“I know you’ve been busy, but how are you holding up after the big move?” “How are you holding up post-graduation?” “I heard that your husband is ill. I wanted to call and see how you’re holding up. ” “How are you holding up after the funeral?”

“I got laid off last Thursday. My boss called me in for a meeting in the morning, and I got this weird vibe that something was up. He said…” “Not going to lie, it’s been really tough lately. My sister was hospitalized last week, and we found out she’s really sick…” “Things could be better. I’ve been struggling with these intense nightmares that keep me up at night. I’ve had them since childhood, but they’re affecting my work now…” “It’s been okay. I don’t want to delve into all the details, but I’m getting out of a funk. ”

“I’ve never experienced a breakup like this before. How do you get over a major breakup, and what’s the best way to get over him?” “Do you know anyone who has severe anxiety? Or, do you know any ways to cope with it?” “How do you juggle multiple projects at work, especially with tight deadlines? Do you use any apps or tools?” “Could you compile a small list of resources for me?”

“I’m not going to lie, I’m really going through it right now. My mental health has been deteriorating, and it has been a struggle to get out of bed in the morning. . . ” “I’ve been super stressed since graduation. I have no idea what my next move is, and I feel like everyone my age has their life together…” “To be honest, it has been an absolute nightmare taking care of my toddler. Not only physically, running around and juggling work, but also emotionally…” “The divorce has been harder than I expected. It’s really challenging managing my emotions about it, especially around the kids…”

“I’m doing great. Thank you for asking. ” “It’s Monday, so I’m hanging in there. ” “I’m fine, thank you. How are you?” “Not too bad. Just the same old, same old. ” “ I’ve been better, but thanks for asking. ”

Generally, you wouldn’t ask “How are you holding up?” if you didn’t have somewhat of a close relationship with the other person. Don’t feel pressured to ask, “How are you holding up?” if you aren’t comfortable with the other person. It might be more appropriate to state, “let me know if you need anything. ”

In general, avoid responding to “How are you?” with a negative answer; it creates an awkward situation.