When is the ideal time to start working with a coach?
I might say yesterday or today.
One could say there is never an “ideal” time. Life is always in session. There is always work, a to-do list, appointments, deadlines, chores, and problems to resolve.
Time does not stand still. You are not given the luxury of the world stopping for three months while you change your habits and mindset.
Wouldn’t that be nice, though? We all retreat and do a recalibration.
But let’s look at where we are in the year. Halfway through. The apex of summertime.
The world slows down in the summer. Kids here have been out of school since mid-May, and we are on a four-week countdown until it starts again. My friends in the Northeast are on week two of their summer, and school is out until after Labor Day.
But in general, summer is a time of rest and fun. People go on vacation. Many people are traveling this summer, especially with the travel restrictions of the past two years.
Historically it has been a trend in my private practice that there is an ebb in income. I would say the trend shifted in the summers of 2020 and 2021, but this year clients are back to taking a vacation and wanting to resume their work in the fall.
If you took inventory of your workload and life right now, do you see similar trends? Are clients going on vacation, colleagues are out of the office, and you feel less pressure?
If you have kids, there is a reprieve from the extra demands and rigid school year structure.
If so, NOW may be the ideal time to start coaching.
If none of those are resonating and the workload is just as relentless as ever, then NOW still may be an ideal time to start coaching.
Summer represents abundant energy, expansion, growth, activity, and creativity.
Are you sick and tired of feeling tired and dragging yourself to work every day? Can you imagine a life where you have ample energy and vitality to kick ass at work and enjoy being around your family?
Are you feeling stuck in your current job or as though you want more out of your career and life? What if you could run towards your potential and expand the possibilities of what your career or life can offer you?
Are there habits you’ve been meaning to work on that you know would help you grow as a person, but you haven’t had time? Close your eyes and imagine your future self as if you have implemented all these habits you desire to change. How does that life feel?
Does it seem like you are stuck in Groundhog Day? Does it feel like all you do is work? What would life be like if you had more activities that you enjoyed sprinkled throughout your days and weeks?
Are there parts of you that love reading, the arts, music, traveling, writing, and other creative outlets that you’ve put aside over the years as you’ve sacrificed yourself for your career? Reconnect to yourself and add joy back to your life.
If you started coaching today, where could you be in 3-6 months?
You could be like my clients who started in early 2022 and are reaping the rewards of their work. Here are a few examples:
- One client set up her office to bring more joy and creativity to her day. She created spaces for rest and movement breaks. She added art and other items she loves. She created an outdoor patio where she can eat lunch, get a Vitamin D break in the sun, and get a mood boost from nature.
- One client has completely transformed from an overwhelmed, stressed-out worrier who was constantly afraid of what others were thinking of her to very calm, structured in how she works, and self-assured.
- One client learned to stop automatically saying “yes” to new work, slow down, and start saying no frequently. He recognized he was experiencing a little burnout due to overwork. He advocated for himself and received a month of time off (due to overwork, he was ahead of his hours), where he will travel with his family, rest, and recalibrate.
- One client went from working all hours and constantly checking her email to firmly putting work in a box where it belongs. She now has standard starting and stop times, does not check her email outside of predetermined work hours, and has incorporated hobbies, family time, and LIFE into the equation. Her production at work has not decreased. AND she no longer feels as though her worth is measured by the number of hours she bills.
- One client left a very toxic work situation, took a risk on a dream position, and loves it.
- One client is practicing setting boundaries at work and learning to BE and rest/enjoy life rather than feel like she has to be DOING at all times. She is headed to Greece next week and will be leaving her laptop at home and has strict boundaries in place so she can be present in Greece.
These are a few examples from a few clients. Each of these clients themselves has many more examples of how they have shifted their career, life, and well-being through coaching.
If they had not started, where would they be now? On a repeat of 2021.
YOU – and only you – have the power to change your life. It is possible.
But you have to get started.
I invite you to take the opportunity this summer season to start. Think about your future self and what the fall could be like if you worked on your wellness now.
When you’re ready, I’m here. Book a call on my calendar so we can start the plan for how you can thrive in law and life.