How to Use the Wheel of Life to Achieve Your Goals

Hey there, friend! Today we're going to talk about something that I think is super important - the Wheel of Life. It may sound like some sort of game show, but I promise it's not.

So, what is the Wheel of Life? Basically, it's a tool that can help you assess different areas of your life and see where you're doing well and where you might need to make some improvements. The wheel is divided into different categories such as career, health, relationships, and finances.

Why is this important, you ask? Well, it's easy to get so caught up in our day-to-day lives that we forget to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. The Wheel of Life can help us do just that. By assessing different areas of our lives, we can see where we're excelling and where we might need to put in a little more effort.

One way to improve these areas is by setting goals. I know, I know, goal setting can sound a little intimidating. But trust me, it doesn't have to be! Setting goals can help us focus our efforts and give us something to work towards. Plus, it feels pretty darn good when we accomplish them.

The Wheel of Life is a tool that can help us assess different areas of our lives and set goals to improve them. It's all about taking a step back, evaluating where we're at, and working towards where we want to be. Simple enough, right? Let's dive in and see how we can use the Wheel of Life to achieve our goals.​

Understanding the Wheel of Life

We're going to take a closer look at the different categories on the Wheel of Life and how to rate your current level of satisfaction in each one.

So, the Wheel of Life is divided into different categories such as career, health, relationships, and finances. These categories represent different areas of our lives that are important to our overall well-being. By assessing these categories, we can get a better idea of where we're excelling and where we might need to put in a little more effort.

Now, how do we rate our current level of satisfaction in each category? Well, it's pretty simple. Think about each category and how satisfied you are with that area of your life on a scale of 1-10. For example, if you're happy with your career and feel fulfilled in your job, you might rate your career category as an 8 or 9. On the other hand, if you're struggling with your finances and feel stressed about money, you might rate your finances category as a 3 or 4.

It's important to be honest with yourself when rating each category. This isn't a competition or a test - it's simply a way to evaluate different areas of your life and see where you might need to focus your efforts.

The Wheel of Life is divided into different categories that represent different areas of our lives. By rating our current level of satisfaction in each category on a scale of 1-10, we can get a better idea of where we're excelling and where we might need to make some improvements. 

Identifying Goals

​We're going to take it a step further and talk about how to identify goals for each category on the Wheel of Life.

Now, before we dive in, let's talk about the importance of setting SMART goals. What does that mean, you ask? Well, SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Let me break it down for you:

• Specific: Your goal should be clear and specific. It should answer the questions who, what, when, where, and why.
• Measurable: Your goal should be measurable. This means that you should be able to track your progress and see if you're on track to achieving your goal.
• Achievable: Your goal should be achievable. This means that it should be challenging but realistic.
• Relevant: Your goal should be relevant to the category you're setting it for. It should be something that will help you improve in that area of your life.
• Time-bound: Your goal should have a deadline. This will help you stay motivated and focused on achieving your goal.

Now that we've got that covered, let's talk about how to identify goals for each category on the Wheel of Life. Start by looking at the categories you rated the lowest in. These are the areas where you might need to put in a little more effort.

For example, let's say you rated your health category as a 4. You might set a SMART goal to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for the next 3 months. This goal is specific (exercise for 30 minutes a day), measurable (5 days a week), achievable (it's realistic to fit 30 minutes of exercise into your day), relevant (it will help you improve your health), and time-bound (3 months).

Remember, goals don't have to be huge, life-changing things. They can be small, achievable steps that will help you make progress in the areas where you need it most.

Setting SMART goals is important to help you stay focused and motivated. Identify goals for each category on the Wheel of Life by looking at the areas where you rated the lowest. Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. 

Creating a Plan

Now that you have your SMART goals identified for each category, it's time to create a plan to achieve them. This is where the rubber meets the road, and you start making progress toward a better life.

The first step is to break down your goals into smaller, achievable steps. Let's say your goal is to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for the next 3 months. What are the smaller steps you need to take to achieve that goal? It might look something like this:

Week 1: Go for a 10-minute walk 3 times a week
Week 2: Go for a 15-minute walk 3 times a week
Week 3: Go for a 20-minute walk 3 times a week
Week 4: Go for a 25-minute walk 3 times a week
Week 5-12: Exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week
​
Breaking down your goal into smaller steps like this makes it feel less overwhelming and more achievable. It also gives you a clear roadmap to follow, which can help you stay motivated and on track.

Once you have your smaller steps identified, it's time to create an action plan. This might include things like scheduling your exercise time into your calendar, finding an accountability partner to help keep you on track or rewarding yourself for reaching milestones along the way.

Remember, the key is to make your plan specific and actionable. Don't just say you'll "exercise more" - break it down into concrete steps and hold yourself accountable.

Creating an action plan is essential to achieving your goals on the Wheel of Life. Break down your goals into smaller, achievable steps and create a specific, actionable plan to achieve them.

Grab a journal or a dry-erase board and get started!

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SMART Goals and Personal Life Sections

Now, it's time to talk about how to use those SMART goals in different sections of your Wheel of Life.

Let's start with a career. Perhaps your goal is to get a promotion, switch careers, or start your own business. Whatever your goal is, make sure it's Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, a SMART goal for your career could be to increase your sales numbers by 20% in the next six months.

Next up is home. Maybe your goal is to declutter your living space or redecorate your bedroom. Again, make sure your goal is SMART. For example, a SMART goal for your home could be to donate or sell at least five items you no longer need every week for the next month.

Religion is also an important aspect of our personal lives. Your goal could be to deepen your spiritual practice, attend church more regularly, or volunteer at a religious organization. A SMART goal for your religion could be to read one spiritual book each month for the next six months.

Finances are a significant part of our personal lives, and it's essential to have financial goals. Maybe your goal is to pay off debt, save for a down payment on a house, or invest in stocks. A SMART goal for your finances could be to save $5,000 in the next year by cutting down on unnecessary expenses.

Travel is a fantastic way to broaden our horizons and gain new experiences. Your goal could be to travel to a new country, visit a friend in another state, or take a weekend road trip. A SMART goal for your travel could be to save $500 in the next three months for a weekend getaway.

Hobbies are a great way to unwind and enjoy life outside of work. Maybe your goal is to learn a new skill, join a sports team, or start painting. A SMART goal for your hobbies could be to attend one painting class each week for the next month.

Health is a vital aspect of our personal lives. Your goal could be to lose weight, start a workout routine, or eat healthier. A SMART goal for your health could be to go for a 30-minute walk every day for the next month.

Family is the foundation of our personal lives, and it's important to nurture those relationships. Maybe your goal is to spend more quality time with your kids, plan a family vacation, or attend a family gathering. A SMART goal for your family could be to have a family game night every Friday for the next month.

Romance is an essential part of our personal lives, whether we're in a relationship or looking for one. Your goal could be to go on more dates, communicate better with your partner, or express your love more often. A SMART goal for your romance could be to plan a date night once a week for the next month.

​Self-care is crucial for our mental and emotional well-being. Your goal could be to practice mindfulness, get more sleep, or schedule a massage. A SMART goal for your self-care could be to meditate for 10 minutes every day for the next month.

Finally, growth is a constant aspect of our personal lives. Your goal could be to learn a new language, take a course, or read more books. A SMART goal for your growth could be to read one book on personal development every month for the next year.

Brainstorming

Here are a few ideas to get you started brainstorming your personal life sections.

What roles do you play?
Spouse, Parent, Employee, Boss, Friend, Community Leader?

Which areas in life are important to you?
Career, Home, Religion, Finances, Travel, Hobbies, Health, Family, Romance, Self-Care, and Growth

You can use the example provided to give you a good start, but make sure that you customize your own wheel to what is important to you.

Once you have your wheel categories selected, you will want to rate each segment on a scale from 1 to 10. Ideally, you want your wheel segments to be scored evenly, or as close as you can get them. This will help you avoid a bumpy road in life. Aim for scores of 7 or higher.

As you work through this exercise you will quickly see how one aspect of your life impacts another. You may be out of work right now and have a career ranked at a 2, but family is a 10 because you have more time to spend at home now that you are not working. Picking up on how each segment relates to one another will help you identify where your focus needs to be placed first.

Here are questions you can use to help you score each area of your wheel.
 
Family and Friends
 
Do I reach out regularly to my extended family?
Does our family share meals together?
Do I spend enough time asking how my family’s day went?
Do I have a close circle of friends?
Do I spend face-to-face time with my friends?
Am I a supportive shoulder to lean on?
 
Career
Am I passionate about the work that I do?
Do I look forward to going to work?
Does my career reflect my personal values?
Do I have room to advance in my current place of employment?

Health and Self-Care
Do I eat fresh and unprocessed foods regularly?
Do I exercise?
Do I keep up with my annual exams and checkups?
Am I overweight?
Do I take time to unwind and relax?
Am I challenging myself to learn and try new things?
 
Travel and Recreation
Do I engage in fun activities?
Do I visit places that I enjoy or want to explore?
Do I have a hobby?

Finances
Do I have a retirement plan in place?
Am I in debt?
Do I have a healthy savings account?
Am I living within my means?
Do I have and follow a budget?

Romantic Relationship
Do I want to be in a romantic relationship?
Do we have the same values?
Am I putting my best self into the relationship?
Does my relationship get the time it deserves and needs?

Home
Do I like my home?
Am I comfortable and proud to have guests over?
Do I like the city where I live?
Is my home clean and organized?

Religion and Spirituality
Do I have a religious belief?
Am I engaging with others with similar beliefs?
Is there more that I can learn about my religion?

Looking at Your Wheel

Here you are going to look at your scores in each segment and begin to get a graphical representation of how bumpy your ride is and gain insight into how changes in one area may impact another area's score. This is a balancing act, as life so often is.

Finding Balance
 
Now is the time to start to delve deeper into why your scores are what they are. Has your family score dipped lower than it has ever been before? What number do you want to see your career at, while still maintaining balance with your other life segments?
 
Some other questions you may ask yourself –
 
What actions can you take now to start increasing your scores?
What will you feel like if you can get to 7 or higher in all areas? 8? 9? 10?
What talents and skills do you already have that will assist you in achieving your goals?
What would you need to put into motion today to move you up one point by next week?

Tracking Progress

Let's talk about how to track your progress and stay motivated along the way.

Tracking your progress is essential for several reasons. First, it helps you see how far you've come and gives you a sense of accomplishment. It's easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day and forget to celebrate your wins, so tracking progress is a great way to keep you motivated and feeling good about your efforts.

Second, tracking progress can help you identify any areas where you might need to make adjustments. If you're not making progress toward a goal, tracking can help you see where you're getting stuck and make changes to your plan.

So, how can you track your progress toward your Wheel of Life goals? Here are a few ideas:

• Journaling: Keep a daily or weekly journal to track your progress. Write down what you did each day to work towards your goals and how it made you feel. This can be a great way to reflect on your progress and identify any areas where you might need to make adjustments.
• Habit tracker: Use a habit tracker app or a physical habit tracker to keep track of your progress toward your goals. This can be a simple way to see how often you're taking action toward your goals and identify any trends or patterns.
• Celebrate milestones: Set milestones for yourself along the way and celebrate when you reach them. This could be something as simple as treating yourself to your favorite meal or taking a day off to do something fun.

Remember, the key to staying motivated is to focus on progress, not perfection. Don't beat yourself up if you have an off day or don't make as much progress as you'd like. Just keep moving forward, one step at a time.

Tracking progress is essential to staying motivated and achieving your goals on the Wheel of Life. Use journaling, habit trackers, and celebrations to keep yourself on track and celebrate your progress along the way.

Remember, setting goals and taking action towards a better life is an ongoing process, so don't be afraid to revisit your Wheel of Life regularly and make adjustments as needed.

Making Adjustments

Let's address how to make adjustments as you work towards your goals and how to celebrate your successes and learn from your failures along the way.

As you work towards your goals, it's important to periodically reassess them and make adjustments as needed. Maybe you've discovered that one of your goals isn't as important to you as you initially thought, or maybe you've encountered unexpected obstacles that have made it difficult to make progress. Whatever the reason, it's okay to make adjustments to your goals and your action plan.

Here are a few steps you can take to reassess your goals and make adjustments:

• Reflect on your progress: Take some time to reflect on your progress toward your goals. Are you making steady progress, or are you stuck? Are there any goals that no longer feel important to you?
• Re-evaluate your action plan: Look at your action plan for each goal and ask yourself if it's working for you. Are there any steps that are no longer necessary or any steps that you need to add?
• Adjust your goals: Based on your reflection and re-evaluation, make adjustments to your goals as needed. Maybe you need to shift your focus to a different area of your life, or maybe you need to break a goal down into smaller, more achievable steps.

It's also important to celebrate your successes along the way, no matter how small they may seem. Celebrating your successes can help keep you motivated and remind you of how far you've come. And don't forget to learn from your failures too - they can be valuable learning opportunities that can help you make adjustments and move forward toward your goals.

Making adjustments is a natural part of the goal-setting process. Periodically reassess your goals and action plan, and don't be afraid to make adjustments as needed. Celebrate your successes and learn from your failures, and remember to keep moving forward, one step at a time.

Bringing it Together

We've come to the end of our Wheel of Life journey, and it's time to wrap things up. Over the past few posts, we've talked about what the Wheel of Life is, and how to use it to identify goals, create a plan, track progress, make adjustments, and celebrate successes. Now, let's recap the importance of using the Wheel of Life to achieve your goals.

The Wheel of Life is a powerful tool that can help you assess your current level of satisfaction in different areas of your life and identify areas where you want to improve. By setting SMART goals and creating an action plan, you can take concrete steps toward achieving the life you want.

Tracking your progress and making adjustments along the way can help you stay motivated and on track toward your goals. Celebrating your successes, no matter how small can help you stay positive and remind you of how far you've come. And learning from your failures can help you make adjustments and keep moving forward toward your goals.

So, what's next? It's time to take action and start setting goals! Use the Wheel of Life to assess your current level of satisfaction in different areas of your life, and identify one or two areas where you want to focus your attention. Then, set SMART goals for those areas and create an action plan to achieve them.

Remember, setting goals and taking action toward a better life is an ongoing process. The Wheel of Life can help you stay focused and motivated, but it's up to you to take action and make your dreams a reality.

Are you ready to take your self-growth and care journey to the next level? If so, I have the perfect resource for you. I recently wrote a blog article titled "This Year, Create the Life You Absolutely Love," and I think you'll find it super helpful and inspiring.

In the article, I share tips and strategies for setting SMART goals in different areas of your life, such as your career, home, finances, travel, hobbies, health, family, romance, self-care, and personal growth. By following these techniques, you can turn your aspirations into actionable steps and make progress toward your ideal life.

So, what do you say? Are you ready to join me on this journey toward creating the life you love? Head over to my blog and check out the article. I can't wait to hear what you think and see the amazing progress you make!