Wheel of Life
Your Wheel of Life just gave you something most people never take time to find... clarity. It’s a snapshot of where your energy, time, and focus are going. But awareness is just the first step. Real growth happens when you take that insight and turn it into intentional action.
Hello, I'm Paloma Chiara!
If you’re ready to move from awareness to action, I offer 1:1 life coaching sessions where we work through exactly this process, turning messy goals and conflicting priorities into clear steps.
Drop your email to send your results automatically, I’ll reach out to schedule your assessment call.
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Free Wheel of Life Online Tool
Discover where you stand in life’s most important areas with our interactive Wheel of Life tool. This powerful self-reflection tool helps you visualize your current satisfaction levels across key life domains like career, health, relationships, and personal growth.
Steps To Use the Wheel of Life Tool:
- Choose the areas that matter most to you
- Evaluate each chosen area
- Save it or send it to me by email to assess it over a call
Key Features of the Wheel of Life Tool:
- Choose only the life areas that matter to you
- Downloadable results to track your progress over time
- No sign-up or email required, completely free and private
Ready to see where you stand? Start your assessment above and discover what a balanced life could look like for you.
Wheel of Life Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Wheel of Life and How Does It Work?
The Wheel of Life is a visual tool that helps you evaluate your satisfaction levels across different areas of your life. It works by dividing your life into key categories (like career, health, relationships) and asking you to rate your current satisfaction in each area on a scale of 1-10. These ratings are then displayed as segments of a circle, creating a “wheel” that instantly shows you which areas of your life are thriving and which need attention. The visual nature makes it easy to spot imbalances and prioritize where to focus your energy for improvement.
How Long Does It Take To Complete The Wheel Of Life?
It typically takes under 5 minutes to complete. The process involves three simple steps: first, selecting which life categories are most important to you, then rating your satisfaction in each chosen area, and finally reviewing your completed wheel. The beauty of this tool is its simplicity - you can get valuable insights about your life balance in less time than it takes to drink a cup of coffee.
Do I Need To Select All 12 Life Categories or Can I Choose Fewer?
You can choose as few as 3 categories or as many as all 12 - it’s completely up to you. The tool is designed to be flexible because everyone’s life priorities are different. Some people prefer to focus on just the most important areas to them, while others want a comprehensive view across all categories. Choose the areas that feel most relevant to your current life situation.
What Do the Numbers 1–10 Mean in Each Life Area?
The rating scale represents your current level of satisfaction in each area, where 1 means “completely unsatisfied” and 10 means “completely satisfied.” A score of 5-6 typically indicates you’re somewhat satisfied but see room for improvement, while 7-8 suggests you’re quite happy with that area. Scores of 1-3 usually indicate areas that need immediate attention, while 9-10 represent areas where you’re thriving. Remember, these ratings are subjective and based on your personal standards and expectations.
How Often Should I Redo My Wheel of Life Assessment?
Most life coaches recommend completing a Wheel of Life assessment every 3-6 months, though some people find monthly check-ins helpful during periods of active change. The frequency depends on your goals and life circumstances. If you’re working on specific improvements, monthly assessments can help track progress. For general life maintenance, quarterly reviews work well. Annual assessments are useful for major life planning and goal setting. The key is consistency - regular check-ins help you stay aware of shifts in your life balance.
Is My Wheel of Life Data Saved or Shared With Anyone?
No, your data is completely private and not saved or shared with anyone. The tool runs entirely in your browser, and no personal information is collected, stored, or transmitted to external servers. When you close the browser or refresh the page, your data is gone unless you’ve saved or shared your results yourself. This privacy-first approach ensures you can be completely honest in your self-assessment without any concerns about data security or privacy.
What Should I Do if My Wheel Looks Very Unbalanced?
An unbalanced wheel is actually normal and provides valuable insights. Start by identifying your lowest-scoring areas and choose just 1-2 to work on first. Trying to improve everything at once often leads to overwhelm and little progress. Consider what specific actions you could take to move those low areas up by just 1-2 points. Sometimes improving one area (like health) naturally boosts others (like energy for career). Remember, perfect balance isn’t the goal, sustainable improvement is.
And if you need the extra help, you can hire me as your life coach.
Can I Use This Tool if I’m Going Through a Major Life Transition?
Absolutely! The Wheel of Life is particularly valuable during transitions like career changes, relationship shifts, moving, or major life events. During these times, your priorities and satisfaction levels often fluctuate, making regular assessment even more important. The tool can help you identify which areas need extra attention during the transition and track how changes in one area affect others. Many people find it helpful to complete the assessment both before and after major life changes to measure progress and adjustment.
How Is This Different From Other Life Assessment Tools or Personality Tests?
Unlike personality tests that categorize your traits, the Wheel of Life focuses on your current satisfaction and life balance. It’s not about discovering who you are, but rather evaluating where you are right now. While personality tests provide static insights about your character, the Wheel of Life is dynamic - it changes as your life changes. It’s also more action-oriented, immediately highlighting areas for improvement rather than just providing information. The visual format makes it easier to understand and remember than lengthy personality reports.
What’s the Best Way To Use My Wheel of Life Results for Actual Life Improvements?
Start by celebrating your high-scoring areas - acknowledge what’s working well in your life. Then, choose 1-2 of your lowest-scoring areas and brainstorm specific, actionable steps to improve them. Instead of vague goals like “improve health,” create concrete actions like “walk 20 minutes daily” or “meal prep on Sundays.” Set a timeline for reassessment (like 30-90 days) and track your progress. Consider working with a life coach (like me) if you’re struggling to create action plans. Remember, small consistent improvements often lead to bigger changes than dramatic overhauls.
What Is the Wheel of Life Concept?
The Wheel of Life concept originated from Buddhist teachings about the cyclical nature of existence, but the modern self-assessment version was developed by life coaches in the 1960s. The core concept is that life consists of multiple interconnected areas that need attention and balance for overall well-being. Just like a car wheel needs all sections to be properly inflated to roll smoothly, your life works best when all important areas receive adequate attention. The visual wheel format makes it immediately clear which areas are “flat” and need inflation, helping you prioritize where to focus your energy and resources.
How Effective Is the Wheel of Life?
The Wheel of Life is highly effective as a starting point for self-awareness and goal setting, with many life coaches reporting it as one of their most valuable tools. Its effectiveness comes from its visual impact - seeing your life balance (or imbalance) graphically often creates powerful “aha moments” that motivate change. Studies in psychology show that visual representations of goals and current states significantly improve motivation and follow-through. However, the tool’s effectiveness ultimately depends on honest self-assessment and taking action on the insights gained. It’s most effective when used regularly and combined with concrete action planning.
How To Create Your Own Wheel of Life?
Creating your own Wheel of Life is simple: start by drawing a large circle and dividing it into 6-10 sections like pizza slices. Label each section with important life areas such as career, health, relationships, finances, personal growth, recreation, family, and spirituality. Choose categories that resonate with your current life situation. Next, rate your satisfaction in each area from 1-10, with 10 being at the outer edge of the circle and 1 near the center. Color in or shade each section up to your satisfaction level. The resulting shape shows your life balance visually. You can customize categories, add subcategories, or create themed wheels for specific goals.
What Is the Wheel of Life in NLP?
In Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), the Wheel of Life is used as a powerful state assessment and goal-setting tool that taps into both conscious and unconscious awareness. NLP practitioners use it to help clients identify limiting beliefs and patterns that may be keeping certain life areas stuck at low satisfaction levels. The visual representation engages multiple learning modalities (visual, kinesthetic) making insights more memorable and actionable. NLP approaches often include exploring the language clients use to describe each area, identifying metaphors and beliefs that either support or hinder progress, and using techniques like anchoring to associate positive states with improvement goals.
What Are the Wheel of Life Categories?
Traditional Wheel of Life categories include: Career & Work (job satisfaction, professional growth), Health & Fitness (physical wellness, exercise, nutrition), Relationships (family, friends, romantic partnerships), Personal Growth (learning, spirituality, self-development), Finance & Money (financial security, income, savings), Fun & Recreation (hobbies, entertainment, leisure), Physical Environment (home, workspace, surroundings), and Contribution & Legacy (helping others, making a difference). However, categories should be personalized - some people add Education, Travel, Creativity, or Parenting. The key is choosing 6-10 areas that truly matter to your current life situation and goals.
How To Use Wheel of Life
To use the Wheel of Life effectively: First, select categories that are genuinely important to you right now. Be honest when rating each area - this isn’t about impressing anyone but getting accurate self-awareness. Look for patterns in your completed wheel: are low areas related? Are high areas supporting each other? Identify 1-2 lowest areas to focus on first. Create specific, measurable action steps for improvement rather than vague intentions. Set a timeline for reassessment (30-90 days typically). Track progress regularly and celebrate improvements. Consider sharing results with a trusted friend, mentor, or coach for accountability and support.
How To Do Wheel of Life Exercise
The wheel of life exercise follows these steps: Begin in a quiet space where you can reflect honestly. Draw a circle divided into sections for each life area, or use a digital tool. For each section, ask yourself: “On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied am I in this area right now?” Rate based on your current reality, not your potential or past achievements. Mark each rating on the wheel and connect the points to see your life’s shape. Reflect on the results: What patterns do you notice? Which areas surprise you? What would a “10” look like in your lowest areas? Finally, choose 1-2 areas for immediate focus and brainstorm specific action steps.
Why Is the Wheel of Life Important?
The Wheel of Life is important because it provides objective clarity about subjective experiences. Many people operate on autopilot, not realizing which areas of their lives are truly satisfying or problematic until they complete this visual assessment. It prevents the common trap of focusing only on obvious problems (like work stress) while neglecting other crucial areas (like relationships or health). The tool also reveals interconnections - how neglecting health affects energy for career success, or how financial stress impacts relationships. This holistic view enables more strategic life planning and helps prevent the regret that comes from discovering too late that important life areas were neglected.
Why Use The Wheel of Life
Use the Wheel of Life because it transforms abstract life satisfaction into concrete, actionable insights. It cuts through the noise of daily concerns to reveal what truly matters for your overall well-being. The visual format makes complex life balance issues immediately understandable and memorable. It’s an excellent tool for major life transitions, annual planning, or when feeling stuck or overwhelmed. The assessment takes minutes but provides months of clarity about priorities and goals. It also serves as a powerful communication tool with partners, family, or coaches about what you need to focus on. Most importantly, it empowers you to make intentional choices about where to invest your time and energy rather than just reacting to whatever demands the most immediate attention.