Values clarification — identifying what matters most to you at the deepest level — is a cornerstone of ACT therapy for procrastination and provides direction when procrastination removes other navigational tools.
Why Values Matter for Procrastination
Procrastination often disconnects us from our values through avoidance, withdrawal, and reduced capacity. Reconnecting with values provides:
- Direction when procrastination has eliminated other motivation
- Meaning that persists even through difficult procrastination periods
- A basis for action independent of how procrastination makes you feel
Clarifying Your Values with Procrastination
Ask yourself: 'If my procrastination 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 Procrastination
ACT therapy teaches: act according to values even when procrastination is present. Small values-aligned actions, despite procrastination, are more sustainable than waiting for procrastination to lift first.