check in — self-reflect
phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
To pause and consciously assess your own feelings, thoughts, or progress, often as part of self-care or personal development.
Say it like a native
Textbook It is important to consciously assess one's own emotional state regularly.
Native It helps to check in with yourself now and then.
'Check in with yourself' is the natural wellness phrase; the formal version is textbook.
Pattern: check in with yourself / check in on your progress
In use
- It's important to check in with yourself regularly to make sure you're not feeling overwhelmed.mental_health
- Many experts recommend that students check in with themselves during exam periods to monitor their stress levels and maintain wellbeing.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I try to check in to myself each morning.
✓ I try to check in with myself each morning.
'Check in WITH yourself', not 'to'.
Common collocations
check in with yourself— with yourself, emotionally, now and then, how you feel
Don't confuse it
Unlike the B1 sense of 'check in' (registering arrival) or the B2 sense (contacting someone briefly), this sense is figurative and refers to turning your attention inward to assess your own state or progress.
Related
- check in (register on arrival) — 'check in' also has the more basic meaning 'register on arrival'; this is the advanced sense.