It can be tough to differentiate work time and personal time, especially since we are always accessible via our cell phones. Because of this and the ease of working across time zones virtually, there can be greater pressure to work overtime to finish important projects. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a remote employee, or an executive, sometimes the idea is that since you can work anywhere, you could or should be working all the time. We all know that is not ideal; you can quickly feel burned out. Extensive work hours are associated with a higher risk of anxiety and depression, to name just two negative consequences. Here is a powerful exercise that we use with all of our clients to see exactly where you are currently at with your personal work-life balance.
Life Balance Wheel Exercise
To complete this exercise, follow these steps:
1. Within each area, type or circle the number that best represents your level of satisfaction in that area of your life for the last year. (“7” = Satisfied; “1” = Dissatisfied)
When you are making goals and planning for the future, including your next career move, you want to take into consideration everything on the wheel that is a 5 or less. Remember that every aspect of our life affects the others so establishing goals in each area will help you improve other areas of the wheel as well.
2. Take 30 minutes to an hour to think and write about what each area would be like for you if you rated it a 7. Take your time with this exercise, come back to it the next day if you need to, in order to ensure you include everything that is important to you.
3. Review each area individually and write down what needs to change from where it is now to be closer to a 7. This will help you develop your vision of what you want your life to look like, and what changes you need to make in the next year to get closer to that vision.
Keep in mind that your career can be a big part of that vision, and the other areas CAN affect your career goals. For example, if a lot of time with your family is important to making the Friends/Family section a 7, you may say, “I need to adjust the amount I travel for my job.”
4. The final area we look for goals is the following question concerning areas for improvement. List five things you need to improve and one immediate action item for each one to increase your satisfaction in that area of the wheel.
Areas for Improvement
5. Finally, finalize your goals based on the list above. Define them below. Be specific and make sure they are measurable and have a timeframe.
6. Bonus exercise: We also recommend writing down your top five values and how well you have honored them so far this year on a scale of 1-5. Identify one action item for each value to move each one up the scale in the next year.
Help When You Need It Most
Need help with defining your values or setting progressive career goals? We are here to help.
We offer bundles and courses to help you with whatever is on your mind regarding your career. Whether you need help with your career vision, you feel stuck, have issues with your co-workers, or your boss, we will help you resolve those issues with honest feedback and practical guidance.
