Guide
Building a private check-in habit
Public storytelling is powerful. A private check-in habit is quieter — and often more useful for catching patterns early.
Keep the ritual tiny
Pick one anchor: after coffee, after work, or before sleep. Log a mood in under two minutes. If you miss a day, restart without streak shame.
Between Us daily check-ins are built for this private loop. They are not published to Stories and are not the editorial Journal.
Capture context, not essays
Add one line of context: “argument with roommate,” “skipped lunch,” “good walk.” Context makes weekly review meaningful.
Save long processing for a Spill when you want community perspective — or a longer private note when you do not.
Review weekly, act on one insight
Once a week, scan for repeats. Choose one small adjustment: sleep, a boundary, a conversation, or less caffeine before hard talks.
Habits fail when review becomes self-critique. Treat the log like weather data — useful, not moral.
Combine with community carefully
If a check-in pattern points to a relational issue, you might later Spill a careful anonymous version. You do not need to post every mood.
Privacy is a feature. Use the audience when you want one — not by default.