How do you manage burnout as a coach?

An empty vessel cannot pour; a dead battery cannot provide any charge…as the memes remind us. We are all the by-products of our own self-care. Our world is suffering because we aren’t all collectively caring for our individual needs better. Self-care is technically universal-care. The better we each care for ourselves the more easily it is to be there for others. The ripple effect is undeniable! ?? It’s just like the emergency precautions we have reinforced every time we fly. “You must secure your own oxygen mask before attempting to help those around you.” This isn’t selfish, it is actually a strategy! So grab an extra moment for yourself today. Schedule a walk or a yoga or art class; simply reconnect with yourself and your care.

One thing I have found helpful is that I try to do a quick daily assessment of myself – usually around noon or early afternoon. I do a checklist of whether I have done something for myself in all important areas of life balance: Spiritual? Mental? Emotional? Physical? Social? If I find myself out of balance because an area has been ignored, I then make it a goal to add something to my day that will address that aspect. Self-care is so important so that we can keep doing the incredibly healing work of life coaching!

It helps me to schedule relaxation or exercise part of each day in order to stay positive and recharge as necessary so I can keep helping others. I have had to learn to do that over the years. I remember an expert tip that has helped me so much. It was to tell others that you have an APPOINTMENT when you need time to yourself. That appointment might be with you on your couch, reading your favorite book, but make sure you respect yourself enough to schedule it, protect that important time, and even fight for your right to self care.

As a life coach, you're constantly giving to others, which can deplete your energy over time. It's crucial to prioritize self-care, including regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and time for relaxation and recreation. This helps replenish your energy and maintain your physical and mental health.

Managing burnout is an ongoing process. Be attentive to early signs of burnout such as chronic fatigue, irritability, decreased satisfaction, or feelings of cynicism. By practicing self-care, setting boundaries, managing your time and client load, seeking support, and maintaining your passion for your work, you can prevent burnout and ensure you're able to continue making a positive impact as a life coach.

We need to move away from managing or recovering from burnout towards preventing burnout. It’s much easier and more sustainable to put good practices (managing boundaries, self-care, etc) into practice when we are energetic and enthusiastic. Don’t wait to burnout: prevention is FAR easier and better than cure.