Okay, Bookenders, can you handle another post about emotional sobriety? I hope so because that’s what we’re diving into today. Well, kind of. I’m actually sharing a super useful tool called The Life Wheel. It’s a simple, no-pressure way to check in with yourself and get a read on how you’re really doing without falling into the judgment trap. Cool, right?

The Life Wheel is like a check-in chart for your whole life that we can use in recovery and healing to spot what’s thriving and what’s quietly waving a white flag of surrender (sorry, I just watched The Valley, anyone else?). It helps us figure out where we might be stretched too thin (hello, burnout!) and where a little attention could go a long way in helping us feel more steady, supported, and whole.

What It Covers

It typically covers eight areas of life:

Physical Health: Exercise, nutrition, hydration, and sleep habits.
Mental Health: Stress management, mindfulness, life coach, and therapy or counseling.
Emotional Health: Self-awareness, emotional regulation, relationships, and support systems.
Spiritual Health: A sense of meaning, purpose, and connection to something greater than yourself (which could include nature, community, or personal values. Even the tree in your front yard if that’s what it takes to get out of your head).
Financial Health: Managing income, expenses, budgeting, and addressing debt. (Yikes on bikes, I know).
Personal Growth: Engaging in learning, hobbies, creative expression, or skill-building.
Family & Relationships: Healthy boundaries, supportive connections, and relational dynamics.
Work/Career: Job satisfaction, purpose, and alignment with skills or interests.

Now, I want you to put on your imagination hats (and if you just pictured SpongeBob with a rainbow over his head going, “Imaaagiinaaation,” you’re my people).

But let’s switch gears from sea sponge to pizza pie. Preferably New York-style, because it’s the best. Yeah, I said it.

Now picture each life category as its own slice of that delicious, cheesy pie. You’re going to rate each slice…um, area…on a scale from 1 to 10, (or visually shade in segments of a wheel diagram) based on how satisfied you feel in that part of your life. The result? A visual snapshot of your life’s balance and insight into which areas feel balanced and which feel depleted or neglected. Also maybe a craving for pizza. Here’s an example of a blank one and one filled in:

How It Helps in Recovery and Healing

Recovery isn’t just about staying sober, and healing isn’t just about getting better. They are about rebuilding a life that feels worth staying that way.

Sometimes that means realizing:

Your friendships need nurturing
Your finances are stressing you out
You haven’t had fun since MTV only played music videos

You have to keep tending to the garden of your healing and recovery, pulling out weeds at the root, fertilizing, watering, and making sure everything’s getting the attention it needs to grow and thrive. So, if a flood (of emotions) or drought (neglect) happens, you can manage it.

If any of you Bookenders are thinking, “Hmm, this is starting to sound a lot like her emotional sobriety posts,” you’re right! Like I said, it’s a great addition to your recovery and healing toolkit. The Life Wheel helps you name it so you can start changing it.

Benefits of Using It

Just like any other recovery and healing tool I talk about, there are benefits, and this one comes with a bunch!

Increased Awareness: Provides a clearer picture of how different life areas are impacting recovery and healing.
Goal Setting: Offers a practical starting point for creating meaningful personal goals.
Motivation: Encourages small, focused actions that can build momentum.
Improved Communication: Can be a helpful tool to express needs and priorities to therapists, sponsors, accountability partners, or loved ones.
Support for Long-Term Sobriety and Healing: Reinforces the idea that recovery and healing isn’t just about abstaining from unhealthy behaviors and thoughts. It’s also about building a life that feels worth staying healthy for.

Let’s turn our focus on how to use it.

How to Use It

Here’s how to do your own Life Wheel check-in:

Step 1:
Look at the 8 life categories in the wheel:

Physical Health
Mental Health
Emotional Health
Spiritual Health
Financial Health
Personal Growth
Family & Relationship
Work/Career

Step 2:
Give each category a rating from 1–10.

Step 3:
Connect the dots or visually shade them in to see your wheel. Don’t worry if you have a bumpy, jagged shape. It doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re a work in progress. We all are. Now you have information on what areas you can focus on and improve and expand upon. Don’t panic! You don’t have to do it all at once, so let go of that stress breath you sucked in. You got this!

Reflect With These Prompts

For each category, ask:

What am I doing well here?
Where do I feel stuck?
What’s one small step I could take this week?

For example:
Category: Friends
Doing well: I have my Sober Circle/Healing Hive I can text when I’m struggling.
Need improvement: I’ve been isolating a lot lately.
Small step: Schedule one coffee or walk with a friend.

What’s Next

Once areas for growth are identified, individuals can:

Set specific, achievable goals.
Seek support from professionals, peers, or loved ones.
Develop healthier routines or boundaries.
Reinvest in areas that have been neglected, like hobbies, rest, or relationships.

So that’s the Life Wheel, Bookenders. It’s not about perfection, it’s about awareness, honesty, and giving yourself the tools to live a life that feels balanced and worth showing up for. Remember, you’re doing better than you think.

Drop your comments below! If you have any questions or thoughts, let me know. I love hearing from readers and supporting your journey. Just a heads up: I respond to all emails, except from solicitors. If you solicit me, you end up on my mailing list. You’ve been warned :)

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Sending positive vibes your way,
Laura

Life Wheel for Recovery & Healing: A Tool for Addicts and Loved Ones

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