Creating Your Personal Hierarchy of Needs

Have you ever found yourself chasing one health goal after another, only to feel like there’s always something missing?

With so many things were told we need to do for our health and wellbeing it can sometimes feel overwhelming and too much, especially if you don’t know where to start. It’s easy to feel pulled in countless directions, constantly striving to meet various demands and expectations, just adding more stress to your already busy schedule and life.

You’re not alone. The truth is, as humans, we’re wired with a beautiful (and sometimes tricky) system of needs that guide our growth and wellbeing. It’s called the hierarchy of needs—a concept developed by psychologist Abraham Maslow. And while it can sometimes be tricky to balance all our needs, if you can hone in on what’s important to your needs it will help you thrive!

Have you heard of Maslow Hierarchy of needs?

At its heart, this framework is all about understanding what we truly need to flourish. From the basics like food, water, and safety to the deeper cravings for love, purpose, and personal growth, each layer builds upon the last. When we align with these layers, we move from merely surviving to truly thriving.

What Is the Hierarchy of Needs? The Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943. It provides a framework for understanding human motivation and the factors that drive behaviour. Maslow’s theory is often depicted as a pyramid, with five levels representing different categories of needs:

1. Physiological Needs: These are the most basic requirements for survival, such as food, water, shelter, and sleep.
2. Safety Needs: Once physiological needs are met, individuals seek security, stability, and freedom from fear. This includes physical safety, financial security, and health.
3. Love and Belonging: The next level involves emotional and social connections, such as relationships, friendships, and a sense of community.
4. Esteem Needs: This level encompasses self-esteem, recognition, and respect from others. It includes achievements, confidence, and a sense of worth.
5. Self-Actualisation: At the top of the pyramid lies the need to realise one’s full potential and pursue personal growth, creativity, and fulfilment.

Maslow’s model suggests that people are motivated to fulfil lower-level needs before they can focus on higher-level ones. For example, someone struggling to find food and shelter will prioritise these over forming deep relationships or pursuing personal growth.

While Maslow’s theory was groundbreaking, it’s important to remember that needs are not always linear. Life is fluid, and our priorities can shift depending on circumstances.

Which got me thinking, what if we take the origins of the Hierarchy of Needs, and then adapt this concept to reflect our own unique values and aspirations.

In this issue of Notes from the Wild, we’re diving into this idea of your personal hierarchy of needs and how it can serve as a compass for creating balance, fulfillment, and alignment in your life. An intentional way of focusing on the self-care, habits and rituals that make the biggest difference to YOU.

Whether you’re looking to strengthen your foundation, nurture your relationships, or tap into your highest potential, this is for you. Because the beauty of this concept is that you can make it as personalised as you need.

Creating Your Personal Hierarchy of Needs

Amidst the noise, we often neglect the fundamental question: What truly matters to me? This is where the concept of a personal hierarchy of needs comes into play. By understanding and defining your own priorities, you can create a guiding framework to focus on what genuinely supports your wellbeing, growth, and happiness.

The beauty of creating your own personal hierarchy of needs is that we are all uniquely different in what phases are so and helps nourish and refuel us, therefore nobody‘s personal hierarchy will look the same.

This process  also helps you to understand The things you need on a daily basis vs. the things you only need weekly or occasionally to fulfil your needs.

As we explore how to create your personal hierarchy of needs—a customised approach that aligns with your life, goals, and values— jot down any ideas or rituals that you think of or that resonate with you.

Why Create a Personal Hierarchy of Needs?

The process of creating a personal hierarchy of needs allows you to:

1. Gain Clarity: Understanding your priorities helps you focus on what matters most, reducing distractions and overwhelm.
2. Create Balance: A personalised framework encourages harmony between your physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
3. Support Growth: By identifying what drives you, you can make intentional decisions that align with your long-term goals.
4. Enhance Resilience: Knowing your needs and how to meet them builds a solid foundation to navigate challenges.

Instead of following a one-size-fits-all model, your personal hierarchy reflects your unique circumstances, desires, and values. It empowers you to design a life that feels purposeful and fulfilling.

Want to Start Creating Your Personal Hierarchy of Needs?

Creating your personal hierarchy of needs is a reflective process that requires honesty and self-awareness. You can start by reflecting on your core values and what it is you want to achieve with your selfcare, following the steps below:

Reflect on Your Core Values

To get you started on understanding your basic needs and what’s important to you, identify the values that are the principles that guide your decisions and give your life meaning. Examples of core values include:

• Freedom
• Family
• Health
• Creativity
• Integrity
• Adventure
• Spirituality

Write down your top ten values and then circle the top 5-6 that really resonate with you. These will serve as the foundation for your personal hierarchy.

Assess Your Current Needs

Take an honest look at your life and consider which needs are currently being met and which are not. Ask yourself:

• What areas of my life feel stable and secure?
• Where do I feel a sense of lack or imbalance?
• What brings me joy and fulfilment?
• What drains my energy or causes stress?

Be specific in your assessment. For example, if you’re feeling physically exhausted, your physical needs may need attention. If you’re yearning for deeper connections, you might need to prioritise love, community and your sense of belonging.

Spend time defining your priorities using your reflections, but keep in mind that these aren’t set in stone and can (probably will) evolve over time. For instance:

If you’re recovering from burnout, prioritising rest, nutrition, and self-care might come first.

• If you’re seeking career growth, you may focus on developing skills, networking, and achieving milestones.
• If you’re feeling overworked and restricted, your creativity, playfulness, and freedom will be a priority.

Rank your priorities in order of importance based on your current circumstances. This will form the framework of your personal hierarchy.

What does your future self do?

Look at the goals you have set for yourself for the year and the long-term visions you have for your life. Ask yourself:

• What does this future version of you do each day? 
• What’s important to them? 
• What do you need to support you in getting to that future version of yourself?

Creating Your Pyramid

Now let’s create your personal hierarchy pyramid. 

Assuming that all of your basic needs — food, water, shelter, safety — are met, these are your additional needs, the ones you need to be healthy, feel happy, and create balance.

At the base are your foundational needs, the habits, rituals, routines, activities you need to practice on a daily basis, while higher levels represent goals, activities, tasks, or habits that you require less frequently (maybe once or twice a week/month)

Combined, the idea is that these practices are things that bring deeper meaning and fulfilment to your life, helping you create a full life of health and happiness. If you’re struggling with where to start, here’s an example:

• Level 1: Basic Needs – Nutrition, sleep, exercise, financial stability
• Level 2: Emotional and Social Needs – Family time, close friendships, meaningful conversations
• Level 3: Personal Growth – Learning new skills, pursuing hobbies, creativity
• Level 4: Contribution – Giving back to the community, mentoring others
• Level 5: Fulfilment – Spirituality, self-expression, living authentically

Feel free to customise the number of levels and categories to suit your unique perspective and make this exercise your own.

Once you have your personal hierarchy in place, you can then begin to define specific actions, habits and rituals to meet your needs at each level, and how regularly you want to include them in your routine. For example:

• Basic Needs: Meal prepping to ensure balanced nutrition, weekly
• Social Needs: Scheduling regular catch-ups with friends, once a fortnight
• Growth Needs: Taking an online course to develop a new skill, one course over two months 
• Fulfilment Needs: Journaling or meditating to connect with your inner self, daily

Break your goals into manageable steps, and don’t forget to celebrate the small wins and your progress along the way.

It’s also important to stay flexible and allow for your own growth and the normal changes that occur as we live life. Life is dynamic, and so are your needs. Revisit and Revise these levels and your priorities 2-3 times a year, or at least once a year if you can —  Regularly revisiting your hierarchy ensures it always reflects your current priorities. Adjust as needed to stay aligned with your evolving goals and circumstances.

Here Are A Few More Examples of Personal Hierarchies of Needs 

To inspire your journey, here are two examples of customised hierarchies:

Example 1: The Entrepreneur’s Hierarchy

• Level 1: Physical Energy – Healthy eating, exercise, adequate sleep
• Level 2: Mental Focus – Minimising distractions, clear work routines
• Level 3: Relationships – Family support, networking with like-minded professionals
• Level 4: Impact – Building a meaningful brand, helping others succeed
• Level 5: Legacy – Creating something lasting and inspiring future generations

Example 2: The Holistic Wellness Seeker’s Hierarchy

• Level 1: Health – Regular movement, balanced meals, mindfulness practices
• Level 2: Emotional Well-Being – Cultivating gratitude, therapy, connecting with loved ones
• Level 3: Growth – Exploring new interests, personal development
• Level 4: Contribution – Volunteering, spreading kindness
• Level 5: Inner Peace – Meditation, connecting with nature, spiritual practices

Creating your personal hierarchy of needs can be a transformative exercise in self-discovery and intentional living. It invites you to pause, reflect, and prioritise what truly matters, empowering you to live a life of purpose and create more fulfilment. 

Don’t rush it, take the time to explore your values, assess your needs, and design a framework that resonates with your unique path. In doing so, you’ll cultivate a life that not only meets your essential needs but also supports your highest aspirations.