The Coach's Reminder: Why Taking Breaks is Essential, Even in Your Dream Job [S.1-E.52/19]

As coaches, we're often seen as the pillars of motivation, the guides who help others navigate their paths to success. Our passion for what we do fuels our drive to hold a safe space, empower, uplift, and inspire. Yet, in the midst of our dedication to our clients, we can sometimes forget a crucial lesson: the importance of taking breaks, even when we're living our dream job.

The Illusion of Unbreakable Balance

Learning to create and maintain a balance in life is the greatest personal outcome of coach education training. This treasure brings us personal and professional success and the ability to hold a safe space without agenda. ?It's the bonfire of our aliveness that ignites when we see someone’s authentic potential and hear their goals. This balance often leads us to pour every ounce of our energy and time into our work. Yet, there is an illusion around coaches’ balance as if it is unbreakable once it is created and it does not require maintenance. I truly believe that every new coach falls into this self-made trap in the beginning of their coaching careers. And guess what: No-one's balance is unbreakable even if they are a coach and healthy balance requires maintenance, continuity of resonant choices and strong well-being at all levels.

The Pressure to Perform at Internationally Best Standards

In the world of coaching, there's an unspoken pressure to always be "on." Whether it's being the voice for coaching on social media platforms, continuous coaching sessions to keep the momentum, the early morning admin works as a sole business owner, the late-night strategy shaping round tables (“all alone”) or the constant inner growth for the next version, the demands are unrelenting. We want to give our best because our profession is all about it, isn’t it? (“Ain’t no mountain is high enough”) However, this pressure can gradually chip away at our well-being.

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Acknowledging Our Own Needs

It's easy to forget that as coaches, we are also human. We have our own needs, both physically and mentally. We need rest to recharge our batteries, time to reflect and grow, moments of quiet to simply be and pause to step back and have a different perspective. Taking breaks isn't a sign of weakness; it's a recognition of our humanity and a necessary step towards sustaining the longevity of our careers and maintaining balance.

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Threat of Saboteurs

Saboteurs aren’t reserved for those who are struggling to create a balance in life. It can creep into the lives of even the most passionate and dedicated coaches as a fear of failure or success or an imposter syndrome. The signs are subtle at first: feeling exhausted despite getting enough sleep, losing the enthusiasm that once defined your coaching practice, or even becoming irritable with those around you. Ignoring these signs can lead to a downward spiral that affects not only our work but also our personal lives.

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Back to Fundamentals: Wheel of Life

Do you remember that bumpy journey when your wheel of life is not balanced? Have you recently checked your scores on the wheel of life? What is the impact of being continuously “on”? What needs to shift?

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Embracing Breaks as Investments

Taking breaks isn't a luxury; it's an investment in our own well-being, the quality of our coaching practice and sustainability of your coaching business. Stepping away allows us to return with fresh perspectives, renewed energy, and innovative ideas. It's during these breaks that we can rediscover the fulfilment and balance that initially drew us to coaching.

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Practical Steps

1. Schedule Regular Breaks

Just as we plan coaching sessions and business strategies, we should schedule time for breaks in our calendars. Not only long breaks but also short ones, whether it's a weekend getaway, an afternoon off, or simply an hour of quiet meditation, these moments are crucial for recharging.

2. Make It Your Routine

You know very well as a coach that this radical changes in your schedule will need a routine to form a habit. It is very common to feel guilty, unproductive or FOMO until you make it your own routine and your brain accepts it as a norm other than an unusual threat.

It is essential to make review of the impact of such a new routine.

3. Prioritize Self-Care

This includes everything from proper nutrition and exercise to hobbies outside of coaching. When we take care of ourselves, we're better equipped to take care of others. (Do you remember the “oxygen mask”?)

4. Seek Support

Whether it's through mentorship, coaching, or simply talking with fellow coaches, sharing our experiences and challenges can provide valuable support and perspective. You are not alone!

5. Stay authentic, stay bold!

Everybody’s understanding of having balance is different and relatively giving breaks too. For one coach, taking 1 hour for self a day is radical change while for another reducing working days to 4 or another having a 2-month summer break. What will serve you? What are you longing for? Stay authentic to create your own way of being “off”, stay bold to make it real and review it for adjustments.

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In conclusion

As we continue on our coaching journeys, let's remember that our ability to hold a safe space for others is deeply intertwined with our own well-being. Taking breaks isn't a detour from success; it's a necessary part of the journey. By prioritizing self-care and embracing moments of rest, we not only become better coaches but also more balanced and fulfilled individuals.

So, the next time you feel guilty for taking a day off or stepping back for a moment of reflection, remember this: you're not just doing it for yourself, but for the longevity and impact of your coaching career. Here's to a balanced, fulfilling path ahead, where breaks are not a luxury but a vital component of success.

In the fast-paced world of coaching [ohh, how much more I will be using these words] it's easy to get caught up in the relentless pursuit of excellence. However, we mustn't forget that we are not machines but humans with our own needs. Let's integrate moments of rest and rejuvenation into our schedules. Let's view breaks not as interruptions but as essential elements of our coaching toolkit.

“There is more to life than increasing its speed.” – Mahatma Gandhi