Feeling Off But Don’t Know Why? Try This 5-Step Check-In

We’ve all had those days where we feel flat, irritable, teary, or just off. Maybe you find yourself crying and you don’t know why. Maybe you're exhausted by 3pm or shaming yourself for craving sugar—even though you’ve done “everything right.”

But what if those symptoms aren’t random?

What if they’re your body’s way of asking for support… and you just need a better way to listen?

That’s why I use something I call The Toddler Test.

Your body is a lot like a toddler—it can’t speak to you in words, so it speaks in symptoms. And just like you wouldn’t shame a toddler for being cranky, you wouldn’t ignore the signs. You’d check for five basic things:

• Are they tired?

• Are they hungry or thirsty?

• Do they need connection or comfort?

• Have they moved or played outside?

• Are their basic needs being met?

And your body is no different.

If you're feeling emotional “for no reason,” it could be that you're emotionally depleted—not broken. Maybe you’re tired of doing things you don’t want to do. Or you’ve been so connected to everyone else, you've disconnected from yourself.

So before blaming your body—or blaming yourself—pause.
Run through the Toddler Test.

Then choose one loving action:
→ A 10-minute rest
→ A nourishing meal
→ A walk in the sun
→ A moment of self-connection

This simple check-in has changed the way I support my body—and I see the impact with my patients every single day.

✨ Your symptoms aren’t the problem—they’re the signal.
You just need to know how to listen.

Want to hear how to use the Toddler Test with symptoms like fatigue, cravings, skin issues, PMS or mood swings? Tune into Episode 24 of the podcast: Do Your Symptoms Pass the Toddler Test?

Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.