Creating Balance: The “Wheel of Life” Exercise
If your life is anything like mine, “balance” might feel like a pipe dream. (I get it because I’ve been there too.)
Achieving balance is an ongoing challenge for most people because we live in a world that constantly demands something from us. Juggling work, family responsibilities, kids, a relationship, a social life, recreational hobbies, spiritual practices, health, and whatever else you might have going on can easily leave you feeling overwhelmed. These different areas of life all require time and energy, the hustle of productivity culture creates a sense of constant urgency, and ultimately, humans are creatures with diverse wants and needs — all vying for our attention.
However, when we fail to allocate our time and energy effectively, it often leads to chronic stress, burnout, hopelessness, and perpetual dissatisfaction. Which only makes getting unstuck and finding balance even harder. 😬
When you feel empowered to take action, and work to achieve a more balanced life, you experience increased resilience, better relationships, and improved overall mental health. Balance allows you to recharge and engage more fully in each area of your life, leading to greater fulfillment. It’s essential to remember that balance is dynamic, and what works today might need adjustment tomorrow — so it’s imperative to approach this with flexibility and sustainability in mind.
SO, one of my favorite tools to visualize this concept is the “Wheel of Life” tool. This structured but flexible visual aid was made popular in the coaching community because it’s a simple yet powerful tool designed to help you gain clarity, assess where your energy and efforts are actually going, and make meaningful changes.
So, what exactly is the Wheel of Life?
The Wheel of Life is a visual representation that helps you evaluate the key areas of your life. Imagine a pie chart divided into segments, each representing a different aspect of life that you value and strive to prioritize. By evaluating and reflecting on each area, you can get a clear picture of where you are thriving and where you might need some improvement — and what steps can be taken to get there.
Here are some of the benefits of utilizing a tool like this:
It provides a holistic, comprehensive overview of your life, helping you see the bigger picture rather than getting bogged down by specific issues
It provides clarity about where you’re currently investing your energy and how it impacts your sense of fulfillment
It promotes self-awareness by highlighting areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction, encouraging you to take a closer look at your life and your priorities
It helps you set clear and achievable goals by identifying specific areas that don’t align with your values
It encourages balance by prompting you to consider all aspects of your life, examining how much effort is being put into each area, and ensuring that your effort matches your goals
Ultimately, it empowers you to take control of your life — something that often feels out of reach when you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or hopeless
Some of the more common categories include health, work, family, social life, relationship or dating, recreation, finance, personal growth, and spirituality, but you can absolutely feel free to customize this tool and add or remove categories to make it more relevant to your life.
How to use the Wheel of Life:
Identify the areas of life that you’ll be rating: Choose things that are meaningful to you. You can stick with the standard categories I listed above, or modify them based on your unique priorities.
Rate your level of satisfaction in each category: On a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being least satisfied and 10 being most satisfied), rate how content you are in each category. Be honest in your assessment to create an accurate picture.
In a different color, rate your level of effort being put into each category: Using that 1 to 10 scale (1 being no effort in this category, 10 being maximum effort), honestly assess how much of yourself you are giving to each category.
Practice nonjudgmental mindfulness: Now, take a look at the ratings you gave, both in terms of satisfaction and effort levels. Notice what your initial response is to these ratings, and allow that to just be what it is. This is an excellent opportunity to practice acceptance and self-compassion around what is, rather than feeling pressure to “fix.” That will come later.
Notice any differences between each type of rating: Are there areas where you are giving tons of effort but have very little satisfaction? Take note of discrepancies between effort and satisfaction to help you reallocate your energy in a more sustainable (and worthwhile) way.
Reflect on the overall picture: Take a step back and evaluate the wheel's overall ratings and patterns. Are certain areas neglected because of others? Is there a category that's significantly dragging down overall satisfaction? (See more reflection prompts below ⬇️)
Review your values and set goals: Reconnect with your values to remember the why behind all of this, then set a realistic goal for each area that scored lower than desired. Make sure that those goals are sustainable, attainable, and fit within your current capacity.
Check in regularly: I recommend doing this exercise at a minimum of quarterly to regularly review your priorities, track your progress, and make adjustments as needed. Remember not to shame yourself if change is difficult to implement — awareness is the most crucial step.
One crucial aspect of this process is to always remember the purpose: The goal is not to aim for perfect 10s in every category. That’s not balance, that’s perfectionism. Instead, try to remember that we are always juggling multiple things at once, and there will always be things that we prioritize at the expense of others. You want to make sure that your energy is being allocated to create satisfaction in whatever your top priorities are right now — and reallocate in the future as your values, needs, and priorities change over time.
When you’re ready, try some of the following prompts for deeper reflection. Through this process, you’ll begin to understand yourself better, become more aware of what is stealing your attention, time, and energy, and identify small, key actions that can facilitate the change you want to see.
What do you think has contributed most to the current imbalances? Are these internal (personal beliefs or habits) or external factors (workplace environment or relationships)?
Why have some life areas been neglected or under-prioritized? Is this due to a lack of resources, conflicting responsibilities, or something else?
Do your low-scoring segments align with your values? What values do you feel the most disconnected from, and how can you reconnect with them?
Are you spending too much time in one area at the expense of others? How can you redistribute your time to create more balance?
What is the first key action you can take to begin to cultivate balance?
Ultimately, the Wheel of Life exercise is a powerful tool that can help boost mindful reflection and strategic goal setting with your values in mind. By providing a structured framework for understanding both your satisfaction and effort levels across multiple life areas, you can cultivate more balance and have a roadmap to an overall more fulfilling life.
For a deeper dive into this exercise, with even more reflection prompts and actionable steps, grab a FREE copy of my Wheel of Life Reflection Journal here!
