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The 8 Elements of a Balanced Life
(Life Balance Wheel)
The eight key elements of a balanced life –
Are you someone who takes on more than you should?
Juggling a ton of responsibilities and feeling like you are on the verge of burnout.
You are trying to keep up with every area of your life but you don’t know where to start or how to balance it all.
You may think you are balancing your life because you see how your family member or friend is balancing theirs.
But, balance means something different to everyone.
We all have different lives and responsibilities so what works for one person may not work for another.
Even though balance is different for everyone, most of us are striving for a well-balanced life every day.
In this article, you will learn how to avoid overwhelm of a balanced life and eight different areas of your life to help you create more balance.
How to Avoid Overwhelm of a Balanced Life
A simple solution to overwhelming yourself about balancing your life is to look at balance as eight pillars.
Eight pillars may sound like a lot but it is a good way to stay organized and help you to understand what specific areas need attention instead of trying to deal with it all.
You may feel the pressure that you should have a perfect balance between them all.
But, you don’t need to do this.
Instead, take it slow and focus on one area at a time.
Small changes add up and when you feel satisfied move on to a new area.
Overview of the Pillars of a Balanced Life
The eight pillars work together to bring a sense of balance to your life.
These pillars can also be called the dimensions of wellness.
With doing some research over the years, there are some conflicts of how many pillars actually exist. Some studies show anywhere between five to twelve pillars.
I personally like to go with eight pillars because it covers a unique and balanced blend of areas in our lives.
The pillars of a balanced life:
- Mental
- Physical
- Emotional
- Spiritual
- Social
- Environmental
- Financial
- Occupational
Let’s break these down into more detail.
The 8 Pillars of a Balanced Life (Dimensions of Wellness)
1. Mental Health
Mental health is all about having a healthy and positive mindset. It is important to develop a mindset that helps with clarity, confidence, the ability to learn and grow new skills, be creative, and think independently.
Activities to help mental health are:
- Meditation
- Affirmations
- Read or learn something new
- Take a mental break from social media or technology
- Journal your thoughts
2. Physical Health
Physical health is about ensuring we take care of our bodies through healthy balanced nutrition, exercise, and proper sleep. Our bodies are our temples and when we take care of them properly we help them to function properly and increase energy levels.
Activities to help physical health:
- Get 7-8 hours of quality sleep
- Eat healthy whole foods
- Drink a lot of water
- Practice yoga
- Get frequent massages
3. Emotional Wellness
Emotional wellness involves understanding how thoughts and feelings affect us. The way we feel has a huge impact on our level of motivation, our actions, our behaviors, and our results. When we acknowledge and embrace our emotions it gives us the ability to understand ourselves and cope with the challenges of life.
Activities to help with emotional wellness:
- Knowing when to ask for help
- Manage stress levels with self-care
- Listening to music
- Practice deep breathing
4. Spiritual
The spiritual pillar is about personal growth and seeking meaning, value, and purpose in life. Living by your own personal set of morals and values, finding inner peace, and living each day to the fullest with mindfulness and happiness.
Activities to help with spirituality/personal growth:
- Practicing gratitude
- Spending time in nature and/or grounding
- Praying and/or connecting with a higher power (this is different for everyone)
- Taking time for self-reflection
5. Social
The social pillar is about healthy relationships and connecting with others. By being surrounded by meaningful, supportive, and positive people is so important because it helps to feel safe, respected, and accepted.
Activities to help with social wellness:
- Being part of a positive community
- Spending time with loved ones
- Communicating with others in a positive way
- Being there and helping others
6. Environmental
Environmental involves your environment and respecting the environment around you. Your environment has a direct impact on your mindset, creativity, and productivity. This includes your own personal environment and the way you respect the environment around you like the air, water, and earth.
Activities to help with the environment:
- Decluttering your workspace
- Recycling trash
- Volunteering to clean up
- Keeping personal space clean
7. Financial
The financial pillar is a person’s relationship with money. It involves learning how to manage financial expenses and avoiding financial stress. Finances are the biggest source of stress among many people so it is important to take care of this area of life especially to help your mind and quality of life.
Activities to help financial wellness:
- Taking time to plan and budget
- Get rid of excess debt
- Save money
- Invest and built assets
8. Occupational
Lastly, the occupational pillar is all about work whether it is if you own your business or have a job/career. This is where you create a healthy balance between work and life. It’s about advancing your career or building your business in a healthy way and being satisfied with the work that you do.
Activities to help with occupational wellness:
- Create and maintain a healthy work-life balance
- Have a healthy work environment
- Continuously developing skills
- Healthy relationships with teammates