9 Successful Coaches Share Their Morning Routines

As coaches, we know how important it is to maximize your time. We have packed schedules filled with coaching calls, live trainings, teaching, and all the while, we are transforming lives. It can seem impossible to build a successful coaching business while balancing work and life, a problem that successful coaches have secretly learned to master.

In this blog post, we’ll talk to real coaches and get their advice on how to have a successful morning. They will share real stories about the tools they use, strategies they believe in, and exactly what they do each morning to get their day going.

Keep reading to learn more.

9 Secrets to Successful Morning (for Coaches)

1. Keep your to-do list short and powerful.

“I start every morning with a bit of journaling and listening to a few industry-related podcasts while I have my [much needed] morning coffee and if I do a short meditation my favorite app is Waking Up. 

I plan my to-do list the night before so that in the morning my tasks for the day are clear, defined, and not overwhelming. I try really hard not to have more than 3 tasks on my to-do list so that they can actually be accomplished and I won’t have guilt over not crossing everything off my list. I am most productive in the morning so I will try to tackle that list before noon. 

If I am feeling stuck on a task I will get up from my desk and do a quick walk or stretch to get the creative juices flowing again. Knowing when to step away from your computer is key when you are feeling stuck or frustrated.”

– Tara Dupuis, Fashion Stylist and Online Business Coach for Women

2. Put your coaching clients first.

“We always start our day the same, together with our morning coffee and connection time. This step is perhaps the most critical for us as relationship coaches. Who would we be, or what kind of advice would we be able to give our many clients if we did not first take care of our relationship? Our morning begins the same way each day, and it sets the tone for the rest of the day. 

Next, we discuss all our coaching calls for the day, including strategies for each client, challenges they are having, and ways to help them become successful in personal, business, and relationship life. Our real secret to being productive and motivated is our clients and their thriving. By focusing on them rather than our own selfish desires, we are able to be present for each of them throughout the day. 

We take coaching very seriously in that each client’s well-being is in our hands. They have trusted Peak with their life, so we owe it to them to have a fantastic attitude and focus for them. So we start in relationship and conversation, then we use that positive attitude moment to drive our client interactions. 

We think these things are why most of our clients keep coming back.”

– Todd and Diana Mitchem, Certified Relationship Coaches

3. Maximize your health.

“Immediately after I wake up, I drink a bottle of water. Long-term dehydration can lead to migraines, hypertension, obesity, and more. Plus, being dehydrated is a major cause of what people call brain fog, and I want to make sure I can think clearly throughout my day. 

Next, I take some vitamins and supplements. These help me stay healthy and on my A-game. After that, I make Bulletproof coffee, which was popularized by Dave Asprey. It’s essentially coffee mixed with organic butter and MCT oil. This may seem strange at first, but the fats in the butter and oil also promote mental health and they keep me feeling full for hours, since I don’t eat a traditional breakfast. 

Once that’s done, I will head downstairs to my home office and get to work. I publish a monthly paper-and-ink newsletter for financial advisors, and one of the perks of being subscribed to that newsletter is that you get direct email access to me for questions. So, the first thing I do in any given workday is answer questions from subscribers. 

After that, I move on to the rest of the items on my to-do list.”

– James Pollard, Marketing Coach

4. Turn off your phone.

“I believe your morning sets the tone for your entire day. I wake up at 4:30 and not touch my phone until 7 am.  I immediately start with exercise! I do cardio first, which lets me get into an alpha headspace. I start to brainstorm ideas for the day and get my blood pumping. After that, I do some light weights and abs, followed by 30-40 minutes of yoga. Finally, I meditate for ten minutes, after which I write down the five things I am most grateful for that day.  This sets the tone for my entire day. 

After that, I feel energized, and not using my phone until 7 am allows my mind to decompress and take a break from the hustle and bustle of business ownership. Even if you can only accomplish this for an hour, it is life-changing…  While my coffee is brewing, around 7 am, I check my emails and do my morning post on social media. 

Then, I am ready to Slay the Day!”

– Jessica Dennehy, Business Coach

5. Start your morning the night before.

“My morning routine starts the night before. I review what I need to take care of the next day and make sure it’s all scheduled in my online calendar. This includes time for copywriting, social posts, client calls, sales calls, admin, exercise, and eating! 

I keep my phone out of the bedroom and don’t look at it in the morning until after I’ve done some key things: meditation, movement/yoga, and some study or journaling. I use the Insight Timer app to do each of these activities for 10-20 minutes, but I don’t check my messages or social media! 

No cell time helps me protect that precious mental clarity and openness that I have first thing in the morning, which is crucial for staying focused on my larger goals and dreams. If I go to my phone first, everyone else’s thoughts and agendas come pouring in, and I start the day distracted! 

As a coach, you’re taking care of a lot of other people’s priorities, but ultimately, you must learn to be the person in charge of your life and business first, so you can show up and serve in the best way.”

– Michelle Boulé, Transformational Life Coach

6. Create your own success rituals

“Over the years I’ve perfected my morning routine as a way to ensure I have a focused, productive day that I can win. After waking, I spend 30 minutes in focused silence or meditation, then listen to an audiobook or podcast while getting ready. 

Once I’m dressed and put together I take the dog for a walk while drinking 32oz of water. By the time I get back, it’s time for a warm drink (tea, coffee, etc), a light breakfast if I’m hungry, and then checking my social

marketing platforms to start the workday. 

The secret to having a focused day is building a simple set of rituals that set your brain up to be engaged early on, and then stack any habits that fit together (like drinking water and walking the dog) so that you can maintain momentum. 

I’ve been doing this routine for about 4 years now, and it’s been the cornerstone of being able to build a thriving, successful business while managing a full-time corporate career as well.”

– Lindsay “LC” Calverley, Certified Coach & Personal Trainer

7. Intentionally focus on work-life balance.

“As a mom and a successful business coach, I have to tackle each day with intentionality for my health, family, and business. That’s why I stick to a routine.

My Monday through Friday routine has me up at 4:30 am to hit the gym. Back at home, I shower and cook the entire day of meals for my family in 30-45 minutes each morning.

After that, it’s time to focus on business. I make a list of 10 high-priority items—5 for my clients and 5 for my business. I knock out those high-priority items and catch up on messages and emails from my team. And that’s all done before 9 am.

Routines are essential for maintaining healthy habits, but I would say my secret to getting focused and productive every day is to make a list of impact items and block off time on my calendar to do them.”

– Neha Naik, Business Coach for Mom Entrepreneurs

8. Start your day in strategic solitude.

“It is critical to start the day with your mind in the right place. I recommend getting up an hour earlier than the others in your home, especially if you are a mom! Getting quiet in your mind before the day begins has been essential to my success. I write out my goals as if they’ve already happened, and I get into that space. 

Especially as a new coach, this is so important! When we are just starting out, we must do a lot of inner work on belief and staying the course as we build our businesses. Nothing is an overnight success, so staying in tune with your goal is so key.

I also journal to get my thoughts out on paper to see any potential blind spots for the day. Also as coaches, we should continue to master our craft. I love this early morning time of day to study — whether it’s a book, a

course, or working on my own methods, using this time to become a master coach is a great way to start the day.

Lastly, I write down the key actions I must do in my business for the day. I have a system for content creation, social media, etc. I highly recommend having systems for all of your key business activities such as marketing,

sales, admin tasks, and client delivery.”

– Julie Ciardi, Business Coach

9. Rise and shine at the same time every day.

“For me, waking up at the same time every day (and trying to go to sleep at the same time), regardless of what day it is or what time I have to start work, helps to keep me in a routine. This routine helps me feel well-rested and energized from the moment I start my day. 

I start my day by making breakfast and coffee, sitting down, and mindfully enjoying it. Then, after getting ready, I sit at my workspace, take a few deep breaths and spend 30 minutes on emails and social media posts. The combination of adequate sleep and fuel (breakfast and coffee), along with taking time to enjoy my meal sets me up for a successful day. 

In addition, having a designated workspace at home helps my brain to shift into work mode. Once I am there, having a set time for emails and social media allows me to stay on track with tasks for the rest of the day. Following this time, I move to my to-do list and calendar meetings.”

– Sunni Lampasso, Executive Coach and Consulting Psychologist

Final Thoughts

Now that you’ve heard from real coaches, you can choose any of the strategies above and try them yourself. You have everything you need to start your day off successfully! 

As you saw in the post, learning how to develop routines and rituals are the key to running a successful coaching business. When you don’t practice and test different morning strategies, you could end up burning out. 

But, before you get started, please make sure you leave a quick comment and let me know which tip was your favorite and how plan on mastering your morning.