Taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do for your well-being. However, with our busy lives, it can be easy to forget to care for ourselves. That’s where the Self Care Wheel comes in.
In this guide, we’ll explore the benefits of using the Self Care Wheel and provide practical tips on incorporating it into your daily routine. Whether new to self-care or looking to enhance your routine, the Self Care Wheel can help you prioritize your well-being and live a more fulfilling life.
Who created the self care wheel?
The Self Care Wheel was originally developed by Olga Phoenix, a licensed professional counselor, trauma expert, and consultant based in the United States.
Phoenix developed the Self Care Wheel as a resource to assist individuals in recognizing the various aspects of their lives that require attention and self-care.
It aims to provide practical suggestions for participating in self-care practices.
The Self Care Wheel has since become a popular tool among mental health professionals, life coaches, and individuals looking to prioritize self care and well-being. It is widely used in counseling and therapy settings, as well as in workshops, retreats, and self-help books.
What Is the Self Care Wheel?
The Self Care Wheel is a tool designed to encourage individuals to view self care as a holistic practice that involves taking care of multiple dimensions of their lives rather than just focusing on one aspect of their health or well-being.
It is a circular diagram divided into eight segments, each representing a different dimension of self care.
The eight dimensions typically included in the Self Care Wheel are:
- Physical
- Emotional
- Social
- Spiritual
- Intellectual
- Occupational
- Financial
- Environmental.
Each dimension represents a different aspect of your life, all of which ideally require daily attention to achieve optimal well-being.
What do you find in the Self Care Wheel?
On the first sheet, you will find a suggested list of topics that are placed between the spokes of the wheel, corresponding to each relevant dimension. These topics serve as inspiration or prompts for taking actions that promote self-care in those areas.
The second wheel is intentionally left blank to encourage personalization. This blank wheel provides an opportunity for you to identify your unique self-care needs and preferences, allowing you to tailor your self-care practices to align with your personal values and goals.
Download Olga Phoenixβs free copy of the Self-Care Wheel.
Balancing the dimensions for overall well-being
Balancing the different dimensions of the Self Care Wheel is essential for overall well-being.
Each dimension represents a different aspect of your life that can impact your mental, emotional, and physical health. Neglecting any one of these dimensions can lead to feelings of stress, overwhelm, and burnout.
For example, if you only focus on your physical health and neglect your emotional or social health, you may feel isolated and disconnected from others, impacting your overall well-being.
Alternatively, if you only focus on your spiritual health and neglect your financial or environmental health, you may struggle with stress and anxiety due to financial struggles or a lack of connection to the natural world.
Balancing the dimensions of the Self Care Wheel can help you achieve a more well-rounded and fulfilling life.
By caring for yourself in each area, you’ll be better equipped to handle stress, build meaningful relationships, and achieve your goals. You’ll feel more energized, focused, and fulfilled, which can positively impact every aspect of your life.
How to use the Self Care Wheel
Using the Self Care Wheel is a simple and effective way to prioritize self care and improve your overall well-being.
Here are the steps for using the Self-Care Wheel:
#1. Assess your current self-care practices
The first step is to take a look at the different areas of your life and assess how you’re currently taking care of yourself. This includes physical exercise, sleep habits, social connections, and emotional health.
Example: You might realize that you’ve been neglecting your social connections lately because you’ve been so busy with work.
#2. Identify areas that need improvement
Once you’ve assessed your current self-care practices, it’s time to identify areas that need improvement. This could mean focusing on areas where you’re currently struggling or simply finding ways to enhance your existing self-care routine.
Example: Based on the assessment in step 1, you might decide that you want to focus on building stronger social connections by scheduling regular coffee dates with friends or joining a new club or group.
#3. Set realistic goals
It’s important to set realistic goals for yourself regarding self-care. These goals should be achievable and tailored to your specific needs and lifestyle.
Example: Rather than committing to spending every night out with friends (which might not be feasible), you could set a goal of scheduling one social activity per week.
#4. Develop a plan of action
Once you’ve identified areas for improvement and set realistic goals, it’s time to develop an action plan.
This could involve creating a schedule or routine for yourself or finding resources (like an app or online community) that can support your efforts.
Example: If your goal is to get more physical exercise, you might create a weekly workout schedule and sign up for fitness classes in advance so you’re more likely to stick with it.
#5. Take consistent action
Finally, it’s important to take consistent action toward achieving your self-care goals. This means making self-care a priority in your life and holding yourself accountable for following through with your plan.
Example: You might make sure that you attend every scheduled workout class each week and prioritize spending time with loved ones, even when work gets busy.
Here are some examples of activities you could include in each dimension:
- Physical: Exercise, sleep, healthy eating, massage, yoga, etc.
- Emotional: Therapy, journaling, meditation, self-reflection, etc.
- Social: Spending time with friends and family, volunteering, joining a club or group, etc.
- Spiritual: Meditation, prayer, attending religious services, spending time in nature, etc.
- Intellectual: Reading, learning a new skill or hobby, attending a class or workshop, etc.
- Occupational: Pursuing a career or job that is fulfilling, taking breaks at work, setting boundaries, etc.
- Financial: Creating a budget, saving money, investing, seeking financial advice, etc.
- Environmental: Reducing waste, using eco-friendly products, spending time in nature, etc.
Final thoughts
Taking care of yourself is essential for your overall well-being. The Self Care Wheel is a powerful tool that can help you identify areas where you may need to focus on self care and provide you with ideas for how to improve your well-being.
By taking small steps each day to prioritize your self care, you’ll be able to improve your overall quality of life and feel more fulfilled and content.
Remember, self care is not selfish; it’s essential for your well-being!
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4 thoughts on “How to Get the Best Results from the Self Care Wheel”
What a great piece, I’ve pinned this to come back too later π
Glad to hear you found this interesting π
This is cool, it has nice things on the wheel. Taking care of ourselves is very important.
You’re right; self-care should be the first priority because it is essential to preserving our physical and emotional health. Also, when we look after ourselves, we can better care for those around us. Thank you for being here π