May is Mental Health Awareness Month
21 Questions to Ask Yourself About How Life is Going So Far
Today it is no secret that our mental health is just as crucial as physical health. While we must take care of our mental health all year round, we often take a closer look in May—when we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month.
At LunaJoy, we’re in the business of helping women shine and discover their best selves. Creating that reality begins with the awareness of where we’re starting in terms of the many layers of our being. Physical, emotional, mental, behavioral, and spiritual health can contribute to total wellness, but how do these measure up? Are we aware of each of these parts of ourselves, and how much time do we spend addressing the needs identified in each?
Before you dive in, remember that our professionals are always here to help
21 Question Mental Health Check-in
The ideas of mental health and self-care are intimately tied. For each dimension of life, there are actions we can take that influence our functioning for the better. So, we’ll begin this blog with a check-in for each part of you. Get out a piece of paper, open your notes app, number those lines and actually answer each question fully. This is your time to be real with yourself.
Physical Health
How are you moving/exercising? Do you have a daily practice? Weekly?
How do you feel about the food and nutrition choices you’ve been making?
Where does sleep fall on your priority list?
Emotional Wellbeing
How clear are you able to be in expressing yourself? Are you clear about boundaries?
How do you tend to cope with the challenges you face? Are there any patterns (healthy or harmful) you’ve noticed?
What qualities or characteristics are you trying to build within yourself?
Social Functioning
How well connected to your support system are you?
Are you and others able to respect boundaries in relationships?
What relationships in your life are you investing in?
Professional Profiency
Are you happy with the way that you earn a living? Are there aspects of the job that you have control over that could be improved?
How are you growing as a professional?
Are you able to easily distinguish between parts of your life or does work tend to blend into play?
Environmental Existence
Are you able to feel safe and relaxed in your environment?
Are you happy with the flow of the household and division of labor?
Are you living within your means (time, budget, responsibility) or do you need to delegate?
Analog Engagement
Do you have something you enjoy doing that allows you to unplug and get lost in your own world? Whether that’s solitary or with others?
How aligned do you feel with your values, ethics and spiritual nature?
Are you taking steps (however small) towards the life you’re trying to create?
Digital Wellness
Do you recognize how you are impacted by social media and making intentional choices with the time you spend online?
Do you fall into the trap of hate scrolling, doomscrolling, or comparing your life to what you see on social media?
What boundaries have you set for yourself around following the news, and do you find that it’s a good balance for you?
Reflecting on your Answers
How did you do? Did you read through each and every line and give yourself a moment to process? Good—that’s the first step. It is awareness of where you stand and what these answers indicate that ultimately helps you take care of yourself in the best way possible.
For some of you, this list makes you proud. It’s been a hard couple of years, but your commitment to taking care of yourself has not wavered (or it has, but you worked really hard to find your present balance). That’s great and we are so proud of you!
For others, these questions may inspire guilt, or sadness, or disappointment in how things have been going so far, and that’s also okay! These are adaptive emotions that have a message to share.
● Guilt says that you’re not proud of how you’ve acted (or not acted) in the past, and is urging you to do something different.
● Sadness over a missed opportunity or fading friendship shows how important something or someone is to you.
● Feelings of disappointment belong to your Inner Critic who ultimately has good intentions to try to keep you motivated, although through admittedly often hurtful methods.
None of these are a reason to beat yourself up, but rather a reason to reflect, make a change, and keep going.
Mental health, LunaJoy, and YOU
If you’re recognizing that there are ways your self-care practices could use a boost, we have created a resource just for you! Our 30 Days of Self-Care Guide provides actionable steps that you can take today to refocus and care for your Self. Start today, start the first of next month, or start whenever you stumble across this blog. It doesn’t matter when you begin or even if you follow our guide. It simply matters that you take the time to recognize and care for the awesomeness that is you.
If you're looking for support from one of our licensed clinicians an live in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Alaska, New Jersey, New York, or North Carolina, book an appointment to get started.
