Had a new personal crisis with my daily schedule and accidentally created a Three-Circle Life Framework:
The three-circle approach is a framework designed to categorize and prioritize needs based on resource availability and the urgency of those needs. This method helps individuals clearly understand what is essential and what can wait, making it especially useful for effectively navigating various life situations and aligning daily actions with long-term goals. To advance to the next circle, you need to fully fulfill each need in the current circle.
The three-circle approach is a framework designed to categorize and prioritize needs based on resource availability and the urgency of those needs. This method helps individuals clearly understand what is essential and what can wait, making it especially useful for effectively navigating various life situations and aligning daily actions with long-term goals. To advance to the next circle, you need to fully fulfill each need in the current circle.
1. First Circle — Survival Mode
Focuses on meeting immediate and essential needs critical for physical survival and basic stability, typically in short-term (up to 6 month) scenarios when resources are limited.
🔸 don't take on unpaid projects;
🔸 prioritize short-term over long-term;
🔸 limit help to others; focus on your needs;
🔸 no charity or volunteering;
🔸 ask for help;
🔸 remember, you have a maximum of 6 months to meet all needs in this circle;
🔸 don't try to meet needs from the next circle until all needs in this one are fulfilled.
🔸 don't take on unpaid projects;
🔸 prioritize short-term over long-term;
🔸 limit help to others; focus on your needs;
🔸 no charity or volunteering;
🔸 ask for help;
🔸 remember, you have a maximum of 6 months to meet all needs in this circle;
🔸 don't try to meet needs from the next circle until all needs in this one are fulfilled.
2. Second Circle — Balanced Living
Targets sustainable living by addressing comprehensive needs that support both physical and emotional well-being. It's a medium to long-term focus, where sufficient resources allow for a balanced and healthy lifestyle, including stable income, health care, and social interactions.
🔸 don't ignore emotional needs, because they are crucial for long-term stability;
🔸 prioritize long-term benefits over short-term gains;
🔸 no charity;
🔸 no unpaid projects unless considered a hobby or for fun.
🔸 don't ignore emotional needs, because they are crucial for long-term stability;
🔸 prioritize long-term benefits over short-term gains;
🔸 no charity;
🔸 no unpaid projects unless considered a hobby or for fun.
3. Third Circle — Fulfillment and Contribution
Encompasses achieving personal fulfillment and making broader societal contributions. This level is for long-term aspirations where resources are abundant, allowing for activities that include helping others and engaging in charity, extending beyond personal gain.
Approximately list of needs for every circle
1. First circle
— Basic Nutrition: food and clean water.
— Shelter and Clothing: a safe place to live and appropriate clothing for the climate and social norms.
— Essential Income: work or other forms of income generation for covering basic living expenses.
— Critical HealthCare: immediate medical needs and medications.
— Critical Communication Needs: basic tools for communication, such as a functioning phone or internet access, particularly in scenarios where isolation could pose significant risks (e.g., elderly living alone).
— Safety and Security: physical safety from immediate dangers, like tiefs or earthquakes.
— Essential Legal Documentation: necessary legal documents.
— Basic Functional Skills: Skills crucial for daily functioning in one's specific environment, which may include language skills in a non-native country, or other skills like driving, depending on the locale and daily requirements.
— Autonomy, Competence, and a Sense of Identity: maintaining even a basic sense of control and competence can help manage stress and make effective decisions under pressure.
— Basic Nutrition: food and clean water.
— Shelter and Clothing: a safe place to live and appropriate clothing for the climate and social norms.
— Essential Income: work or other forms of income generation for covering basic living expenses.
— Critical HealthCare: immediate medical needs and medications.
— Critical Communication Needs: basic tools for communication, such as a functioning phone or internet access, particularly in scenarios where isolation could pose significant risks (e.g., elderly living alone).
— Safety and Security: physical safety from immediate dangers, like tiefs or earthquakes.
— Essential Legal Documentation: necessary legal documents.
— Basic Functional Skills: Skills crucial for daily functioning in one's specific environment, which may include language skills in a non-native country, or other skills like driving, depending on the locale and daily requirements.
— Autonomy, Competence, and a Sense of Identity: maintaining even a basic sense of control and competence can help manage stress and make effective decisions under pressure.
2. Second circle (include all needs from previous circle)
— Nutrition: a diet that supports long-term health and well-being.
— Shelter and Clothing: aesthetically pleasing and stimulating living and workspaces.
— Routine Healthcare: managing chronic health issues.
— Preventative Healthcare: regular check-ups, vaccinations, and screenings to prevent diseases.
— Sustainable Income: a reliable source of income that covers more than just basic needs.
— Secure Attachments: a sense of safety and security in relationships.
— Autonomy: making personal decisions and managing life tasks without over-reliance on others.
— Competence: a sense of achievement and competence.
— Freedom to Express Needs and Emotions.
— Realistic Limits and Self-Control: healthy boundaries and self-discipline in personal and professional life.
— Cognitive Engagement: opportunities for learning, intellectual stimulation, and mental challenges through education or self-directed learning.
— Relaxation and Joy: regular engagement in activities that provide relaxation and joy, including hobbies and leisure pursuits.
— Rest and Recovery: sufficient downtime for physical and mental recovery, including regular days off and vacations.
— Nutrition: a diet that supports long-term health and well-being.
— Shelter and Clothing: aesthetically pleasing and stimulating living and workspaces.
— Routine Healthcare: managing chronic health issues.
— Preventative Healthcare: regular check-ups, vaccinations, and screenings to prevent diseases.
— Sustainable Income: a reliable source of income that covers more than just basic needs.
— Secure Attachments: a sense of safety and security in relationships.
— Autonomy: making personal decisions and managing life tasks without over-reliance on others.
— Competence: a sense of achievement and competence.
— Freedom to Express Needs and Emotions.
— Realistic Limits and Self-Control: healthy boundaries and self-discipline in personal and professional life.
— Cognitive Engagement: opportunities for learning, intellectual stimulation, and mental challenges through education or self-directed learning.
— Relaxation and Joy: regular engagement in activities that provide relaxation and joy, including hobbies and leisure pursuits.
— Rest and Recovery: sufficient downtime for physical and mental recovery, including regular days off and vacations.
3. Third circle (include all needs from previous circle)
— Personal Development and Growth: advanced education, skill enhancement, and engaging in hobbies for deep personal satisfaction.
— Helping Others and Charity: charitable activities and helping those in need.
— Maintaining Financial Freedom: financial independence to freely pursue personal interests and contribute to others without financial constraints.
— Legacy Creation: scholarships, endowments, or sustainable initiatives that benefit future generations.
— Personal Development and Growth: advanced education, skill enhancement, and engaging in hobbies for deep personal satisfaction.
— Helping Others and Charity: charitable activities and helping those in need.
— Maintaining Financial Freedom: financial independence to freely pursue personal interests and contribute to others without financial constraints.
— Legacy Creation: scholarships, endowments, or sustainable initiatives that benefit future generations.