetings, where I ask, “How am I travelling?” Sometimes the answer is “tired” or “stretched.” Sometimes it’s “actually, I’m okay.” The point isn’t to fix everything, it’s to notice.

When I skip that check-in, stress builds quietly in the background. When I make space for it, I respond earlier and more kindly, to myself and others.

It doesn’t need to be deep or dramatic. Just one honest question and a small act of care can shift the whole day.