What matters to you, and life areas
Some activities are worth doing because they’re enjoyable. Others matter because they connect to something you care about, like being a good friend, keeping your home in order, or learning something new.
A brief form of behavioral activation that many therapists use looks at five areas of life:
- Relationships
- Work, school, and volunteering
- Fun and interests
- Body, mind, and spirit
- Everyday responsibilities
For each, you write a sentence about what matters to you there, then choose small activities that fit.
Values aren’t goals you finish. You can’t complete being a caring parent, but you can sit with your kids at dinner tonight with your phone in another room. The activity goes on the schedule, not the value.
This part is optional. Some people find it helps them choose. Others start with what needs doing and what they used to enjoy. For a fuller look at your values, try Values Card Sort.
Everyday Insight’s tools are for education and personal reflection. They are not therapy or medical care, and they are not for emergencies. In an emergency, call 911. If you are in crisis in the United States, call or text 988. Mental health resources