For the past 8 months, COVID-19 has impacted the lives of Texans. In the midst of uncertainty and adjusting to new
normalcy, we often forget to check-in with our mental health, our energy level and those of our community team members . Texas A&M Agrilife Extension’s Dr. Lakshmi Mahadevan introduced the Working on Wellness Environments team to the importance of using the battery check to assist with self check-ins.
The Battery Check was posted at blessingmanifesting.com by this social media blogger to check-in for self-care purposes and know when and how to recharge. Dr. Mahadevan has adapted the graphic into a tool for use in early child-care conferences and in the local community. Dr. Mahadevan suggests the battery check is useful because it is very visual. Finding the words that explain how we feel can be difficult, but having a visual can help us find those words. The battery check should be used as needed and could be helpful to gauge communities and audiences. For personal use, the battery check can bring awareness; knowing when you need time to regroup for your mental health.
The battery check can help you check-in with your communities or audiences, the battery check can be used as an ice breaker or even a teaching tool if you are using as a way to check-in with people. Dr. Mahadevan says silence after introducing the battery check is not uncommon and, it is okay if someone isn’t participating. When working in large groups, the battery check can be used as a self-check breakout activity.
Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it especially important for self and community check-ins. When talking to groups and they are open to discussing how they are feeling, Dr. Mahadevan suggests reassuring and reaffirming that this is a safe space and everything mentioned will remain confidential. It is important to be empathetic and give everyone time to respond if they do not feel comfortable sharing at the moment. For additional information about mental health and mental health during the holidays, are available here.