3 Questions To Check In With Yourself
Checking in with yourself throughout the day is a great way to stay mindful, grateful, and well.
One great question to ask yourself when you first wake up is, "What do I hope to accomplish today?" This question serves you throughout the entire day:
- it helps you set micro goals for health and well-being
- it motivates you to do the things that move you toward your goals
- it directs your thoughts toward the positive
When answering this question, it’s important to remember that goals that are too lofty can do more harm than good. Instead of planning to earn a Bachelor’s degree, for example, you might set a micro goal or reviewing the prerequisites.
Great examples of micro goals include:
- I will spend 15 minutes on my home or room today.
- I will spend 5 minutes in prayer or reflection today.
- I will tell someone I appreciate them today.
The second question to ask yourself every day is, "How am I feeling today?" Learning to identify and name your feelings has a butterfly effect in other facets of your life.
When you know how you feel, you can take steps to better understand those feelings and cope in a healthy way. As a direct outcome, your behavior is less likely to reflect difficult feelings. That means your feelings are less likely to lead to negative behaviors that may have undesirable consequences.
Finally, as you learn to recognize your own feelings, what causes them, and what helps, you begin to better understand those around you. Connecting with others becomes easier and easier.
Finally, as the day comes to a close, ask yourself, "What went well today?"
It’s common to crawl into bed at the end of the day and replay all the moments that didn’t go as well as you had hoped. The result of this negative thought process at the end of the day is often difficulty sleeping, anxiety, remorse, and feelings of worthlessness.
Asking what went well instead gives you an opportunity to reflect on your strengths. Which moments are you most proud of? Which habits would you like to repeat again tomorrow? Which decisions will support your larger goals? Which moments were the most fulfilling? Which of your micro goals did you achieve today?
Checking in with yourself throughout the day helps you stay focused on your goals and intentions.
It helps you recognize and cope with difficult feelings in a productive way.
And it helps you celebrate your wins and make habits out of them.
So, to transform your life with three simple questions, ask yourself:
- What would I like to accomplish today?
- How am I feeling?
- And what went well today?