We often feel overwhelmed and anxious, with so much to do and so little time. But what if there was a way for you to take control of your days, weeks, and even entire life?
Introducing ‘The Wheel of Life coaching tool’—a simple yet powerful tool that empowers you to prioritize the different aspects of your life, from career aspirations to spiritual growth!
In this blog post, we’ll walk through each step so you can get organized, set goals, and live happily ever after. So grab a pen and paper because it’s time to journey into The Wheel of Life!
What Is The Wheel Of Life?
The Wheel of Life is a simple but powerful tool for assessing one’s current level of fulfillment and balance.
It consists of up to 10 categories or areas, including physical and mental health, personal growth, and career development, all essential for a whole lifestyle.
By rating your level of satisfaction with each area, you can map this to an image of a wheel, which gives you an immediate picture of your current “life balance.”
With that insight, you can identify areas for improvement and work on finding solutions.
Who Created The Wheel Of Life?
The original concept of the Coaching Wheel (Wheel of Life or Life Balance Wheel) was created by the late Paul J. Meyer, who, in 1960, founded the Success Motivation Institute®. The wheel is now used in many coaching techniques and development programs.
Although it has different forms and names, the wheel of life is designed to drive transformation by helping individuals become their best versions*. Whether through improved clarity and focus, increased productivity, or simply bettering one’s personal life balance, the wheel of life offers significant growth potential.
The Goal Of The Life Balance Wheel
Having a balanced life is essential for physical and mental well-being.
That’s why The Wheel of Life is such an effective tool—it allows you to understand better which areas of your life are working and those that may require further attention.
Using the wheel, you can identify areas where you could use more energy or adjustments to achieve your desired balance.
Whether it’s professional development, family time, health, or financial management, the Wheel of Life can help you find a healthy and prosperous work-life balance.
How Does The Life Wheel Work?
The life wheel identifies a series of categories covering different aspects of life, such as career, relationships, health, spirituality, friends/family, and emotional stability.
These aspects are important, and each impacts the others in some way.
The user then rates their level of satisfaction within each category from 0 to 10. Once the ratings have been applied to each category, the user is presented with an image of a wheel.
By taking an honest look at your life and reflecting on which areas need more attention or change, you can develop a plan to improve them over time.
How To Use The Wheel Of Life Tool?
The wheel of life exercise is a great way to assess your life and identify areas for improvement. Follow a few simple steps to get the most out of this exercise.
Print Out The Wheel
First, click on the image, download, and print out the wheel. This will help you focus and be more present during the exercise. Finding a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted or distracted is also important. Turn off your phone and other devices that might distract you from the task.
Adjust The Categories
Next, examine each of the life categories and consider whether anything needs changing. Are there any segments that need splitting or renaming?
Another good tactic is to think about something missing; for example, if one of your main interests is music, adding a new segment into your wheel of life that mainly focuses on that can prove invaluable.
By tweaking the wheel, you can make it more meaningful and accurate to yourself. This will give each area of your life a dedicated focus and help you plan better.
Connect With Yourself
Then, take a few deep breaths and relax. This exercise is meant to help you connect with yourself, so going slowly and being as present as possible is essential.
Once you’re ready, begin filling out the wheel. Filling out means you rate each category on a scale of 1-10.
Be honest with yourself and rate your level of satisfaction at that moment.
Review Your Answers
Finally, when you’re finished, take a step back and review your answers. What areas of your life are most important to you? What do you need to work on?
Use this information to plan how you want to move forward.
The Benefits Of Utilizing A Wheel Of Life
Our emotions can sometimes become misplaced in this busy world, and pinpointing our feelings can be difficult.
The wheel of life assessment is handy for determining satisfaction and which aspects need improvement.
It provides a quick overview of different areas of your life. It gives you visual scores to identify areas for improvement.
This helps you clarify how well different aspects of your life are going and motivates personal growth and development.
The wheel of life is a great way to create focus on the lifestyle changes you want to make and strive towards developing an ideal life balance that meets all your needs.
Developing A Plan
The next step is to develop a plan.
This plan should help you focus on your goals and make positive changes.
Ask yourself these questions:
Questions Related To The Physical Aspect:
- What changes can I make to improve the areas of my physical life that are feeling unfulfilled?
- How can I better care for myself to ensure a healthier, more balanced lifestyle?
- Am I getting enough sleep each night and taking time to relax and unwind from the day’s stressors?
- Am I engaging in regular physical activity as part of my daily routine?
- Can I access healthy food and nutrition options to support my overall well-being?
- Are there any unhealthy habits that I need to be aware of, such as smoking or drinking too much alcohol, that are impacting my physical health?
- Is there anything about my current environment or living situation that could be causing me stress or anxiety?
- Have all necessary medical appointments been scheduled and completed on time so that any potential health risks can be identified and addressed promptly?
- Are there any preventative measures I could take to help promote better overall health outcomes, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, or getting regular checkups with a physician?
- What resources do I have available to me for addressing any physical issues or concerns related to mental health or well-being (such as counseling services, support groups, etc.)?
Questions Related To The Mental Aspect
- What areas of my life need the most attention to help improve my overall mental well-being?
- Am I currently implementing strategies or tactics to help me achieve a better mental balance?
- How can I manage stress and negative emotions healthily and productively?
- Do I have enough support from family, friends, and colleagues that can help me through difficult times?
- Are there specific activities or hobbies that help me feel calmer and happier when my mental well-being is struggling?
- Am I surrounding myself with people who encourage positive thinking and inspire hope?
- What steps do I need to take to better balance my personal time and professional obligations in my life?
- Are there any mental health professionals or organizations that could provide me with additional resources and guidance?
- How can I prioritize self-care activities, such as meditation, yoga, exercise, etc., to maintain good mental health practices?
- Are there areas where I can find more gratification or satisfaction, leading to an improved sense of happiness and contentment overall?
Questions Related To Relationships
- What must I prioritize to ensure my relationships are as fulfilling as possible?
- How can I communicate my needs more effectively to satisfy my relationships?
- Are there any problem areas in my existing relationships that need addressing?
- How can I develop better listening skills to improve my conversations and interactions with others?
- Should I spend more time with the important people in my life, or should I be paying attention to them?
- Are there any unhealthy habits preventing me from forming stronger bonds with others?
- Do I have an adequate support network, or could it be expanded for greater satisfaction?
- Where do I find the time and energy necessary for nurturing and maintaining meaningful relationships?
- Are there limits or boundaries that should be set when engaging with specific individuals to keep things healthy?
- What goals can be set to improve the many aspects of personal relationships, such as trust, respect, understanding, and communication?
Questions Related To The Emotional Aspect
- How can I better express my emotions and feelings?
- What can I do to recognize my emotional needs better?
- How can I identify when I’m feeling overwhelmed or stressed, and how can I manage it?
- How can I build more resilience in the face of difficult emotions?
- Is there any particular area of my life where I need to strengthen my emotional awareness and capacity?
- Are there any activities or practices that could help me develop healthier and more productive ways of dealing with emotion-related issues?
- What strategies for improving communication with others would enable a greater understanding of each other’s emotional needs?
- What kinds of resources (books, articles, websites) offer further guidance in developing skills related to emotional well-being?
- Are there any support systems (therapists, coaches, counselors) that could help me better understand my emotions or provide additional tools for managing difficult times or situations?
- Are there any positive changes or habits I could incorporate into my lifestyle that would nurture the emotional dimension of the Wheel of Life?
Questions Related To Your Career
- What employment opportunities are available to me right now and in the future? Have I done the research necessary to understand what other roles I may be suited for?
- Can I increase my current salary or job title without leaving my current employer?
- Am I investing time and energy into developing my skills, knowledge, and professional networks?
- Do I understand what is expected of me at work, and am I doing everything possible to meet those expectations?
- How satisfied am I with my autonomy at work, and can this be improved?
- How can I become more engaged with my job duties during slow periods or when feeling unmotivated?
- Are there any personal development courses, such as public speaking, leadership training, or computer programming, that could help me progress in my career?
- Is there a way to balance my need for financial stability while still pursuing higher-paying jobs with greater responsibility?
- What support systems do I have inside and outside of work that could provide resources to further my career goals?
- Am I taking advantage of all available networking opportunities, such as industry events, seminars, conferences, and professional associations, that could give me an edge in competitive job markets?
Now Execute!
So, you identified areas of your life that need attention. How do you go about improving them? Here are some action steps you can take:
Career
- If you’re dissatisfied with your current job, it’s time to explore other opportunities. Don’t let the status quo limit what you can achieve – open up new prospects and seize opportunities that will bring joy into your work life! Update your resume and LinkedIn profile and start attending networking events.
- If you love your job but feel stuck, set goals and brainstorm ways to challenge yourself.
- If you’re self-employed or running your own business, make sure you’re taking time to celebrate your successes and learn from your failures.
Finances
- Get organized! Create a budget and track your spending to better understand where your money is going.
- Plan to pay off any debt you may have as quickly as possible.
- Invest in yourself by setting aside money for savings and retirement.
Health
- Eat healthily! This means ensuring you get enough fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, etc. You can also try meal prepping or cooking at home more often to save money and eat healthier meals.
- Get active! Exercise is essential for our physical well-being and pivotal for our mental health, too. Even if you don’t have time for a formal workout routine, there are plenty of ways to fit activity into your day-to-day life (take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk or bike to work/the store/etc., do bodyweight exercises at home).
- Make sure you’re getting enough sleep! Most adults need around 7-8 hours per night. Consider turning off electronics an hour before bed and establishing a nighttime routine to help relax your mind and body before sleep.
Relationships
- Spend time with loved ones! Quality time with family members, friends, or romantic partners is important for maintaining healthy relationships. Schedule regular check-ins (phone calls, texts, in-person visits) and date nights/days, if applicable.
- Be honest and open with communication! This means being willing to listen and share how we’re feeling without judgment or criticism.
- Seek professional help if needed! If communication is complicated or there’s been an issue or conflict, talking to a therapist or counselor can be very helpful in resolving any issues and moving forward positively.
Personal Growth
- Set goals! Identify what areas you want to improve (career growth, fitness goals, learning new skills/hobbies) and create actionable steps to help you achieve those goals within a reasonable timeframe.
- Be patient! Change takes time, so don’t get discouraged if things don’t happen as quickly as you’d like.
- Be gentle with yourself! Mistakes happen, but that doesn’t mean we should beat ourselves up.
Recreation
- Make time for activities that make you happy! Whether reading books, watching movies, playing sports, hiking, biking, etc., find something that brings joy outside of work or obligations.
- Take breaks when needed! If your work/life balance feels off, schedule some downtime into your week to recharge.
- Find ways to connect with others! Social interaction is key to maintaining mental health, so try joining clubs/teams, attending meetups, going out with friends, etc.
Contribution
- Give back however you can! There are many ways to contribute, whether volunteering with local organizations, donating money/time/resources to charities, or other ways.
- Help out those in need! If someone close to us is going through a tough time, see what kind of support we can offer them.
- Raise awareness about important causes! Educate yourself and others about social justice issues, environmentalism, etc.
Spirituality
- Connect with nature! Spend time outside in nature (go for walks in the park, sit by the ocean/lake/river, go camping), meditate outdoors, etc.
- Practice gratitude! Keep a gratitude journal where you write down things you’re thankful for on a daily/weekly basis.
- Find peace within yourself by exploring different spiritual practices (yoga, prayer, journaling).
Conclusion
A wellness wheel is a helpful tool for understanding what’s causing unhappiness in your life. By closely examining each section of the wheel, you can identify the areas that need improvement. By making even small changes in the areas that are causing you stress, you can begin to live a more balanced and fulfilling life.
