If you’re a health or life coach who wants to feel more focused, less overwhelmed, and actually make progress in your business without subscribing to hustle culture – this blog post is for you.

I’m talking about what productivity really looks like in a heart-centered business – especially if you’re neurodiverse, highly sensitive, or balancing caregiving and business.

Listen to this episode on The Wholehearted Business Show Podcast: Listen on Apple Podcasts / Listen on Spotify

A couple of key reminders before we get started

Before we explore the main tips, there are two key things to remember about productivity. Firstly, if you identify as highly sensitive, heart-centered, or neurodiverse, throw out the conventional productivity rule book. Be mindful of the information you absorb, even from me, about what could work for you. Remember, productivity advice is often tailored by those who may not share your personal circumstances, ahem men without child care responsibilities as an example!

Secondly, challenge the traditional programming you might have absorbed from other workplaces. For most of us, coaching is a second career, and it’s essential to realise productivity doesn’t need to mean being glued to your desk from 9 to 5. Given that a lot of us start coaching businesses to enjoy more freedom, we need to let go of what we think our work needs to look like and redefine productivity in a way that works for us.

Have a Plan But Hold it Lightly

One of the biggest productivity hurdles is not knowing where to begin. Having a plan helps with that dilemma. However, everyone’s relationship with planning is unique. Some revel in detailed plans, while others prefer a more flexible approach.

Experiment to find a way of planning that works for you – and if you aren’t even sure where to begin with creating a plan for business growth check out some of my free resources including my Profitable Business Model and Business Plan Workshop.

Know What Moves the Needle

Understanding which tasks truly grow your business is crucial. Identify the activities that get you results and reflect regularly to assess their effectiveness. Often in the early days of your coaching business, you’ll go through trial and error to pinpoint what works best.

But to give you a head start, what I tend to see makes the most difference in people’s coaching businesses are:

• What are you doing to grow your audience / increase reach
• Having good messaging
• Getting your offers right
• Actually selling

Manage Your Energy Not Your Time

This is one of my favourite tips and something which can make a huge difference – stop trying to manage your time and start managing your energy!

Not every hour of every day is going to be productive for you and part of getting more done is knowing when you’re in your best energy to get stuff done. If you have a cycle, not trying to push when you know your energy is lower and then making the most of it when you feel good can be really helpful.

It might be that you have more productive times of the day too. Remember that you’re better off focusing on having 3 good productive hours in your day – or even in your week – than trying to battle on when you’re not feeling it for 10 hours or more. For most people there is a point where you just become ineffective and knowing when you’re energetically just done, and stopping – rather than pushing is going to make you more productive overall.

Know How You Work Best

The time of day, your environment, and your routine can significantly impact productivity. For some, the creativity of a coffee shop or a different setting, like a parent’s home, can spark high productivity. Evaluate your natural work rhythm and align your schedule to when you’re most efficient. For example, just as we looked at in the above point, I’m all in during the morning but lose steam after 2 PM. Knowing what works for you and adapting to it can supercharge your efforts.

Know Which Tasks Are Ongoing and Which Are Project Based

Distinguishing between ongoing and project-based tasks can aid in time management and mental clarity. Ongoing tasks like checking emails might be part of your daily routine, whereas launching a new programme is more project-based. This awareness helps determine the best way to allocate your focus and energy, ensuring you’re not bogged down by diversions and can embrace creativity within project boundaries.

Co-Working / Body Doubling

Sometimes, sharing a workspace can boost productivity. Whether through actual co-working or virtual co-working or body doubling, bringing in some level of accountability or companionship can keep you on track. My Wholehearted Business® Program offers monthly co-working sessions, providing a slice of shared productivity magic. Collaborating with others or hiring a coach can offer that nudge when you need it most.

Next Steps

Just remember that your productivity level is going to be unique to you, your circumstances, the resources you have available to you and more. Sometimes we have to just accept that our growth is going to be slower, even when we implement a lot of these kind of tips.

I hope some of my ideas have been useful or sparked ways you can work more productively in your business.

Don’t forget that one of the best productivity tools is being supported and held accountable by a Business Coach or Mentor – check out my 1:1 offerings here.

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