It was written, recorded, and released during the month of March 2020, as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic began internationally, resulting in lockdowns and the promotion of social distancing.

The concept for "I Miss One Week Ago" originated as she spent lockdown in her home with boyfriend Adnan Zukanovic, the song's producer.

In the lyrics, Oh Land discusses how, prior to the pandemic, the difficulty of her daily struggles paled in comparison to the current day.

[2] Oh Land's musical endeavors leading up to the release of "I Miss One Week Ago" included her fifth studio album, Family Tree, in 2019, and the holiday-themed single "Wishes".

[10] The same day as the single's release, a live music video for "I Miss One Week Ago" was uploaded to Oh Land's official YouTube channel.

[2] For further promotion, she announced a live streaming event, via YouTube, where she would perform an acoustic version of "I Miss One Week Ago", beginning on 11 April 2020 at 10:00 AM (PT).