Values clarification — identifying what matters most to you at the deepest level — is a cornerstone of ACT therapy for burnout and provides direction when burnout removes other navigational tools.
Why Values Matter for Burnout
Burnout often disconnects us from our values through avoidance, withdrawal, and reduced capacity. Reconnecting with values provides:
- Direction when burnout has eliminated other motivation
- Meaning that persists even through difficult burnout periods
- A basis for action independent of how burnout makes you feel
Clarifying Your Values with Burnout
Ask yourself: 'If my burnout were less present, what would I be doing more of? What kind of person would I be?'
Values are not goals (achievable and done) but ongoing directions: being a present parent, creating beauty, contributing to others.
Values-Based Action in Burnout
ACT therapy teaches: act according to values even when burnout is present. Small values-aligned actions, despite burnout, are more sustainable than waiting for burnout to lift first.