Mental Health Check-In: 7 Questions to Ask Yourself Weekly
- Self-Care Recipe
- May 12
- 3 min read
How are you, really?
Not the automatic "fine" or the distracted "busy" — but the kind of answer that bubbles up when you take a quiet moment to listen to yourself.
In a world that glorifies constant motion, it’s easy to overlook your mental and emotional well-being.
That’s why creating a weekly check-in — just you and your thoughts — can be a powerful way to stay grounded, self-aware, and emotionally healthy.
This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about listening to yourself.
Here are some gentle yet powerful questions you can ask yourself every week to stay in tune with your inner world.
🌀 1. What emotions have been most present for me this week?
Take a breath and scan your week. Were you anxious? Excited? Numb? Peaceful? Maybe a mix?
This question helps you track emotional patterns and notice shifts. You don’t need to judge the feelings — just name them. That alone can be healing.
“Naming an emotion begins the process of taming it.” — Dr. Dan Siegel
📉 2. What’s been draining me lately?
Maybe it’s a task, a person, a space, or a thought loop. Energy drains often go unnoticed until burnout hits.
Identifying your emotional and mental energy leaks helps you get clear on what to say no to next week.
Ask yourself:
What have I been dreading?
What leaves me feeling tired or frustrated afterward?
📈 3. What’s been giving me energy or joy?
What made you feel alive, calm, or content — even for a moment?
It could be as small as drinking your coffee slowly, laughing during a call, or taking a walk after dinner.
The goal: notice the good, so you can repeat the good.
🧠 4. Have I been tending to my basic needs?
Am I getting enough sleep?
Have I been moving my body?
Am I eating regularly and nourishing foods?
Have I had moments of stillness or rest?
Sometimes, poor mental health isn’t about deep trauma — it’s about skipping the basics for too long.
💬 5. What have I been saying to myself this week?
Our internal dialogue shapes everything. Check in on your self-talk:
Has it been kind, harsh, critical, or encouraging?
Would I speak to a friend the way I’ve been speaking to myself?
If your inner voice has been cruel, this is your reminder: you deserve gentleness, especially from yourself.
📚 6. What am I avoiding, and why?
Avoidance is often a clue. It could point to fear, overwhelm, perfectionism, or pain.
Whether it’s a hard conversation, a decision, or an emotion — bring it into the light. You don’t have to solve it yet. Just notice it.
💖 7. What do I need more of next week?
This question is about intentional living. Based on your check-in, what would support you next week?
Maybe it’s:
More sleep
A digital detox
Time with a certain friend
Setting one boundary
Doing something creative, playful, or soul-nourishing
Small adjustments create real change over time.
🧭 Final Question: What’s one small act of care I can offer myself this week?
Not another task — an offering. Something doable, gentle, and for you.
Some ideas:
Taking yourself on a coffee date
Turning your phone off for 2 hours
Journaling in the morning sun
Saying “no” without over-explaining
Let it be simple. Let it be enough.
🌿 Closing Thoughts
Mental health check-ins don’t need to be heavy or clinical. They can be sacred little moments of reconnection — a way to pause, listen inward, and lovingly adjust.
The world may not slow down, but you can. Once a week. For ten minutes. Just to ask, “How am I, really?”
Because you’re worth checking in on.
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