Balancing self-care and the demands of life coaching: How can you find harmony?

I love how Gary talked about self care as exercise and healthy eating - often it’s coined as lying on the sofa or having a bath. There is, of course, a place for that but sometimes the best self-care we can give ourselves is to do the stuff we know we need to do but don’t necessarily want to

Balancing self-care and coaching demands: Set clear boundaries for work hours. Practice what you preach—prioritize your well-being. Schedule regular breaks and vacations. Develop a support network of peers. Engage in activities that recharge you daily. Delegate non-essential tasks. Learn to say no to over commitment. Regularly reassess and adjust your workload. Remember: Your effectiveness as a coach hinges on your own well-being. Self-care isn't selfish; it's essential.

Time management is important so that you can get what you want done in a timely manner. Things don't go according to plan but having a plan is hugely important. When you can lay out your day or week you can see how each item you want to attend to can fit into your schedule. When you have created a well balanced schedule you can relax and when you relax your creativity can be fully available to you to make adjustments to the plan - inevitable - and you have more to offer to any challenges you or your clients are facing. Self-care is multifaceted and Time Management is just one facet but it can profoundly impact many other areas. Give yourself the gift of reduced stress and actively manage your time to your benefit.

Emotional resilience is the ability to adapt and bounce back from adversity, trauma, or stress. As a life coach, you are constantly exposed to your clients emotional struggles and challenges. Developing emotional resilience is crucial for maintaining your well-being and effectiveness as a coach. Prioritize self-care activities such as exercise, healthy eating, meditation, and hobbies that bring you joy. Taking care of your physical and emotional needs will help you recharge and stay resilient in the face of stress. It's important to set boundaries with your clients to protect your energy and prevent burnout. Clearly defining your availability, communication preferences, and limits will help you maintain a healthy work-life balance.

As life coaches, we need to practice what we preach. If we're going to coach our clients to find work-life balance and live their best lives . . . we need to live by example. Life is messy for all of us, and navigating the balance can give us real-life experiences we can share with our clients and we let them know we're in the trenches ourselves.