A Day in the Life of a Coach: Insights from Four Lumia Coaches

As a coach (or someone considering becoming a coach!) you may be wondering how others in this profession structure their days. 

To give you a peek behind the curtain, we've spoken with four very different Lumia alumni about their daily routines, challenges, and rewards. 

Let's take a closer look at how these coaches balance self-care, client sessions, business management, and continuous learning!

Creating Structure: Start the Day with Intention 

All four coaches emphasize the importance of beginning their day mindfully. This sets the tone for their energy and presence throughout their coaching sessions.

And, while every coach usually engages in some coaching work every day – each has developed a unique way to structure their workday, balancing flexibility with routine.

Justin Chao: The Early Bird Anxiety Coach

Meet Coach Justin, a resilient and compassionate anxiety/stress coach, dedicated to guiding individuals towards a life of  peace and purpose. With a remarkable journey of personal transformation, Coach Justin has emerged as a beacon of hope for those seeking relief from anxiety, stress, addiction, burnout and the burden of people-pleasing.

Justin, an ACC-certified coach focusing on anxiety, burnout, and life design, starts his day bright and early. As he’s also working within a ministry role, he also dedicates time to that work as the day goes on:

Justin’s morning routine includes:

• 6-7 AM: Rise and shine
• Neurofeedback-assisted meditation using a Mendi device
• Bible reading and personal study
• 7-8 AM Email check 
• 8 AM sharp: Daily check-in with his Virtual Assistant
• 9 AM to 12 PM: Ministry meetings
• 12 PM to 5 or 6 PM: Coaching sessions

Justin's tip: Know your weaknesses and delegate tasks accordingly. His VA helps organize his day and handles logistics.

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Joy Valerie Carrera: The Flexible Social Impact Coach

Hi I'm Joy Valerie mindfulness-based business & life coach sharing my journey and experiences in social entrepreneurship to help 1st Gen, BIPOC, & ADHDers build systems to unlock your 🧠's strengths, manage energy, time, & focus to thrive in biz & life

Joy Valerie is a digital nomad who works remotely and makes her own schedule. She works with social impact-driven individuals, people of color, and those with ADHD, emphasizes adaptability in her morning routine:

• Aims for at least a 30-minute walk
• Incorporates mindfulness exercises
• Adjusts her routine based on energy levels, distinguishing between "low weeks" and "high weeks"
• Listens to her body and adjusts her schedule based on today’s needs

Joy's tip: It's crucial to tune into your body's energy levels.

She then focuses on time blocking and “theming” her weeks to make sure she gets to all her tasks:

• Mondays: Business development and administrative tasks
• Tuesdays to Thursdays: Client calls and coaching sessions
• Incorporates co-working sessions with other professionals
• Uses 3-hour blocks for specific tasks (e.g., admin time, content planning)

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Alexis LeBaron-Allcott: The Marketing Maven Coach

As a passionate and dedicated Public Relations Professional and Business Coach, Alexis is committed to empowering businesses and individuals to reach their full potential. With a robust background in life coaching, content creation, and marketing, she offers a unique blend of skills that drive personal and professional growth.

Alexis is juggling working for other coaches and brands with thinking about building her own unique practice. Currently she works as a business coach specializing in marketing and branding, and also in a coaching program for college students. She kicks off her day with:

• Exercise: Either a run or a fitness class
• A hearty breakfast (she emphasizes never skipping meals)

Alexis is very busy, juggling multiple roles a day so she relies fully on staying organized and using different tools to keep her going.

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Craig Pamulo: The Mindful Wellness Coach

As a Certified Life Coach, and more specifically, anecdotally experienced Wellness Guru, I have the tools and overstanding (not just understanding) to help you create the life you imagine and find your beauty within a joyous, authentic sense of self.

Craig, who is building his practice and sees clients “part time” for now, spends his days bringing coaching principles into his current workplace – a company focused on home renovation. He focuses on wellness coaching through love and authenticity, and has a gentle start to his day:

• Avoids checking his phone immediately upon waking
• Starts with a glass of water
• 10 minutes of meditation in darkness, focusing on breath
• Engages in movement (yoga, jump rope, walk, or weightlifting)
• Reviews client notes if there's a coaching session scheduled

Craig tries to find opportunities to use his coaching skills throughout the day – whether with a client, or on the job.

The Heart of the Day: Client Sessions

Despite their varied approaches, all four coaches prioritize being fully present for their clients.

Session Structure:

• Justin: Conducts 3-4 sessions daily, with breaks in between
• Joy: Schedules calls primarily between Tuesday and Thursday
• Alexis: Manages a mix of one-on-one and group coaching sessions, some lasting 30 minutes and others up to an hour
• Craig: Emphasizes being fully present for each client, regardless of personal circumstances

Buffer Time: All coaches stress the importance of scheduling buffer time between sessions for note-taking, grounding, and preparation.

Managing Energy and Mindset

Coaching can be emotionally and mentally demanding. Here's how our coaches stay sustainable:

Self-Care Practices:

• Scheduled meals and breaks (especially important for those with ADHD, Joy notes)
• Regular exercise and movement
• Mindfulness and meditation practices

Boundaries:

• Justin emphasizes saying "no" to clients who aren’t a good fit for what you offer, to preserve energy for clients truly ready for change
• All coaches recognize personal limits and avoid overbooking

Decompression Time: Activities between sessions include "shaking it out," listening to music, or spending time with pets.

Mindset Techniques:

• Joy views coaching as part of a "ripple effect" for motivation
• Justin reminds himself he's "no better than his clients" to maintain humility
• Craig focuses on being fully present, using breathing techniques to center himself

Tools of the Trade

While each coach has their preferred tools, simplicity is a common theme. For instance, Justin and Craig prefer a more organic approach, often relying on just a notebook and pen.

Tech and admin tools mentioned by these four coaches include:

• Google Calendar for scheduling
• Alexa or Google Home for reminders
• Visual timers for session management
• Coach Accountable software
• Squarespace for calendaring and client agreements 
• Asana for project management
• Clockify for tracking hours across different businesses

The Reality of Coaching: Challenges and Rewards

Each coach was grateful for the work of coaching, and wanted to acknowledge the real-world challenges they faced as well as the good things that came from their coaching practices.

Challenges:

• Balancing multiple roles throughout the day
• Managing energy levels and staying focused
• Dealing with potential clients seeking help on behalf of others
• Maintaining a steady client base and income
• Handling administrative tasks separate from coaching

Rewards:

• Witnessing restored relationships and personal growth in clients
• Being part of transformative journeys
• Seeing long-term impacts of their work
• Personal growth from working with diverse clients
• The joy of meaningful conversations

Business Aspects

Running a successful coaching business isn't just about helping clients transform their lives. It's also about finding those clients, constantly improving your skills, and keeping your financial ship afloat. Here's what these coaches had to say:

Attracting Your Dream Clients

Gone are the days of sitting by the phone, waiting for clients to magically appear. Our coaches shared their favorite techniques for finding clients:

1. Get out there and mingle! In-person networking and speaking engagements are gold mines for connecting with potential clients.
2. Know your niche. Justin, for example, targets speaking at men's groups for his specific coaching focus.
3. Provide value first, clients second. When you genuinely help people, word-of-mouth becomes your best marketing tool.

Leveling Up Your Coaching Game

Becoming a great coach is a journey, not a destination. Here's how our coaches stay on top of their game:

1. Be the coach who calls back. Responsiveness to potential clients can set you apart in a crowded market.
2. Results speak louder than words. Focus on getting real, tangible outcomes for your clients.
3. Never stop learning. Continuously adapt and refine your coaching techniques.
4. Master the art of presence. As Craig emphasizes, genuine listening and being fully present are the cornerstones of impactful coaching.

Money Matters

Coaching incomes can be as unpredictable as a rollercoaster, but our coaches have some tips to keep your finances steady:

1. Embrace the ebb and flow. Understand that coaching income is often cyclical. There will be feast months and famine months.
2. Plan ahead. Use those high-income periods to squirrel away funds for the inevitable slow times.
3. Market smart, not hard. Plan your marketing efforts strategically, especially during slower periods, to keep your client pipeline full.

As these coaches demonstrate, a successful coaching practice requires finding a personalized rhythm that allows for both structure and flexibility. The focus remains on serving clients effectively while maintaining personal well-being.

"Sharing and being a coach is a loving and giving profession. Make sure you lead with love... Let's talk, let's love, and watch how a world can change." - Craig Pamulo

Ready to Become A Coach?

One of our values at Lumia is that we dare to be different. Our life coaches ignore the expectations society tries to impose on them, and seek to live from their own truth instead. If you are ready to step into your power and you’d like a partner in the process, come check out Lumia Life Coach Training. Grounded in science, our ICF accredited program features authentic instructors, a robust curriculum, and business instruction to prepare you for liftoff.

‍Lumia Coaching: Vibrant community. Evidence-based life coach training. Lifetime support.