This week’s Home Simplified task was to create a Wheel Of Life.
Once again I’ve taken a slightly different approach, and used a template I found here.
Each area is scored from 1-10, and this is how my Wheel Of Life looked:
The breakdown for me was:
Career 6/10
Right now I am working as a full time nanny because it allows me to be with Miss A, and until she starts school I am putting thoughts of my own career on the back burner for a while. I know at the end of next year I’ll definitely be at a crossroad, as I have spent eight years in a corporate environment, and then another eight in childcare, and I really don’t know which direction I want to head. Perhaps something new altogether!
Money 6/10
I’m not particularly stressed or concerned about our financial position, as we are able to meet all of our commitments each month, but sometimes I do get a little overwhelmed by our mortgage. When I see that in the three years since we’ve had The Shoebox we’ve already paid off a quarter of the debt though, I know that we’re actually doing okay. I also worry sometimes that I’m not earning as much money as I should or could be, but when I take into account the fact that I have no associated childcare costs for Miss A as she is with me all the time, I realise again that we’re doing okay.
Health 7/10
It disappoints me to say my health is at a 7, as a year ago it would definitely have been at an 8. Obviously I am focused on this right now and over the next few months I intend to get it back up to at least an 8. Over the years I have seen just what a dramatic effect a healthy lifestyle has on my sense of wellbeing, and I really hate seeing it slip down and for me to have a negative mindset associated with it. If I spent the same amount of time focused on my health as I do thinking about, it would be a 10/10 for sure!
Friends and Family 8/10
Again, this is another area of my life that just a few years ago I would have scored much lower. I had some friends and family around me who were quite negative and often brought be down, though at the time I didn’t actually see it. Moving on from feeling that I needed these people in my life has allowed me to become much more positive and open as I have built stronger relationships with others, and feel for the first time ever that I am truly loved and supported by all of those people in my life.
Relationships 7/10
I think Mr G and I have fallen into the common trap of making time for the three of us as a family, but not so much for us as a couple. This is partly due to the fact that we’ve not spent any time alone since Miss A was born, and two and half years is a long time to not have a dinner, date or movie night. I realise that we can make more of an effort to have ‘date nights’ at home too, but I’m also hoping that this year Miss A will be able to spend a few hours being looked after by family so that we can have a little time out together.
Personal Growth 7/10
Last year I would have put my personal growth at a 6, so it is definitely starting to improve. I am focusing a lot more on myself and the ways in which I need to change, as I know that I had become stagnant, and have had that feeling for a while that every day is ‘Groundhog Day’. Even doing tasks like this is helping me to grow as I realise more and more where the road blocks are in my life, and the best way that I can work around them, rather than ignore them.
Fun & Recreation 6/10
This is one area of my life that I really need to work on. On the weekends I usually am trying to catch up on so many things that I can’t do during the week that I don’t always stop to have an hour here or there to relax. I fall into the trap sometimes of thinking that an hour on the computer is my recreation time, but it’s not really, and I’d be much better putting that hour to use by going to the beach, or going to the park or on a long drive. There is nothing I enjoy more than a change of scenery and being spontaneous, so I’ll definitely be working on that!
Physical Environment 9/10
It’s no surprise that I am scoring my physical environment so highly. Being out of My Shoebox from 7am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday certainly makes me appreciate the time that I do get to spend here, and I am truly at my most settled and content when all three of us are home and I am pottering about the place.
I loved doing this task, as I have no doubt when I look back on it again in a few months that my wheel will be a little less wonky and a much smoother ride!

















