I used to think self-care wasn’t something I really needed to worry about (ha!). I only concerned myself with taking care of others + supporting them in the best way possible.
After working for over a year as a life coach + supporting women all the world in the process, I’ve discovered (the hard way) how essential self-care is to the practice of coaching + running a creative service-based business.
Without self-care, you cannot be at your best for your clients. Without being at your best, clients won’t be able to achieve their best either.
Coaching is all about being there for someone else + supporting them through everything they’re going through. More than that, it’s about helping them create new pathways in their life to lead to the amazing places they want to go. That’s hard, but rewarding work.
Essential to the core of coaching is being there for yourself first. Imagine taking self-care advice from someone who looks really rough, hasn’t eaten in days + completely ignores their inner cues. That’s probably not going to carry a lot of weight in your mind, right? You likely won’t be going to them for support.
This is why self-care is so vital. Without it, we cannot be at our best + show up in an authentic and genuine way.
A burnt out coach is doing herself a disservice by not allowing her true essence + authenticity to show up in everything she does.
So how can you practice self-care in a mindful way as a coach?
Listen
Listen to the advice you give to your clients. Do you take your own advice? And if not, why?
Start getting curious about your routine + if it fills up your cup, whether that be a silent reflection in the morning or an afternoon yoga session in between clients.
If you aren’t feeling fulfilled, start looking at the gaps in your own practice and see where you can start listening to your own advice.
Learn from each session
One of the beautiful things about coaching is not only do you support someone else on their own journey, but you have the opportunity to grow and awaken yourself in that process. With each new client, there are massive amounts of learning opportunities as a coach and as a person that can support you in your own self-care practice.
Notice something that resonates with you during a client session? Try it for yourself. Give yourself permission to try new practices and embrace new ways of seeing things.
Working with women all over the world will give you new + fresh perspectives. Take advantage of it by learning from your own clients.
Know your limits
Not everyone can coach 5 people in one day, so don’t expect yourself to if you’re not totally into the idea. Be mindful and aware of your own limits + craft your day around what feels good for you, whether that’s a full day of clients or only a single one.
There’s no right or wrong way to do it. Just what feels best for you.
Release guilt + judgment
One of the biggest things I’ve noticed working as a life coach is the massive network of women all over the world that seem to be doing more, being more self-loving, more active on social media, etc, etc.
Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of comparing your every move to other coaches. Guilt and judgment are not your friends, so release them when you notice them creeping in.
By being aware of comparison + knowing your triggers, you can take care of yourself in a better way and be more YOU (+ less THEM). That’s what coaching is all about.
There you have it. Four strategies to embracing self-care in a mindful way as a life coach. To help you even more, I’ve created a powerful worksheet to help support you in implementing these practices + starting them in your own life. This beautiful guide is so lovely + thought-provoking, you’ll want to pin it on your desk for a gentle reminder every day.
Download it below!