The Wheel of Life
The following "Wheel of Life" exercise helps us look at the various life functions which we address on a daily basis. It is not unusual, as a women, to find ourselves pulled in one direction or another and end up focusing most of our attention in a few selected areas of our lives. When this happens other areas of our lives get neglected. There are times when life is going to be out of balance due to specific circumstances beyond our control. But it is always best to try to keep some balance and maintain a feeling of satisfaction with our lives. The Wheel of Life exercise is designed to help you determine whether you are focusing too much on one part of your life and, consequently, neglecting others. I have divided the graphic depiction of a wheel into the 6 sections described below. These categories may vary depending on the individual, but with these categories as a template, you can gain an understanding of whether your life is in balance or out of balance. Consider how much of your time you spend in each of these 6 areas over a week's time: Physical Environment--life at home and community Career and Finances--your employment path and income Physical Health--taking care of your physical body Significant Other, Friends and Family--quality time spent with friends and family members Spiritual and Personal Growth--your spiritual relationship Fun and Recreation--your leisure time activities
Second.Plot a dot for this assigned number on the corresponding concentric line in each area. When you connect the dots for each category, you will see how balanced your life is. Last. Looking at the 6 Wheel of Life categories, list them in order of satisfaction in your life. Next to each category, indicate how much time per day you spend in that area. Satisfaction level: ---------------Time spent per day: Look at your satisfaction scores. What are the 2 lowest scores? How much time per day do you spend on each of these categories? What can you change to improve these satisfaction scores? What would be the ideal level of time to spend in each of these areas so that you could be more satisfied. Look at your satisfaction scores. What are the 2 highest scores? How much time per day do you spend on each of these categories? Is there anything you need to change in these categories? After you have reviewed your findings, return to your Wheel of Life graph and plot what you would consider to be ideal amounts of time in each of the 6 areas. You will notice a gap of time in certain areas. These are the areas of your life that need attention. Some areas you may be spending too much time in and some areas you may be spending too little time. Also this exercise is a great starting point for establishing goals. Consider
setting goals
for yourself with your new perspective on a well-balanced life. Well defined goals help you create a target destination and help you create a clear action plan to regain this newly aligned sense of balance in your life. The positive result of completing this Wheel of Life exercise is that you can set a course of action to avoid burnout, anxiety, stress, or loss of health as you move toward a more satisfying and enriched life. Achieving Life Balance New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
