The Magic 4-Square Box of Freedom: Reshaping How We Work & Live
Most of us entered this field because we wanted to help, heal, and make a difference. We envisioned deep conversations, transformative breakthroughs, and—if we dared to dream—maybe even a healthy work-life balance.
But let’s be honest. Somewhere between documentation, scheduling logistics, and the emotional weight of client work, that vision can start to fade. And if we focus only on the energy-draining aspects of the job, burnout is practically inevitable.
That’s where the Magic 4-Square Box of Freedom comes in—helping us rethink how we work, what we prioritize, and how work fits into the bigger picture of life. Because work is supposed to support your life—not the other way around.
Mapping Out Your Reality—Beyond Work
When thinking about what fulfills you and what exhausts you, it’s crucial to look beyond just professional responsibilities. Our personal habits, hobbies, and even daily routines shape how much energy we have—and how we use our time.
So when filling out your Magic 4-Square Box, consider both your work demands and your personal priorities:
✔ Work-related tasks — client sessions, documentation, supervision, administrative work, meetings.
✔ Personal responsibilities — housework, childcare, errands, finances, social obligations.
✔ Things you love to do — hobbies, exercise, creative projects, downtime, travel.✔ Tasks you dislike but still do — yard work, meal planning, certain social events, budgeting.
✔ Personal responsibilities — housework, childcare, errands, finances, social obligations.
✔ Things you love to do — hobbies, exercise, creative projects, downtime, travel.✔ Tasks you dislike but still do — yard work, meal planning, certain social events, budgeting.
Now, categorize them in your 4-Square Box:
🔹 Have to do / Like to do → Essential tasks that bring joy or fulfillment.
🔹 Have to do / Don’t like to do → Necessary responsibilities that drain energy.
🔹 Don’t have to do / Like to do → Activities that bring joy but often get pushed aside.
🔹 Don’t have to do / Don’t like to do → Things done out of obligation or habit that don’t truly serve you.
🔹 Have to do / Don’t like to do → Necessary responsibilities that drain energy.
🔹 Don’t have to do / Like to do → Activities that bring joy but often get pushed aside.
🔹 Don’t have to do / Don’t like to do → Things done out of obligation or habit that don’t truly serve you.
What If You Changed the Math?
Now, step back and look at the quadrants.
- Is your "Like to do" column too small?
- Are you spending too much time on “Don’t have to do / Don’t like” tasks?
- Could you shift more energy toward meaningful, fulfilling activities?
For example:
💡 Love to garden but never get to it? Maybe it’s time to carve out space for it—or decide it’s worth hiring someone to maintain your yard so you can actually enjoy it.
💡 Hate cooking but do it every night? Maybe meal kits, simplified prep strategies, or shifting responsibilities in your household could free up time for things that energize you.
💡 Love writing but never make time for it? Perhaps setting aside intentional, protected time could shift the balance so that creativity gets prioritized.
💡 Love to garden but never get to it? Maybe it’s time to carve out space for it—or decide it’s worth hiring someone to maintain your yard so you can actually enjoy it.
💡 Hate cooking but do it every night? Maybe meal kits, simplified prep strategies, or shifting responsibilities in your household could free up time for things that energize you.
💡 Love writing but never make time for it? Perhaps setting aside intentional, protected time could shift the balance so that creativity gets prioritized.
The goal? Make sure your time investment reflects what actually matters to you—inside and outside of work.
And remember: work is supposed to support your life—not the other way around.
Your Personalized 4-Square Box
The Magic 4-Square Box of Freedom is a simple yet eye-opening way to redefine your work and life balance:🟢 Like to do / Have to do → Core tasks that bring fulfillment.
🔴 Don’t like to do / Have to do → Necessary but draining responsibilities.
🟡 Like to do / Don’t have to do → Joyful activities that often get sidelined.
⚫ Don’t like to do / Don’t have to do → Where unnecessary stress lives.
🔴 Don’t like to do / Have to do → Necessary but draining responsibilities.
🟡 Like to do / Don’t have to do → Joyful activities that often get sidelined.
⚫ Don’t like to do / Don’t have to do → Where unnecessary stress lives.
The goal? Shift the balance so that you spend most of your time in energizing zones—and take intentional steps to minimize what drains you.
Putting It Into Practice
For the next week, actively track where your time and energy are going. As tasks arise, jot them down in their respective quadrants. Observe patterns and ask yourself:
🔹 Which quadrant is dominating my time?
🔹 How could I shrink the painful sections?
🔹 What would it feel like to shift my time toward joy, creativity, and balance?
🔹 How could I shrink the painful sections?
🔹 What would it feel like to shift my time toward joy, creativity, and balance?
Work should fuel your life, not take over it.
It starts with awareness. Then small, consistent shifts. Try it for a week and see what happens—you might be surprised by how much freedom is already within reach.
For science. ⚡
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