Wheel of Life Assessment and Template
You may go through periods in which life feels out of balance. Your head feels full, your energy is low, and it becomes harder to see where the pressure is really coming from. The Wheel of Life helps you make that visible. It shows the main areas of your life in one simple overview, so you can quickly see what is going well and where change may be needed.
That is exactly why this model is widely used in coaching, personal development, and work related conversations. It gives structure to reflection and turns a vague feeling of imbalance into something concrete. In a work setting, for example, managers, coaches, and HR professionals can use it to explore stress, energy, motivation, or work life balance in a practical and respectful way.
In this article, you will discover what the Wheel of Life is, where it comes from, how it works, and how to use it in a practical way. You will also learn how to turn the outcome into clear goals and next steps. The template included with this article makes it easy to get started right away. Enjoy reading!
What is the Wheel of Life?
The Wheel of Life® is a simple visual tool that helps people reflect on the most important areas of their life. By scoring each area, it becomes easier to see where life feels balanced and where more attention may be needed.
The strength of this model lies in its clarity. Many people notice that something feels off, but cannot immediately explain where that feeling comes from. The Wheel of Life makes that visible. It turns a general sense of imbalance into a practical overview that can be discussed and acted on.
This is one of the main reasons why the Wheel of Life is widely used in coaching, personal development, and goal setting. It helps people step back, look at the bigger picture, and decide which areas deserve attention first. Instead of focusing on one issue in isolation, the model shows how different parts of life can influence each other.
Today, the Wheel of Life is mainly known as a coaching and self reflection tool. Its modern format became widely recognized through Paul J. Meyer and the Success Motivation Institute. At the same time, the broader idea behind the model connects to older reflection traditions that focus on balance and awareness in life. This distinction matters, because it helps explain both the practical use of the tool and the way it developed over time.
In practice, the Wheel of Life is not meant to diagnose problems or produce a scientific measurement. Its value lies in reflection, conversation, and follow-up. The scores themselves are only the starting point. The real benefit appears when the outcome leads to clearer priorities and practical next steps.
Wheel of Life meaning
The meaning of the Wheel of Life is straightforward. It is a way to explore how satisfied someone feels with different areas of life at a specific moment.
That may include work, health, relationships, finances, personal growth, or enjoyment. By placing these areas together in one wheel, differences become visible very quickly. Some parts may feel stable and fulfilling, while others may clearly need attention.
This makes the Wheel of Life especially useful for people who want to reflect in a structured way. It creates awareness first. From that awareness, better choices often follow.
Figure 1 – Wheel of Life® (Meyer, 1960).
Wheel of Life in coaching and work context
The Wheel of Life is often used in coaching because it gives a quick and structured overview of someone’s current situation. In one visual, it becomes clear which areas feel strong, which areas feel out of balance, and where attention may be needed first. That makes it a practical starting point for a coaching conversation.
In many coaching situations, people start with a broad feeling rather than a clear problem. Someone may feel tired, restless, unmotivated, or stuck, without being able to explain exactly why. The Wheel of Life helps make that visible. Instead of staying at the level of a vague feeling, the conversation becomes more specific and more useful.
This is also why the model works well in a work context. Managers, coaches, and HR professionals can use it to support development conversations, career coaching, and discussions about energy, workload, growth, and work life balance. The strength of the tool is that it connects work to the wider reality of daily life. Work performance does not exist in isolation. It is often influenced by health, recovery, relationships, financial pressure, and personal development.
For example, someone may score work relatively high, while health, rest, or relationships score much lower. On the surface, that person may seem to function well. At the same time, the broader picture may show that the current situation is difficult to sustain. That insight can change the direction of the conversation. Instead of only discussing performance, the discussion can shift toward boundaries, priorities, support, and realistic next steps.
The Wheel of Life can also help create more openness in conversations that are often difficult to start. Think of topics such as stress, motivation, role fit, development needs, or a growing lack of balance. The visual format lowers the threshold because it gives people something concrete to reflect on and discuss together.
At the same time, it is important to use the model in the right way. The Wheel of Life is not a scientific assessment or a diagnostic instrument. It is a reflection and conversation tool. The scores do not provide objective proof. They show how someone experiences different areas of life at a specific moment. The real value lies in the conversation behind the scores and in the actions that follow from it.
That is exactly where the model becomes useful in practice. It helps turn reflection into direction. A low score in one area can lead to a better coaching question, a clearer development goal, or a more realistic action plan. In that sense, the Wheel of Life is not the outcome itself. It is the starting point for a better conversation and more focused choices.
Subdivisions within the Wheel of Life
The Wheel of Life is usually divided into eight categories. Together, these categories give a broad view of the areas that shape daily life. By scoring each area, it becomes easier to see where life feels stable and where change may be needed.
The most common subdivisions are:
- Business & career
- Finance
- Health
- Family & friends
- Romance
- Personal development
- Fun & recreation
- Contribution to society
These categories are only a starting point. They can be adjusted to fit the person and the situation. For one person, spirituality or parenting may deserve a separate category. For someone else, learning, rest, or community may be more relevant. The Wheel of Life becomes more useful when the categories match real life.
How does the Wheel of Life work?
The Wheel of Life works by asking you to score the most important areas of your life. Each area is rated on a scale from 1 to 10. A low score is placed closer to the centre of the wheel, while a high score is placed closer to the outer edge.
Once all scores have been added, the shape of the wheel becomes visible. That shape gives an immediate impression of how balanced or unbalanced life feels at that moment. Some areas may look strong and stable, while others clearly need more attention.
This is what makes the Wheel of Life so useful. It turns a general feeling into something concrete. Many people already sense that something feels off, but they do not always know where that feeling is coming from. The wheel helps make that visible in a simple and structured way.
The purpose of the Wheel of Life is not to create a perfect score or a perfectly round shape. Its real value lies in awareness. Once it becomes clear which areas are going well and which ones are under pressure, it becomes easier to choose where to focus first.
That is also why the quality of the outcome depends on honest reflection. The more sincerely someone scores each life area, the more useful the wheel becomes. It is not about how life looks from the outside. It is about how life is experienced from the inside.
In practice, the Wheel of Life is often used as a starting point. The visual overview helps people reflect, start a conversation, and move toward practical next steps. The score itself is only the beginning. What matters most is what someone learns from the pattern and what happens after that.
Steps to create a Wheel of Life
To make the Wheel of Life useful in practice, it helps to follow the steps below:
Step 1. Start
Start with a blank wheel that contains eight slices. Each slice represents one life area. Then divide each slice into a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 near the centre and 10 at the outer edge. You can draw this yourself or use a ready made template.
Step 2. Fill in
Now score each category based on how satisfied you feel at this moment. Try not to rush this step. The more honest and thoughtful your answers are, the more valuable the wheel becomes.
It helps to pause for a moment with each category and ask yourself a few simple questions. What is going well here? What feels lacking? What would a higher score actually look like in daily life?
1. Business & career
How satisfied are you with your work? Does your job fit your interests, strengths, and ambitions? Does it give you energy, meaning, or enough challenge? You can also reflect on workload, recognition, development opportunities, and financial stability through work.
2. Finance
How secure do you feel about your financial situation? Can you cover your fixed expenses without constant pressure? Do you feel in control of your money, or are debts and uncertainty affecting your peace of mind? This category is not only about income, but also about financial clarity and stability.
3. Health
How do you feel physically and mentally? Think about energy, sleep, stress, exercise, nutrition, and general well being. Health is often the area people only notice when it starts to decline, which makes honest reflection here especially important.
4. Family & friends
How strong and supportive are your relationships with family and friends? Do you feel connected, understood, and able to rely on others when needed? This area is about trust, closeness, and the quality of your social support.
5. Romance
How satisfied are you with your romantic life? This may relate to a partner, intimacy, emotional connection, or the space you experience for love and companionship. For some people, this category is about the quality of an existing relationship. For others, it may reflect a wish for connection that is currently missing.
6. Personal development
Are you still learning, growing, and developing yourself? This could include education, self awareness, new experiences, mindset, skills, or spiritual growth. A low score here can be a sign that life feels repetitive or that there is too little room for growth.
7. Fun & recreation
To what extent do you enjoy life outside of work and responsibilities? Think about hobbies, relaxation, free time, creativity, travel, or simply doing things that bring joy. This category is important because people often postpone fun until everything else is under control, while that moment rarely arrives on its own.
8. Contribution
To what extent do you feel that you contribute to something beyond yourself? This could be through volunteering, helping others, supporting family, being active in your community, or doing meaningful work. For many people, this area influences how purposeful life feels.
Step 3. Reflection
Once all scores have been added, the Wheel of Life becomes visible. This is the moment to step back and look at the overall picture. Where do you see strong areas? Where do you notice tension, gaps, or imbalance?
Scores of 8 to 10 usually show areas in which you feel satisfied and stable. Scores of 5 to 7 often point to areas that are going reasonably well, but still leave room for growth. Scores of 1 to 4 usually deserve more attention because they may signal frustration, pressure, or a lack of fulfilment.
What matters most is not the number itself, but the story behind it. Questions like these can help:
- Why did I give this area this score?
- Which categories feel most important right now?
- Which low score affects other parts of my life?
- What would one point of improvement look like?
- Which area deserves attention first?
The wheel often shows what people already feel, but have not yet made concrete. For example, someone may score career highly, while health, rest, and relationships stay behind. That can look successful on the outside, but feel unsustainable in daily life. This is where the Wheel of Life becomes useful. It helps connect insight to priorities.
Step 4. Action
The next step is to turn reflection into action. The visual outcome of the wheel makes it easier to see where change is needed first. From there, you can decide which category deserves attention and what realistic steps belong to it.
The best approach is to keep it practical. Choose one or two areas that matter most right now and translate them into clear actions. Those actions can then be added to an action plan. This is where the Wheel of Life moves from awareness to progress.
Figure 2 – Wheel of Life® example of assessment results
Looking at your completed wheel regularly can help you stay focused. It shows where you started, what you are working on, and whether your scores begin to shift over time. Real change usually does not happen in a few days. It takes repetition, reflection, and realistic follow up.
Wheel of Life assessment and template
Use this ready made Wheel of Life template to assess how satisfied you are with the different areas of your life. It gives you a simple visual starting point for reflection, conversation, and improvement.
With the Wheel of Life template, you can quickly map out how balanced your life feels right now. This makes it easier to identify which areas need more attention and which areas already feel strong. The template is useful for personal reflection, coaching conversations, and development sessions at work.
Download the Wheel of Life assessment
For members only | Get instant access to the Wheel of Life assessment template plus unlimited access to 1,200+ expert articles and tools. Explore Membership OptionsFrom the Wheel of Life to an Action Plan
Completing the Wheel of Life is a strong first step, but the real value appears when the outcome leads to action. The wheel shows your current situation. An action plan helps you decide what to do next.
That is where the model becomes practical. Once it is clear which areas need attention most, you can set priorities, choose realistic goals, and turn reflection into concrete next steps.
Step 1. Choose one or two focus areas
You do not need to improve every category at once. In fact, that often creates too much pressure and too little focus. It is usually more effective to choose one or two areas that need attention most. That keeps the process realistic and increases the chance of progress.
Step 2. Set a realistic target score
Once you have chosen your focus areas, decide what a realistic next score would be. Moving from a 4 to a 6 is often more useful than aiming straight for a 10. A realistic target creates momentum and makes improvement easier to maintain.
Step 3. Translate this into action
Now turn the target into practical steps. What can you do this week that would help move the score in the right direction? For health, that might mean improving sleep, planning exercise, or speaking to a doctor. For work, it might mean setting boundaries, asking for support, or creating more time for learning and development.
Step 4. Identify the support you need
Change becomes easier when the right support is in place. Think about who can help, what needs to be arranged, and which conditions matter. That could be support from a manager, coach, colleague, partner, or HR professional. It could also mean making time, setting clear agreements, or freeing up budget.
Step 5. Plan a review moment
Choose a moment to review your progress. This could be in a few weeks or after a few months, depending on the goal. At that point, you can complete the Wheel of Life again, compare the scores, and reflect on what changed. That makes the Wheel of Life more than a one time exercise. It becomes a practical cycle of reflection, choice, action, and adjustment.
Frequently asked questions about the Wheel of Life
Is the Wheel of Life a scientific assessment tool?
The Wheel of Life is mainly a reflection tool. It helps people assess different areas of life in a visual and practical way. This makes it easier to see where things feel balanced and where attention is needed.
Its value does not sit in the score alone. The real benefit comes from the insight, the conversation, and the actions that follow. In practice, the Wheel of Life works best as a starting point for awareness, focus, and improvement, rather than as a formal psychological test.
What should you do after completing the Wheel of Life?
Completing the Wheel of Life is only the first step. The next step is to look at the areas that need the most attention and decide what matters most right now. That creates focus and helps turn a broad reflection into something practical.
From there, it helps to choose one or two realistic improvements and translate them into small actions. This could mean making more time for exercise, setting clearer boundaries at work, or planning regular time for rest. The Wheel of Life becomes far more useful when reflection leads to action and a clear moment to review progress.
Recommended books and articles about the Wheel of Life
These books and articles help explain the idea behind the Wheel of Life and show how it can be used in coaching, reflection, and personal development. They show how different areas of life influence each other, how reflection can lead to better choices, and how coaches use this model to support balance, growth, and clearer direction. Together, these sources offer a useful mix of theory and practice for understanding and applying the Wheel of Life.
- Covey, S. R. (2013). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York, NY: Free Press. → Provides a clear framework for balance, prioritization, and life roles that is consistent with the logic of the Wheel of Life.
- Grant, A. M. (2012). An integrated model of goal-focused coaching. International Coaching Psychology Review, 7(2), 146–165. → This article shows how coaches use areas of life to structure goals, which is directly in line with the Wheel of Life methodology.
- Green, L. S., Grant, A. M., & Rynsaardt, J. (2007). Evidence-based life coaching: Enhancing well-being and goal attainment. The Australian Psychologist, 42(4), 241–254. → This article substantiates how structuring life areas helps to increase focus, control, and well-being.
- Jones, R. J., Woods, S. A., & Guillaume, Y. R. F. (2016). The effectiveness of workplace coaching: A meta-analysis. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 27(1), 3–24. → Shows that coaching tools that work with areas of life enhance performance, well-being, and motivation.
- O’Connor, J., & Lages, A. (2004). Coaching with NLP: How to Be a Master Coach. London, UK: HarperCollins. → This book explains how to structure life areas and shape change, which ties in well with the use of the wheel of life.
- Passmore, J. (2010). A grounded theory study of reflective practice in executive coaching. International Coaching Psychology Review, 5(3), 48–62. → Substantiates why visual reflection tools such as the wheel of life are effective in coaching and behavioral change.
- Rohn, J. (2005). The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle. Los Angeles, CA: Jim Rohn International. → This book describes the most important dimensions of life that determine happiness and success and is therefore closely aligned with the idea behind the wheel of life.
- Spence, G. B., & Grant, A. M. (2007). Professional and peer life coaching and the enhancement of goal striving and well-being. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2(3), 185–194. → This article describes how coaching in multiple areas of life leads to better balance and well-being, which supports the functioning of the wheel of life.
- Whitworth, L., Kimsey-House, H., Kimsey-House, K., & Sandahl, P. (2018). Co-Active Coaching: The Proven Framework for Transformative Conversations. Boston, MA: Nicholas Brealey. → This book provides a clear foundation for coaching tools that work with areas of life, making the Wheel of Life easy to place in theory and practice.
- Wilson, C. (2011). Performance Coaching: A Complete Guide to Best Practice Coaching and Training. London, UK: Kogan Page. → This book places the Wheel of Life within coaching programs and substantiates why the model helps with focus, reflection, and goal-oriented working.
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Original publication date: December 23, 2017 | Last update: April 6, 2026
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5 responses to “Wheel of Life Assessment and Template”
Hi Patty, Excellent article. I really enjoyed it! I am however interested in the outcome. Did you receive a lot of feedback in the form of individually completed wheels? I really would like to know, if the data was compiled over a significant test group, what the average person, male or female, circle would look like? Hope that I am making sense? do you know of any studies revealing this? just to see where the average human would be at. Thank you, Joe
Hi, Thanks for your great article. Actually, I think All these means is that instead of hiding from failure, insanely successful people anticipate and integrate failure into their lives in ways that transform it from an end into a means. We all love a good secret. But the truth is, when it comes to success, there’s no such thing. So start small, but start today. Wish you all the best.
Thanks for this awesome article its motivate also for the best life ahead.
A Tremendous article I just enjoy it and find out many aspects of life to do work on it.
Is it possible to share with me the typical questions to be asked in each category of wheel of life , in order the users get the correct or right score?