Many people feel the need to reflect on their lives at some point: Am I satisfied with what I'm doing? Are there any areas that are lacking? How can I find more balance? This is precisely where the Wheel of Life comes in – a proven coaching tool that helps you visualize your life's areas, set priorities, and initiate targeted changes.
What is the Wheel of Life?
The Wheel of Life, also known as the "Wheel of Life," is a method that originally originated in coaching and is now used in many areas—from personal development to teamwork to self-coaching. This method is so successful because it is intuitive and creates clarity without being overwhelming. Whether in individual coaching, in teams, in education, or simply for yourself—the Wheel of Life can be used flexibly and is suitable for many situations.
It visualizes the most important areas of life as segments of a circle. Typical areas are:
- Health and Fitness
- Family and friends
- Partnership and love
- Job and career
- Finance
- Personal development
- Leisure and hobbies
- Meaning, values and spirituality
Of course, you can adapt or add to the sections depending on what is relevant to you.
Why the Wheel of Life is so helpful
In everyday life, we often lose sight of the bigger picture. While we focus on individual tasks or problems, other areas of life sometimes fall behind. The Wheel of Life helps you assess your satisfaction in various areas at a glance. This way, you can quickly identify where things are going well – and where there might be a need for improvement.
Advantages of the Wheel of Life:
- Holistic assessment
- Making strengths and areas for development visible
- Promoting self-reflection and motivation
- Clear prioritization of goals
- Simple, intuitive application – even without prior knowledge
Step-by-step guide: How to use the Wheel of Life
Define areas of life
Consider which areas of your life are currently most important to you. Use the standard fields or customize them.
Rate satisfaction
Rate each area on a scale of 1 (very dissatisfied) to 10 (completely satisfied). Enter the values on the wheel and connect the dots.
Recognize the pattern
Look at the resulting image: Is the wheel round, or are there "dents"? Which areas are particularly pronounced, and which are less so?
Define goals and next steps
Ask yourself: Where do I want to achieve greater satisfaction? What would be a realistic first step? Write down specific actions you want to take.
Document development
Repeat the exercise regularly—for example, monthly or quarterly. This way, you can visualize your progress and adjust your goals.
Practical examples and tips
Example 1:
You notice that you rate yourself low in the "Friends & Social Connections" category. Your goal: to reserve a fixed evening each week for shared activities.
Example 2:
You're satisfied with your career, but there's room for improvement in your health. A first step could be to incorporate more exercise into your daily routine or schedule regular breaks.
Tip:
Create the Wheel of Life not just for yourself, but also with your partner, friends, or as a team. This will spark exciting conversations and new perspectives.
Frequently asked questions about the Wheel of Life
Can I customize the areas individually?
Absolutely! The Wheel of Life is flexible – you decide which aspects of life are important to you.
How often should I use the Wheel of Life?
Many people use it at the beginning of a new year, month, or after major changes. The more regularly you reflect, the more consciously you can control things.
Do I need any prior knowledge?
No. The Wheel of Life is intuitive and suitable for everyone—whether in self-coaching, consulting, or teamwork.
The Wheel of Life in Coaching and Everyday Life
The Wheel of Life isn't just a tool for individuals. It's also effective when working with groups, teams, or in educational contexts. It promotes exchange, identifies needs, and supports the formulation of common goals.
In consulting, the Wheel of Life helps identify blind spots and activate resources. Coaches use it to guide individuals through goal-clarification and the development of action steps. In teams, it can help clarify roles and responsibilities or strengthen collaboration.
Inspiration for practice: Using the Wheel of Life creatively
- Visualization on the floor: Lay out the Wheel of Life ( PDF available here ) as a large poster and stand in the individual areas – this way you can physically experience the differences.
- Journaling: Use the Wheel of Life as a starting point for a reflective journal. Regularly write down what you've experienced in each area.
- Checklist: Create a list of small, concrete steps for each area you want to improve.
Our tip: The “Wheel of Life – Coaching Block”
If you'd like to use the Wheel of Life regularly, the " Wheel of Life Coaching Block " is a practical tool. With 50 pre-designed worksheets, you can document your development, track changes, and continually readjust your goals. This block is ideal for anyone who wants to structure their self-reflection or use the Wheel of Life in coaching and group work.
With the Wheel of Life to more clarity and balance
The Wheel of Life is a versatile tool that helps you keep the bigger picture in perspective. It reveals where you're already satisfied and where potential still lies. It helps you set priorities, work on targeted changes, and bring more balance into your life step by step. Try the Wheel of Life—you'll be surprised by how much clarity and motivation it gives you.
