Values are your compass—not a to-do list. They don't get "done." They guide how you show up, every day, even when executive function makes the path hard to see.
In the next few minutes, you'll explore five areas of your life and name the values that drive you in each. No perfect answers. No grades. Just honest reflection.
A goal is something you achieve and check off. A value is a direction you keep traveling in. Goals end. Values keep guiding you.
Goal: "Run a 5K."
Value: "Taking care of my body with curiosity and compassion."
The goal ends. The value keeps guiding you—even on days you don't run.
Values aren't rules either. They're qualities you want to bring to the different areas of your life. Think adjectives and verbs, not nouns.
When ADHD brains struggle with prioritization, values cut through the noise. Instead of asking "What should I do?" you can ask "What matters here?"
For each life area, you'll see suggested values you can tap to select, plus space to write your own. Don't overthink it. Your first instinct is usually meaningful.
This isn't about what you should do. It's about how you want to relate to your body, your energy, and your wellbeing. What qualities do you want to bring to taking care of yourself?
Tap values that resonateWhether it's your career, a side project, school, or volunteering—what kind of worker, colleague, or contributor do you want to be? Not what you want to achieve, but how you want to show up.
Tap values that resonateHow do you want to grow? Not the specific skills you want to learn, but the way you want to approach learning, self-discovery, and becoming more of who you already are.
Tap values that resonateHow do you want to contribute to the world beyond yourself? This could be volunteering, advocacy, mentoring, donating, or simply how you treat the people in your neighborhood and community.
Tap values that resonateThink about the people who matter to you—partner, family, friends, colleagues. Not who you want in your life, but how you want to show up for the people already in it.
Tap values that resonateHere's what you named as your compass directions. These aren't rules—they're reminders of who you want to be when the fog rolls in.
Keep these somewhere you'll see them. On a sticky note, a phone wallpaper, or in your planner. When ADHD makes it hard to choose what matters, look here and ask: "Which value am I moving toward right now?"
APPLIED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRACTICE
© 2026 · WWW.GETADHD.CARE