Using Body Check-ins to Reflect on Stress

Introduction

Whether you're an educator in the classroom or an edupreneur (or both!), it's not uncommon for stress and anxiety to get the best of you. Imagine what an informal check-in could do to help keep that from happening. In this article, I'll show you how to use body check-ins as a tool for reflection on how stress is affecting your life and health—and how to use that information to take action toward getting a better handle on your situation.

A body check-in is a simple way to reflect on your emotions.

A body check-in is a simple way to reflect on your emotions. It can be used as a tool to manage stress levels and process emotions.

In this article, we'll cover:

• What a body check-in is

• Why it's useful

• How to do your own body check-in

What are body check-ins?

Body check-ins are a way to reflect on your emotions and process them. They can be used to manage stress levels, as well as help process emotions and thoughts. Body check-ins can be done at any time, in any place. They are a simple way of getting in touch with how you feel physically, which will then allow you to connect the emotional and physical states.

There are many reasons why we feel stressed out: work, relationships/family life/friends, health concerns such as money issues or illness/injury; being too busy; social media pressures e.g feeling like we need to post something interesting every day (even when there isn’t anything interesting worth posting). All these things can cause us stress!

Why should we incorporate body check-ins?

Body check-ins help us to become aware of what is going on in our body. This allows us to connect with ourselves and notice how we are feeling physically. When we are stressed out, this can be difficult to do because our minds tend to be racing with thoughts about the things causing us stress. Body check-ins allow us to take a step back from these thoughts so that we are able to see them clearly, without being caught up in them.

How do body check-ins work?

Body check-ins can be an effective way to manage stress levels and process emotions. Here's how they work:

• Body check ins are a simple, quick (usually less than 5 minutes) way to help you feel more in control of your emotions.

• You begin by sitting comfortably or lying down, closing your eyes, and focusing on the breath as it flows in and out of you. As you breathe, focus on the sensation of the air traveling through your nose or mouth into your body and then back out again. You may notice different feelings along the way — maybe it feels cool, maybe warm — but don't get caught up in analyzing these sensations too much; simply enjoy them for what they are without judging them as good or bad.

• Once you've established this connection between yourself and the rest of the world around you through breathing deeply for several minutes (or even longer), move onto other parts of your body like arms/hands/legs/feet—anywhere else that feels tense! This part will probably take less than 5 minutes total since most people hold tension primarily in just a few spots at once rather than all over their bodies simultaneously like we think sometimes happens when we're stressed out from work deadlines looming overhead...

Where should I do them?

You should do check-ins in a quiet place where you can be alone and comfortable. This doesn’t have to be your bedroom or living room, but it should be somewhere that feels safe and private so that you don’t feel self-conscious about doing them.

For example, I like doing them in the bathroom because it’s the one room in my apartment that no one else uses (except for maybe my dog). Also, it has a door so I don't have to worry about being interrupted by other people.

When to do a body check-in?

The next time you feel stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, frustrated, angry, sad or happy (or even if you’re feeling calm and relaxed), try taking a body check-in. If it helps bring your attention to your physical state and the present moment—no matter what emotion you’re experiencing—then it might be worth trying out.

Before you start a body check-in, note the time and date.

When you're ready to start a body check-in, note the time and date. This can be helpful for keeping track of your progress, as well as noting any changes in your stress levels over time.

Next, remember to take a few deep breaths. This helps get your mind focused on the present moment rather than letting it jump around from thought to thought. Then ask yourself:

• What am I feeling right now? (For example: "I'm feeling anxious." Or: "I'm having trouble concentrating.")

• How strongly do I feel that emotion? (On a scale of 1-10.) If you're not sure how strongly you actually do feel something, consider asking yourself what would have to happen for this emotional state or condition to change into another one—and then rate that emotional state accordingly! For instance: if someone said something bad about me but nothing changed other than my expectation that they'd say something nice about me instead... Well then maybe I guess I don't really care about their opinion after all? Now tell me again how much difference does their opinion make in my life? And so on...

What do I need to do one?

To get started, you'll need to find a quiet place where you can be comfortable. You'll also want to have a pen and paper handy as well as an alarm clock or timer. A journal or notebook is optional but it may be useful later on if you want to reflect on the insights that came up for you during your check-ins. Finally, having a phone with you will allow for easy note taking throughout the exercise.

How long do they take?

Though the length of a body check-in largely depends on the person, it can be as short or as long as you need it to be. Self-care is about doing what works for you, so don't worry about how long other people take. Many people find that 5 minutes is plenty of time to reflect and center themselves before they return to their daily activities; others may prefer 30 minutes or more. It's up to you!

You might want to set a timer if you're new at this kind of mindfulness practice, but once you get used to them and find your groove, there's no need for one—you'll know when it's time for another check-in because your body will tell you!

General tips for body check-ins.

• Body check-ins are a good way to get in touch with your emotions. They're also a great tool for processing emotional triggers, managing stress levels and developing an awareness of your physical body.

• You can do body check-ins anywhere, at any time. You don't have to be sitting in front of the computer or wearing special clothes or doing any other specific activity. Just take a few minutes out of each day and focus on what's happening inside yourself at that moment. Try to notice everything from your thoughts and feelings down through your muscles and bones until you reach the very center of yourself—your heart or spirit if you believe there is such a thing!

• Body check-ins are safe because they provide us with an opportunity to learn about ourselves without judgment from anyone else around us who might otherwise question our motives behind doing them instead trying their best not let

Take 3 deep breaths to centre yourself, then ask yourself these questions: What am I feeling? Where do I feel it in my body? How big or small does it feel? What would make me feel better? Is there anything I can do to improve this feeling?

To start this process, you'll want to take a few deep breaths and center yourself. Once you're ready, ask yourself these questions:

• What am I feeling? Where do I feel it in my body? How big or small does it feel?

• What would make me feel better? Is there anything I can do to improve this feeling?

Conclusion

Body check ins are a great way to reflect on your emotions, and they can help you better understand how stress affects you. We hope that this article has helped you to learn more about this technique, and we wish you the best of luck with implementing it into your daily life!