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Free depression worksheets

Ten printable PDF worksheets, trackers, and planners for managing depression day to day. Built on skills used in cognitive behavioral therapy and behavioral activation, written in the same plain language as the rest of this site. No signup, no email, no cost.

What these worksheets are, and what they are not

Each worksheet turns one well-studied skill into a page you can actually fill in: scheduling small activities before motivation arrives, rating your mood once a day, keeping the same sleep diary clinicians use, or writing a relapse prevention plan while you feel steady. They pair well with the education on this site, and the completed pages are useful to bring to a clinician.

They are educational tools, not treatment. If you are new here, start with our orientation guide, and if you are wondering whether what you feel is depression, the screening tools page has validated self-assessments like the PHQ-9.

The worksheet library

Worksheet

PDF · 1 page

Behavioral Activation Planner

A one-week planner built on behavioral activation, one of the best-studied skills for depression. Schedule small activities first and rate your mood before and after, so your own data shows you that action moves mood.

Best for: Low motivation, canceled plans, waiting to "feel like it"

Tracker

PDF · 1 page

Monthly Mood Calendar

A one-page calendar for rating each day from 0 to 10 with a one-word note. A month of daily ratings makes trends visible and gives your clinician real data on whether treatment is working.

Best for: Spotting patterns, tracking treatment progress

Worksheet

PDF · 1 page

Three Good Things Gratitude Worksheet

A one-week version of the "three good things" exercise from positive psychology research. Each evening, write three things that went well and why. Small entries count.

Best for: Attention stuck on what went wrong

Checklist

PDF · 1 page

Gentle Morning Routine Checklist

A short, editable morning routine with a weekly tick grid. Removes decisions on mornings when deciding feels impossible. Checking one box is a win.

Best for: Hard mornings, decision fatigue

Plan

PDF · 2 pages

Depression Relapse Prevention Plan

Write down your personal early warning signs, triggers, what has helped before, and who to contact, while you are feeling steadier. Includes professional contacts and crisis information.

Best for: After an episode improves, staying well

Checklist

PDF · 1 page

Daily Functioning Checklist

Tracks the basics that keep you going: food, water, hygiene, daylight, movement, one human contact. A record, not a report card, for the hardest stretches.

Best for: Severe stretches, measuring wins that count

Before you use these

These worksheets are provided by DepressionResource.org, part of the Shrink Network, for educational and informational purposes only. They are not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and downloading or using them does not create a doctor-patient relationship. They are not a substitute for care from a licensed clinician who knows your situation. Laws, standards, and health information practices vary by jurisdiction; it is your responsibility to review the rules where you live and to adapt these materials or create your own documents as needed. Do not start, stop, or change any treatment based on a worksheet. If you may be in danger or are thinking about suicide, call or text 988 in the US, or call 911 in an emergency. Read the full medical disclaimer.

Worksheet questions, answered

Are these depression worksheets really free?
Yes. Every worksheet on this page is a free PDF download. There is no account, email signup, or payment. You are welcome to print them for yourself, share them with someone you support, or use them in an educational setting.
Can therapists, counselors, and teachers use these worksheets with clients or students?
Yes, for personal and educational use. Clinicians and educators may print and distribute the unmodified PDFs with clients, students, or support groups. They are educational tools, not clinical instruments, so professionals should use their own judgment about fit.
Do worksheets actually help with depression?
Worksheets are a delivery format for skills that are studied, such as behavioral activation, activity scheduling, mood monitoring, and sleep diaries. These skills are core parts of cognitive behavioral therapy and behavioral activation therapy. A worksheet on its own is not treatment, but it can make those skills concrete, and the completed pages give a clinician useful data.
Which worksheet should I start with?
If low motivation is the main problem, start with the behavioral activation planner. If you are not sure what is going on yet, start with the monthly mood calendar, since a month of daily ratings makes patterns visible. If sleep is the loudest symptom, use the two-week sleep diary.
Are these worksheets a substitute for therapy or medication?
No. They are educational tools that work best alongside professional care, not instead of it. If your symptoms have lasted more than two weeks or interfere with daily life, our guide on when to see a doctor explains the next step, and our screening tools page has validated self-assessments.
How do I print the worksheets?
Each PDF is formatted for standard US Letter paper in portrait orientation. Open the PDF, print at 100 percent scale in black and white or color, and it will fit a single sheet per page. Most are one page; the relapse prevention plan is two.
Every clinical page on DepressionResource.org is written in plain language, dated, and reviewed by a board-certified psychiatrist against current clinical guidelines. See our editorial standards and medical review process.