AI-Powered Emotional Check-Ins for Equanimity
Equanimity, my proprietary self-awareness and emotional insight product, is currently in pre-launch. As the lead designer and founder of Equanimity, I created an AI-powered emotional check-in feature designed to support users in cultivating self-awareness and emotional resilience. Unlike traditional mood trackers that rely on passive self-reporting, this check-in experience actively engages users in reflection, reframing, and mindful connection — using natural language processing and sentiment analysis to build a personalized well-being profile over time.
The Problem
Many mental health apps collect mood data, but few help users make sense of what they’re feeling in the moment. Most tools feel transactional or burdensome — another thing to fill out. Users often drop off because the emotional labor of tracking isn’t met with meaningful insight or support.
The Goal
Design an AI-driven feature that transforms mood tracking into a moment of self-care, insight, and agency — helping users feel seen, supported, and capable of making intentional shifts in their mindset.
The Solution
The Equanimity Check-In uses a series of thoughtfully crafted multiple-choice prompts grounded in behavioral psychology. Rather than asking users to journal or rate their mood on a scale, it gently guides them to:
Name their current emotional state
Reflect on contributing factors
Surface subconscious needs or stressors
Select empowering reframes or affirmations
Receive personalized content and trends based on AI-driven insights
The interaction feels more like a moment of guidance than data entry. Over time, the system builds a nuanced emotional fingerprint that powers smarter recommendations and a deeper understanding of the user’s inner landscape.
My Role
Founder of Equanimity
UX Research
Interaction & Product Design
Behavioral Psychology Integration
Prompt Engineering (for NLP + AI logic)
Prototyping & Testing
Branding + Messaging
Design Process
1. Research & Insight Gathering
Interviews with individuals experiencing burnout, anxiety, and overwhelm
Analysis of drop-off behavior in existing wellness apps
Review of CBT and mindfulness-based therapeutic models
2. Ideation & Prompt Development
Created a taxonomy of emotional and cognitive states
Crafted 50+ multiple-choice prompts with embedded cognitive reframes
Mapped out response flows for dynamic AI-based feedback
3. Prototyping & Iteration
Built mid-fidelity wireframes and interactive prototypes
Tested with users for emotional clarity, tone, and usability
Refined AI output to reflect compassionate, non-judgmental guidance
4. Personalization Logic
Integrated NLP to detect sentiment trends over time
Designed a system for surfacing “insight moments” based on user patterns
Developed a content matching engine for personalized support
Key Features
Emotionally intelligent multiple-choice check-ins
AI-generated affirmations and reframes
Personalized well-being trends and emotional insights
Optional journaling expansions with sentiment analysis
Success Metrics — Reframed for Human Impact
We intentionally moved away from shallow engagement metrics. Instead, we focused on measurable indicators of emotional well-being, resilience, and self-awareness:
| Metric | Definition | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Emotional Clarity Increase | % of users who report greater ability to identify what they’re feeling over time | Helps users build language around their emotions, supporting mental health literacy |
| Cognitive Reframe Usage | # of users who opt into suggested reframes or affirmations after check-ins | Indicates that the tool is actively helping users shift mindset patterns |
| Insight Frequency | Average # of “aha” or self-awareness moments surfaced per user per week | Measures emotional insight — a key driver in mental and emotional growth |
| Mood Volatility Reduction | Change in user-reported emotional highs and lows across 30+ days | Suggests increased emotional regulation and resilience |
| Self-Reported Relief | % of users who report feeling better or more grounded after check-ins | Captures immediate emotional impact of using the tool |
| Reflection Adherence | % of users who complete more than 3 check-ins per week consistently over 1 month | Signals trust in the tool as part of their emotional routine |
Make it stand out.
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Dream it.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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Build it.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
