At the start of 2025, each member of the JMAC team set an intention to prioritize their mental health in the year ahead. Now that we’ve reached the halfway mark, we’re pausing to reflect on how those goals are going, what’s changed, and what new practices or insights have emerged along the way. From small daily rituals to big mindset shifts, our team shares their mid-year mental health pulse check. We hope their stories encourage you to check in with yourself, too.
Audree Hernandez, Senior Account Executive
Have you been able to keep your mental health commitment to yourself, and how are you feeling about it?
My commitment was to consistently go to the gym or generally getting my body moving on my challenging days, which I have stayed true to! I feel really good about the progress I’ve made on this mental goal, and I see and feel the difference it makes on my mental health.
What commitment would you like to make to prioritize your mental health for the rest of 2025?
For the rest of 2025, I want to stay in tune with my mind and body, with a focus on two key areas: pushing myself to read more books and staying committed to my creative hobbies. I’m also really focused on only giving time and energy to things I say “hell yes” to and prioritizing my comfort while still challenging myself to stretch.
Casey Burke, Content Writer
Have you been able to keep your mental health commitment to yourself, and how are you feeling about it?
My mental health commitment was to build a consistent sleep schedule and stick to it all year. I’ve managed to do that for most of the year, but there’s still some work to be done as far as waking up and going to bed at a consistent hour.
What commitment would you like to make to prioritize your mental health for the rest of 2025?
On top of getting consistent sleep, I would like to prioritize setting aside time for creative outlets, like writing and playing piano.
Jackson Elrod, Associate Account Executive
Have you been able to keep your mental health commitment to yourself, and how are you feeling about it?
I have certainly gotten better at some of my mental health commitments. I still harp on some bad things more then I should but overall I think I am in a good place for myself. It has been nice realizing things that make me happier than just working and feeling like a robot who can’t differentiate from work and life. I think that is something JMAC does well and needs to be taught in college more. You don’t have to work for 8 hours straight, and it is nice to take 10 mins to relax your brain and get sun or activity.
What commitment would you like to make to prioritize your mental health for the rest of 2025?
Calm down; I worry myself way too much and instantly go to the worst case scenario for most of my problems. I worry about how much work I have to do, but it’s almost never as bad as it seems. There are obviously bigger things I worry about, but I have to take time and separate my mood from how many bylines I’m getting placed.
Joana Joselle Estipona, Executive Assistant
Have you been able to keep your mental health commitment to yourself, and how are you feeling about it?
Yes, I’ve been making a conscious effort to keep my mental health commitment, especially around practicing self-compassion. While it’s still a work in progress, I’ve become more aware of my inner dialogue and have been catching myself when negative self-talk creeps in. It’s not always easy, but I’m learning to treat myself with the same kindness I offer others. This shift is already helping me feel more balanced and grounded, and I’m hopeful that continuing this habit will bring even more positive changes in both my personal and professional life.
What commitment would you like to make to prioritize your mental health for the rest of 2025?
For the rest of 2025, I want to continue committing to being present and conscious in my day-to-day life. Staying grounded in the moment helps me quiet the noise, manage stress better, and fully engage with what truly matters. It’s a simple shift, but it’s been a game changer for my mental well-being—and I want to keep building on that.
John McCartney, APR, Agency Principal
Have you been able to keep your mental health commitment to yourself, and how are you feeling about it?
I feel like I’ve been doing the work and continue to do the work. My commitment to self-compassion has been something I’ve really tried to lean into this year. I won’t say I’ve perfected it (far from it), but I’ve become a lot more aware of the way I talk to myself, especially during high-stress moments. I’m catching those critical thoughts more often and trying to reframe them with a little more kindness and perspective. Journaling has definitely helped—it’s become a space where I can pause, reset, and give myself a little credit instead of jumping straight to judgment. I’m feeling more grounded overall and showing up for myself in a more balanced way, which has had a positive ripple effect in other areas of my life too.
What commitment would you like to make to prioritize your mental health for the rest of 2025?
For the rest of 2025, I want to get better at protecting intentional downtime. I’m realizing that rest isn’t something I can just squeeze in when everything else is done—it needs to be part of the plan. Whether that’s keeping evenings clear, carving out more time to unplug on weekends, or just giving myself permission to take a day and recharge when I need it, I want to be more intentional about creating space to reset. I know how easy it is to stay in go-mode, especially when you’re building something—but I’ve learned that nothing good comes from burnout. So my commitment is to treat rest like the essential part of mental health that it is.
Kaiya Johnson-Williams, PR Intern
Have you been able to keep your mental health commitment to yourself, and how are you feeling about it?
My mental health commitment was to intentionally do at least one thing a day to support my mental health. This can include actions such as journaling, taking an outdoor walk without music, meditation, or attending a therapy session. I feel like I have accomplished this, which makes me very proud. Most days, I complete multiple habits, which feels very rewarding. I also feel the positive change in my mental health with these new habits implemented.
What commitment would you like to make to prioritize your mental health for the rest of 2025?
For the remainder of 2025, I am committing to 5 days of intentional physical activity a week. I want to improve my mental health through physical activities because of the dual benefits. This will also aid in forming the habit of remembering and setting aside time to take for myself that does not include consuming entertainment on a screen. This commitment is important for my mental and physical health.
Monica Iriarte, Human Resources
Have you been able to keep your mental health commitment to yourself, and how are you feeling about it?
Yup–pretty great, in fact. I’ve weathered some challenging storms intact.
What commitment would you like to make to prioritize your mental health for the rest of 2025?
Keep doing what I’m doing but focus it on other parts of my life that I’ve traditionally avoided.