Cost-Benefit Analysis: A Decision Balance Worksheet
List what a habit, belief or choice gives you and what it costs, weigh each item, and see where the balance falls
Cost-Benefit Analysis: A Decision Balance Worksheet
List what a habit, belief or choice gives you and what it costs, weigh each item, and see where the balance falls
Cost-Benefit Analysis: A Decision Balance Worksheet
List what a habit, belief or choice gives you and what it costs, weigh each item, and see where the balance falls
Most habits and beliefs stick around because they pay off somehow, often right away, while their costs build up more slowly. Checking work email in bed eases tomorrow's dread tonight, and it also eats into sleep. This sheet puts both sides on one page so you can look at them with a clear head.
For clinicians: with a client who is still unsure about changing, weighing pros and cons like this tends to lower commitment to change. It fits best when you want to stay neutral about which way the person decides, or once they have already decided to change, when it may strengthen that commitment (Miller & Rose, 2015).
- At the top, name the thought, behavior or decision you are weighing (for example, "Checking work email in bed every night").
- Each row points to one part of life. Write the biggest cost you see there in "Cost" and the biggest benefit in "Benefit," for keeping the habit or belief, or for making the choice. Think about yourself and the people around you. If a row has nothing on one side, leave that side blank, and use the last two rows for extras.
- Give each item a weight from 1 (barely matters) to 10 (matters a great deal).
- In the first box below, add up each weight column and write the two totals.
- Then look past the totals. Which items weigh the most? Do the benefits show up right away while the costs build over months? Write what you notice and one next step in the last two boxes.
The thought, behavior or decision I'm weighing
| Where to look | Cost | Weight (1 to 10) | Benefit | Weight (1 to 10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How I feel right now: mood and stress, today and this week | ||||
| Health, sleep and energy | ||||
| Money, time and daily routine | ||||
| People close to me: partner, family, friends, coworkers | ||||
| Work, school or a goal I care about | ||||
| How I see myself, and the person I want to be | ||||
| Six months to a year from now | ||||
| Anything else that matters here | ||||
| Anything else that matters here |
Totals for each side
The heaviest items on each side, and which show up right away or build over time
What the balance tells me, and my next step
References
- Miller, W. R., & Rose, G. S. (2015). Motivational interviewing and decisional balance: Contrasting responses to client ambivalence. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 43(2), 129-141. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1352465813000878
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Common Questions
What is the Cost-Benefit Analysis: A Decision Balance Worksheet worksheet?
Most habits and beliefs stick around because they pay off somehow, often right away, while their costs build up more slowly. Checking work email in bed eases tomorrow's dread tonight, and it also eats into sleep. This sheet puts both sides on one page so you can look at them with a clear head.
How do I use the Cost-Benefit Analysis: A Decision Balance Worksheet worksheet?
Fill out this worksheet digitally or print it for use in session. You can save your progress with a Pro account. Take your time with each column — there are no right or wrong answers.
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