What a Holistic Life & Time Coach Is (& What They Do)
When I talk to potential clients and friends about coaching, the general consensus is: What actually is it?
On top of that, there are tons of coaches out there in the world, all with different opinions, definitions, and perspectives on coaching. Of course, I have my own, too.
If you’ve ever considered hiring a coach, this article will help you figure out if a coach might be the right next step for you.
Or if you’ve ever wondered questions like: How do I accomplish the things I want without feeling so stressed and rushed? How can I experience more spaciousness and time outside of work, have time for myself, and enjoy my life?
Those are two of the big questions that a holistic life and time coach will help you answer.
Keep reading below to find out more, or tune in to episodes #025 and #026 on Not Too Productive to hear it for yourself.
What does a holistic life and time coach do?
I graduated from Level 1 Holistic Coach Training in September 2021 and Level 2 Holistic Coach Training in November 2023. The coach training institute I attended is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the largest regulatory body for the coaching field.
It is so important to me to define coaching and help people understand whether it is right for them.
As humans, it’s so easy to get stuck on autopilot, living in our lives, thinking the same thoughts, and doing the same things.
Simply put, a holistic life and time coach is someone who will help you spend your time and life how you want. They support you in getting to where you want to go… faster, easier, and without feeling so alone or frustrated.
As a coach, how do I do that exactly? In so many ways.
It’s important to understand that coaching is not therapy or consulting. A coach doesn’t give advice. I dive deeper into why that is later in this article, but the main reason is that the best answers are found within you, not externally.
A coach will ask powerful questions, offer reflections, and provide supportive tools and modalities. A life coach will help you recognize old patterns and change them, of course, if you want to. Personally, I bring somatics, parts work, mindfulness, and compassionate understanding into my coaching calls.
A holistic life and time coach also offers a non-hierarchal, judgment-free space for you to express, process, and try new perspectives. Where else in life do we have access to that kind of space?
Finally, a coach provides accountability and encouragement, making it so easier for you to be motivated and take action on what you want.
Adding a holistic perspective to coaching
When you’re not well, it’s challenging to set goals, make plans, try new things, make decisions with clarity, or accomplish what you want.
I also know that when you do reach your goals and you’re exhausted or burned out, it’s difficult to keep it up.
Accomplishing things regardless of the cost to you and your well-being isn’t worth it.
A holistic coach helps you achieve your goals AND be healthy physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
When you are well, taking action and making changes is easier.
A holistic life coach helps you consider your whole being so you have a much greater chance of sustainably succeeding.
Holistic coaching meets time management
The #1 biggest, most common thing that holds us all back from living the way we want and accomplishing what we want is time.
You need time to write a book, sleep well, grow a business, be with friends, play with your kids, create art, move your body, and do anything.
Yet the world of time management and productivity is full of people telling others what to do and hacks for getting work and tasks done as quickly as possible. It’s exhausting and feels horrible!
Time is what happens at work, but also in the mornings before it, on the weekends, and the small moments in between. It’s our whole lives and the most precious resource ever.
Life isn’t supposed to feel like a never-ending to-do list. It’s meant to be enjoyed. That’s why time is so much bigger than management, productivity, optimization, and efficiency.
Holistic time coaching combines coaching, a holistic lens, and time management so you can go inwards, heal what’s really preventing you from doing the things you want to do, and find unique-to-you solutions.
Holistic time coaching helps you consider everything from external factors such as finances, accessibility, responsibilities, relationships, work, and environment, to internal factors such as how your unique mind and body operate best, how you feel, what brings you joy, and more.
My job is to help you clarify what you actually want, prioritize what matters most, set achievable goals, make realistic plans, heal procrastination, build sustainable habits, and more. Most importantly, shifting how you think and feel about time so that you never again feel as if time is a limitation.
After working with me, my clients regularly say they feel a much healthier and expansive relationship towards time, which has improved their day-to-day lives.
Holistic life & time coaching vs therapy
While both are extremely useful, holistic life and time coaching stand out from therapy or counseling.
Think of it like this: therapy often focuses on past traumas and the psyche, while holistic coaching looks ahead to the future. When you work with a holistic life and time coach, you're in for a forward-thinking, practical experience.
Instead of diving deep into old wounds, coaching provides hands-on guidance for discovering strategies for living your values, experiencing less stress, and finding balance.
Coaching versus consulting
When someone tells you what to do, how does that feel in your body? For most of us, bad. Me too! A loud part of me (my inner teen) gets loud and wants to rebel. Then, I don’t ever actually follow through with it.
Often, when clients come to me seeking advice, and I give it, they decide it doesn’t sit well with them. It’s because no one knows better than you.
This is why coaching works so well. It helps you go inward and find your own answers, shining a light on how you feel, think, and what you want.
As a coach, I believe that every human being is resourceful and knows exactly what they need to do next. My job is to help you clear out the inner and/or outer noise preventing you from discovering your answers.
Time is bigger than management
Whether it’s getting more done, getting the right things done, resting more, or spending more time with your loved ones… I help you make the most of your one magical, beautiful life (aka time) and feel good while doing it.