Do you often feel drained or depleted after a long work day? It might be a sign that you need to protect your energy better.
Staying recharged supports your mental and emotional well-being, allowing you to stay focused and energized.
It’s not just about preserving physical energy but also safeguarding your mental and emotional resources, which can be adversely affected by stress, burnout, or negative interactions.
Keep reading as we delve into:
- Why protecting your energy is important
- How you can get better at it
- Five habits that help you recharge
Why Is It Important to Protect Your Energy
As a life coach, you’re constantly giving your time, wisdom, and emotional resources to others. It’s an incredibly rewarding role to play, but it’s important to avoid getting drained in the process.
After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself brings your best self to the table and enables you to provide the support and guidance your clients need.
Here’s why protecting your energy matters.
1. It Maintains Your Well-Being
When you’re feeling drained or burnt out, it becomes challenging to offer the level of support and guidance your clients deserve. It makes you lose focus and your ability to connect with them.
By taking care of yourself first, you can give your best to your clients. It’s like putting on your own oxygen mask first before assisting others.
2. It Sustains Your Professional Effectiveness
The quality of your coaching depends on your state of mind and body.
Imagine entering a coaching session feeling drained, distracted, or overwhelmed. It would make it challenging to give your undivided attention to your clients and compromise your ability to listen and empathize with them.
To show up as your best self, you need to prioritize your energy and well-being. This will make you more focused, present, and effective in sessions. It will let you think creatively, offer valuable insights, and help your clients overcome obstacles more easily.
Ultimately, this fosters deeper trust and rapport with your clients.
3. It Lets You Avoid Burnout
Approximately 34% of entrepreneurs experience burnout, with almost 46% struggling with high stress levels. Running your own coaching practice can take a toll on you if you’re not careful.
If you push yourself too hard, you might experience physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and compromised immune functioning. It also affects your mental health, contributing to feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, and depression.
Recognizing burnout signs early on helps prevent further damage. Pay attention to how you’re feeling physically, emotionally, and mentally to identify the warning signs so you can take proactive steps to prevent them.
4. It Fosters Personal Growth
Beyond your health, protecting your energy also creates fertile ground for your growth. Taking the time to recharge lets you explore new ideas, gain fresh perspectives, and embrace exciting opportunities.
Embracing your own growth and self-discovery can then become a source of empowerment for your clients. You’ll also be able to relate, understand, and guide them better on their transformative journeys.
3 Ways to Protect Your Energy
Here are the three main ways you can keep your batteries charged even in challenging times.
1. Maintaining Boundaries
A crucial aspect of protecting your energy is setting clear boundaries with coaching clients.
It’s about finding that sweet spot where you can deliver exceptional coaching without compromising your well-being.
For example, limiting your working hours or how much you disclose about your personal life in sessions.
You can also get into the habit of:
- Specifying your turnaround time for communication between sessions.
- Defining your preferred channels of communication.
- Establishing “office hours” during which you’re available and “off hours” when you aren’t.
Setting healthy boundaries helps protect your well-being and sets an example for clients of how they can manage their personal relationships more effectively.
It becomes a ripple effect, positively impacting their lives beyond just the coaching sessions.
2. Nurturing Positivity
Nurturing positivity is about finding and dedicating time to activities that bring you joy and replenish your energy.
This might involve bringing self-care practices into your daily routine like:
- Meditation and yoga
- Maintaining an optimistic mindset even in the face of challenges
- Taking time for hobbies that rejuvenate your physical and mental health
Nurturing positivity doesn’t just benefit you personally but also has a direct impact on your coaching abilities.
Clients are drawn to coaches who exude positivity and optimism. Your experiences and mindset serve as powerful examples for them to emulate.
For example, I frequently tell potential coaching clients how I overcome rejection in email marketing. I let them know it’s normal for people to unsubscribe when they get an email and that it’s actually a good thing!
This will help them understand that it’s normal to feel negative emotions because of losing subscribers, and it’s also possible to overcome this feeling.
3. Safeguarding From Negative Influences
We all encounter toxic people who seem to zap our energy without offering anything in return. We also experience situations that trigger stress and anxiety within us, such as dealing with difficult clients.
They might have unrealistic expectations or exhibit negative behaviors that affect our well-being. In these cases, learning to set boundaries and saying no when necessary establishes a line that protects our peace of mind.
Being firm is a way of preserving your energy and ensuring you can continue to support your clients effectively.
4 Habits That Replenish Your Energy
Having healthy habits in place is key for life coaches. Here are four ways to ensure you keep your holistic well-being in check.
1. Meditation
Research shows that meditation is effective against stress and a major energy booster. For instance, participants who meditated for 10 minutes had better accuracy on test tasks afterward than those who didn’t.
It’s incredible how just a few minutes of daily meditation can work wonders in protecting and replenishing your energy levels.
Aside from reducing stress, it also improves your ability to focus and enhances your emotional well-being. So why not give it a try?
Carve out just 10 minutes daily to sit in quiet reflection and watch your energy levels soar. You can use an app like Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer to guide your sessions.
2. Regular Exercise
Physical activities are fantastic stress-busters. According to Harvard Medical School, a well-rounded exercise routine should include a mix of:
- Aerobic exercises
- Strength training
- Flexibility exercises
- Relaxation techniques
So, whether you’re breaking a sweat at the gym, taking a yoga class, or going for a brisk walk in nature, remember that each step you take is a step toward feeling your absolute best.
Get moving and feel the difference!
3. A Healthy Diet
Your diet plays a vital role in your energy levels, and what you eat affects how you feel throughout the day. You can enjoy sustained energy without those energy dips and afternoon slumps by fueling your body with a well-balanced diet.
Eliminating processed foods and sugars from your meal plan is a great first step to improving your eating habits. Ensuring you have a sufficient intake of vegetables and fruits is also key to maintaining good health.
To stay mentally fresh on a long day with clients, try these “brain foods” that enhance cognitive function and maintain mental clarity:
- Fatty fish like salmon or sardines that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids
- Blueberries packed with antioxidants that protect the brain from oxidative stress
- Nuts and seeds (e.g., walnuts, flaxseeds) high in healthy fats
- Dark chocolate with flavonoids and antioxidants that improve your mood and cognitive health (just make sure you watch out for its sugar content)
- Leafy greens like spinach and kale that are high in vitamins and minerals
So the next time you’re at the grocery store, remember to purchase nutrient-packed goodies that will keep you energized.
4. Sleeping Well
After dedicating your day to coaching and guiding others toward their goals, you deserve a restful recharge during the night.
Sleep quality affects not only your physical health but also your mental well-being. When you don’t get enough quality sleep, your productivity and overall energy levels are affected the next day.
So prioritize those precious hours of shut-eye and create a sleep routine that promotes deep, rejuvenating sleep.
For example, incorporate your meditation right before bed to wind down. You can also set a specific time to turn off your smartphone every evening.
I like using the Bettersleep app to listen to bedtime stories or do light stretches to prepare me for sleep.
Your energy reserves will thank you, and you’ll be ready to tackle each day with renewed vigor and vitality.
FAQs
As a life coach, protecting your energy is crucial for maintaining good mental health and avoiding burnout. Here are some frequently asked questions about how to protect your energy:
What Is the Importance of Protecting My Energy?
Your mental and emotional wellness depends on it. Negative energy can drain you, leaving you depleted and unable to help others effectively. Studies show that positive energy has a significant positive effect on our well-being.
How Can I Avoid Feeling Drained during the Workday?
- Take breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge.
- Avoid multitasking as much as possible to stay focused on one task at a time and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Limit distractions in your workspace by turning off notifications or closing unnecessary tabs.
What Are Some Ways I Can Feel Relaxed After Coaching Sessions?
Try these activities to unwind after a difficult coaching session:
- Deep breathing or meditation: Calms the mind and restores balance.
- Gentle stretching or yoga: Relieves physical tension.
- Walk in nature: Reconnect with tranquility.
- Journaling: Reflect and clear your thoughts.
Bonus: How Paperbell Can Handle Your Admin and Free Up Energy
Managing the administrative side of your coaching business can be time-consuming and mentally draining. Paperbell streamlines these tasks so you can focus on other things.
With Paperbell, you can:
- Automate scheduling with clients based on your set availability—a great way to set time boundaries
- Process payments 24/7—even while you sleep
- Manage contracts and onboarding automatically
- Store client notes and progress all in one place
Instead of stressing over paperwork or double-checking the number of sessions you’ve delivered, Paperbell handles your entire client management workflow so you can focus on creating impactful coaching experiences.
Try it now for free with your first client.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in July 2023 and has since been updated for accuracy.