Wellness Wheel

Time for a Wellness Wheel

Feeling overwhelmed or flat? Or are you just good at checking in on yourself through reflection? It doesn’t matter, grab a pal, find some sunshine, or light a candle and go through a wellness wheel.

Every now and then, my friend and I revisit the wellness wheel together, and each time I’m pleasantly reminded of its value. This exercise serves as a powerful way to check in with myself, offering insight into how I’m really doing across different areas of life. Whether I’m thriving or need to recalibrate, it helps to see things from a broader perspective.

What is the Wellness Wheel?

At its core, the wellness wheel is divided into several key dimensions that contribute to our overall sense of well-being. Each area is a vital piece of the bigger picture, helping us assess and balance our mental, emotional, and physical health. You don’t need to overcomplicate this exercise. It’s about paying attention to your gut reaction in each category. I tend to rate how much time, energy, and effort I’m investing in each area, then colour in the corresponding sections of the wheel. This simple visual quickly shows me which aspects of my life might need more attention.

The Eight Dimensions of Wellness

1. Physical Wellness

This dimension emphasises the importance of maintaining your body through exercise, proper nutrition, and rest. It also touches on managing stress and keeping yourself in optimal physical health.

2. Emotional Wellness

Emotional health revolves around recognising and managing your emotions effectively. Building resilience, nurturing positive relationships, and practicing self-care are key components here.

3. Intellectual Wellness

Lifelong learning and mental stimulation fall into this category. It’s about keeping your mind active through reading, problem-solving, or creative activities, allowing personal growth and critical thinking.

4. Social Wellness

Relationships are the foundation of this dimension. It’s about cultivating meaningful connections, contributing to your community, and fostering a sense of belonging.

5. Spiritual Wellness

This involves exploring your sense of purpose and connection to something greater. Whether through meditation, reflection, or religious beliefs, this dimension encourages inner peace and alignment with your core values.

6. Occupational Wellness

Fulfilment in your work and maintaining a healthy work-life balance are essential to occupational wellness. It’s about aligning your career or vocation with your values and finding purpose in what you do.

7. Environmental Wellness

This focuses on your relationship with your surroundings, both immediate and global. Creating positive spaces and practicing sustainability contribute to environmental wellness.

8. Financial Wellness

Managing your finances in a way that reduces stress and allows you to pursue your goals falls under this category. Financial stability is key to long-term well-being.

Aligning Long-term Well-being Goals with Core Needs

The research by Sheldon & Elliot (1999) on Self-Determination Theory (SDT) examines how fulfilling three basic psychological needs—autonomy, relatedness, and competence—can lead to greater well-being and motivation. This alignment ensures that what we’re striving for truly fulfills us.

For example, designing a personal fitness routine allows you to set your fitness goals and choose activities you enjoy, giving you the freedom to manage your health on your terms (autonomy). Or volunteering in your community might bring you closer to others and strengthen your sense of connection and purpose, fostering meaningful relationships with like-minded individuals.

The Power of Self-Concordant Goals

The research concluded that when long-term goals align with these psychological needs, individuals experience higher levels of intrinsic motivation, greater personal fulfilment, and improved well-being. Conversely, goals that don’t satisfy these needs are less likely to provide genuine happiness or sustained motivation. Pursuing self-concordant goals creates a positive cycle—success in these goals leads to enhanced well-being, which in turn motivates further goal striving.

Reflection and Personal Takeaways

Going through the wellness wheel regularly has become an essential part of my personal growth. It not only helps me identify areas for improvement but also allows me to celebrate areas where I’m thriving. Each time I go through the process, I’m reminded of the importance of revisiting my goals and adjusting as needed. Life changes, and so should our approach to wellbeing.

The wellness wheel is not a rigid tool but a flexible framework that supports you in creating a balanced, fulfilling life. It’s about periodically checking in, making necessary adjustments, and ensuring that your goals align with your deeper needs and values.

So grab your bestie, partner, flatmate or someone you want to have a good conversation with and dedicate a couple of hours to your wellness wheel. You will be glad you did and let me know what you discover. You might be surprised at what insights you uncover.