Sometimes we want to do everything at once, we keep a lot of important things in our heads. We grab onto one thing, then we run to do another, third … In the end, nothing happens, and we start all over again. Race in a vicious circle — familiar? Not a single person can keep in his head at once all spheres of life, all affairs and tasks. The “balance wheel” technique will help to cope with the problem.
What is a «balance wheel»?
It is a method by which one can analyze one’s whole life. It brings us back to the «here and now» and shows how satisfied we are with what is happening.
Our life is multifaceted and diverse, it consists of many areas. A properly created “balance wheel” allows you to see the system as a whole: what steps need to be taken towards the goals set, which areas to “pump”, what to pay attention to, and where to weaken control.
Making a wheel of balance
Set aside 20-30 minutes of free time in silence, take a pen and a piece of paper.
Schematically, the “wheel of balance” is a circle divided into 8–12 parts, where each part is responsible for a certain area of life. There are eight in the classic version.
Accordingly, draw a circle on paper and divide it into spheres:
Career and hobby. It’s your job. A place where you develop as a professional. What do you want to do and achieve?
Money. Your relationship with finances, ways of earning, passive income. Are you satisfied with the specific numbers?
Health and beauty. How are you feeling? How often do you go to the doctor? Do you monitor the amount of vitamins in the body, do you regularly take tests, how much time do you devote to physical condition?
Friends/communication. The sphere of life associated with the immediate environment. How often do you meet with friends, how satisfied are you with communicating with them? Do you get attention from your friends? Is there support?
Family. This is a partner, parents, children. How much time do you spend together, how is your relationship? Do you have enough communication? Is this relationship harmonious, or are there constant disputes and conflicts?
Personal development. Education, reading, learning something new. What do you want to learn and what do you want to know?
Leisure and travel. This area of life is responsible for relaxation.
How many times a week can you afford to take a break? How often do you go on vacation?
The quality of life. How satisfied are you with your life? Perhaps you have some dreams or unfulfilled desires? Or, on the contrary, are you satisfied with everything?
What’s next?
Rate each area of your life on a scale from zero to ten (zero is not at all satisfied, ten is perfect).
Divide each sector of the circle into 10 parts and shade the amount that you estimated on the scale. It is believed that values of 0-3 are alarming, 4-7 require attention, 8-10 are close to ideal. Those areas that sag will be your points of growth.
Determine what you are doing well, and what needs to be “pumped up”.
If you want to analyze your life in more detail, you can add a few more relevant areas. For example, love or home.
How to achieve balance?
To achieve harmony and satisfaction, you need to bring the wheel into balance. Direct energy and attention to those sectors that scored the least.
Ask yourself: what can I do about it now? Write down what you can do next. Think about how you will feel.
For example, if you have three items in the «relaxation» area, add 30 minutes to your daily schedule for yourself, organize walks in the fresh air, come up with interesting types of recreation.
When you have gone through all the sectors in this way, make a general plan and try to stick to it. Remember: where your attention is, there is your energy.
As a rule, the “balance wheel” is done every six months. After all, if you really make efforts to improve the situation in problem areas, then after a while their assessment will change.