Keep Your Mental Well-being in Check with selfcheckout.me

Editor’s note: Since writing this article, selfcheckout.ME started to be used by a new .MEr. We look forward to seeing just what they will accomplish! However, you can read our story about a similar .MEr here.

Considering that around 47 million Americans experience a certain mental health condition every year, finding the time to monitor, assess and look after your psychological well-being should be high on your priority list. In our everyday environments, we are exposed to overwhelming amounts of stress. While monitoring the levels of stress we are exposed to might fall short on our to-do lists, a group of proactive young people has thought of a solution. 

Just like you use apps to track almost everything – from managing your business appointments to making sure there’s enough milk in the fridge (I sometimes wonder how on earth did we survive the period notoriously known as the land-before-smart-homes era) – using a device that is with you at all times to keep your mental health in check seems like the most logical thing to do.

That’s why it’s about time you became familiar with selfcheckout.me.

What is SelfcheCkout.ME?

Self Checkout is an iOS app that allows its users to monitor their feelings and moods on a day-to-day basis with the help of trackers, check-ins, lists, reminders, and various self-care suggestions. So, not only will this amazing app help you track your mental health and wellness, but it will also prove to be very useful in improving your mental well-being in general. 

The biggest advantage of using an app such as Self Checkout is the opportunity to learn more about yourself through learning about your feelings, what is it that triggers them, and how to take care of yourself in the best possible way. 

The Self Checkout Story

It may come as a surprise, but the Self Checkout app was created by a group of students who were participating in the Emerging Media program at Ithaca College. 

The idea first came to life in 2015 when Bridget Strawn, one of the three key members from the app’s development team, was working on a final project of the Topics in Media Technology course. Soon enough, the other two core Self Checkout product development team members joined – Belen Martinez and Evan Sobkowicz. 

Together, they worked hard on the development of the Self Checkout app – conducting both user research and market research, exploring possible business opportunities, optimizing the app, increasing user experience and ease of access, as well as customizing and fine-tuning the app’s features. Eventually, the first version of the app was launched in April 2016. 

Throw in some carefully crafted marketing materials, personalized .ME domain name, sleek design and eye-catching visualizations, no wonder the user base started growing rapidly. With more than 13,000 downloads, around 2,000 monthly active users, and nearly 400 check-ins in a single day, it seems that the Self Checkout team sure knows what they are doing!

It turns out that neither Belen, Bridget or Evan ever dreamed of achieving this success when they began working on this project. The trio, graduated with full-time jobs, believe that Self Checkout should always remain available on iOS App Store and will be free to use for all those who might benefit from the app’s service. In the foreseeable future, the app will receive minor updates, in order to best adapt its services to the needs of the users. 

How Can Self Checkout Help You?

Being an app that helps track your mental health and well-being, Self Checkout enables you to record and monitor your mood over time, along with the intensity of your feelings and the reasons that provoked such reaction. Such a monitoring system makes you stop for a moment, take a deep breath and thoroughly analyze your emotions. It makes you dig deeper than you normally would, which in turn leads to increased self-awareness, a better understanding of yourself, your feelings, and your experiences. 

The app makes all of that possible by giving you useful perspectives and insights into various typical thinking traps and mood triggers that are typically affecting your everyday mood. Such knowledge is crucial when it comes to recognizing and avoiding both external and internal stimuli responsible for setting off your negative feelings. Once you learn how to take care of your inner self and improve your mental shape, you will certainly feel better. 

However, keep in mind that the Self Checkout app can’t provide any expert advice on topics related to more serious mental health issues, although it does offer a list of professional counselling groups you should contact for receiving further assistance.

Self Checkout Features

The list of the featured is as follows: 

• Keep your mood in check – Track your mood and make notes of how you’re feeling throughout the day.
• Track your triggers – Set aside some time to analyze and describe the reason(s) behind your emotions, so you can gain valuable insights into what’s making you feel excited, happy, sad, anxious, etc.
• Create a self-care checklist – Note down everything you can do in a single day to help you feel better. Cross the activity off once it’s completed. 
• Monitor your check-in history – Keep track of your previous check-ins by analyzing and comparing graphs and log details.
• Create a data spreadsheet – Export your data as a spreadsheet so you can easily share it with your mental health counsellors.
• Receive notifications – Set up notifications so you don’t forget to track your feelings and complete your self-care checklist regularly. 
• Access mental health resources – Browse a list of professionals that can help you address more serious mental health conditions.

So, have you already downloaded Self Checkout?

Has it ever happened to you that you simply feel a bit low with no apparent reason? Like a victim of frequent, totally uncalled for mood swings? Or as if you’re not sure what makes you feel good anymore? 

If the answer to at least one of these questions is yes, Self Checkout might be exactly what you need to learn how to cope with your emotions and improve your mental wellness. After all, taking better care of your psychological well-being is essential for getting to know the real you. And let’s face it – that’s a skill we should all learn how to master.