BALANCING THE WHEEL OF LIFE
Living a balanced, healthy and happy life can be a challenge at the best of times, and without real awareness, habits and ways of being that don’t serve your highest good can infiltrate your life. Reflecting on how much you prioritise rest, self-care and the things that bring you joy is a good place to start. For some reason in our culture, guilt is often attached to doing nothing, but as I always say to my clients, “the wise one rests”. Balancing the time and energy you invest in your work and those around you, with time for yourself can be a game changer.
In the busy, modern world that we live, we need to smarter and more disciplined when it comes to managing our wellbeing. Immersing yourself in nature every day, mentally switching off when your work day is done, getting off your phone in the evenings, asking for support when you need it, setting healthy boundaries, exercising regularly, consuming less toxins, making healthier food choices and getting plenty of sleep are all powerful antidotes to burnout.
Taking stock of your life by completing The Wheel of Life is a great place to start. A visual tool to reflect on the big picture, it helps you to quickly understand how balanced and fulfilled your life is in this moment (or not), highlighting how your daily routine has impacted your life over the years as a whole.
Consider each area like the spoke of a wheel - when one of the spokes is shorter than the others, it can throw the whole thing off balance. When you start balancing the many aspects of your being, your overall life satisfaction increases, basic psychological needs are fulfilled and you feel more content.
HOW TO COMPLETE THE WHEEL OF LIFE
Self-assess each sector of your life by giving it a value on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being “very dissatisfied” and 10 being “very satisfied”. Mark the value of each area with an ‘X’ in the centre of the segment. Now join the crosses, take a moment to review your wheel and honestly complete the following sentence “My Wheel of Life looks like it does because…” To complete the exercise, choose 3 of your lowest scores and write 1 action point for each to start increasing your level of satisfaction in these areas of your life right now.
Making real and lasting change in life requires awareness of self-sabotaging behaviours. Be aware of time robbers like watching TV and browsing the internet, and expect body-mind resistance for 21 days. After about 3 weeks, feeling more energised, positive and content will start to take over as the motivators.
Wishing you all the best on your wellness journey, and if you need any support in balancing your Wheel of Life, feel free to get in touch.