Reflect upon your own mental health and learn about the techniques that can help you

Isn’t this all just fluffy ‘mindfulness’ nonsense anyway?

So how are you feeling today? Are you ok? But really, are you ok?

How many times does somebody ask us if we’re ok simply out of politeness
knowing full well the answer will be fine or all good, even though perhaps
there is something not quite right?

I see this exercise as my own personal check in that probes one more time
and ask – but really, is everything ok?

I almost hear myself answer back “well I’m glad you’ve asked!”

I don’t know about you but I have a real tendency to simply shrug off things
that might challenge or upset me by sweeping things under the carpet or
referring back to the dreaded man up phrase. I would continue to silently
absorb more pressure, more work, more bills, more stress at home and I
would rarely check in with myself to see if the load was getting too much.

I was close to burnout and it wasn’t until I checked in with myself that I could
see this coming down the track and now I was aware of it, it was on me to do
something about it.

I decided to learn about mental health awareness so I could look after myself
and others in a more empathic way. It can be easy to just charge on regardless
but we must take time to ask of ourselves – are you ok, really?

I found the introduction of transitions would really help when shifting between
roles and responsibilities. A simple yet deliberate step where I’d take a longer
walk home, or a walk from my home office round the block before entering
back in to ‘being Dad’.

I’m really keen to not take work to home or home to work in a way that is
controlled by the tasks and not decided by me. Transitions are a simple
addition to my routine that help me shift focus, park my stresses and
contribute to bringing the best of me to home or work.

But what can you discover to help you check in?