Slowing Down to Gear Up: Reflecting on 2024 and Preparing Your Coaching Business for 2025

Written by: Claudia Haller NBC-HWC

As the year winds down and the holiday season approaches, it’s natural for things to slow down a bit—especially in the coaching world. Clients may be distracted by festivities, travel, or end-of-year commitments. But rather than seeing this as a lull, this is the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and gear up for an even more impactful year ahead. ​

​When your business is on a roll, it can be difficult to accept a break. You just want to keep propelling forward, right?

But slowing down doesn’t mean stopping.

The slower season provides a natural pause that can be used to create even stronger momentum…and a stronger coaching business!

There is something so exciting and rejuvenating about turning over a new year. Think back to those first-day-of-school feelings you had as a child. You can channel that same kind of enthusiasm in your career! Whether you’re building a new business or continuing on a well-established path, a new year feels like a fresh start.

So, let’s use that!

Here’s how you can make the most of this slower season and prepare your business and personal growth for 2025.
 
Reflect on 2024: Celebrate Wins and Learn From Challenges.
With a new year just around the corner, your mind is likely focused on resolutions and goals for 2025. You’re ready to leave any past mistakes behind and move forward as your newer, better self. As a business owner, you are surely excited to jump right into your plans for the near future.

But before you dive into goal-setting for the new year, take time to look back on 2024. What have you accomplished in your coaching practice? Reflect on the growth you've seen in your clients and your own professional development. This is also a great moment to consider any challenges you faced. What didn’t go as planned? What did you learn from those experiences?
 
This reflection isn’t just about celebrating your wins (though that’s important!)—it’s also an opportunity to identify areas for growth. Maybe you want to refine your coaching techniques, or perhaps you’re looking to attract more clients or enhance your offerings. Whatever the case, this introspective process will help set a clear direction for 2025.

Set Intentions for 2025: Make Your Goals Clear and Actionable
Now that you’ve reflected on the past year, it’s time to set your intentions for the year ahead. Think about both your personal growth and the evolution of your coaching business. 
 
Ask yourself…

Personal Growth: What new skills or certifications do you want to pursue? Look into this now while you have the time and focus. Don’t wait until later in the year, when you are too busy dealing with what’s in front of you to think about starting something new.

How can you improve your work-life balance?  This is so important and something that can easily fall to the wayside. Talk to your family. Get their perspective on how well you are balancing your work and home life. Not only can you use this slower time to prioritize the important people in your life, but you can spend some time planning how you will carry this balance into the busier seasons. Pull out your calendar. Block off some time now to ensure you take that important family time later!

Business Growth: This is a great time to set up your plan for the upcoming year. You’ve looked back on your previous year; now you must decide what’s next? What is it that you most want to accomplish? Do you want to expand your coaching services, attract more clients, or update your coaching packages? 

Once you’ve considered where you’d like to go with your business, think about how you can get there. What tools or systems can you implement to streamline your processes and save time?

Be specific with your goals and create actionable steps for each. Break them down into smaller, achievable tasks to ensure you stay on track. Keep in mind, the more detailed your goals, the easier it will be to stay focused and make real progress.

Remember to make your goals SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based (Learn more about SMART goals HERE).
 
Prepare Your Business for a Fresh Start: Organize, Streamline, and Refresh
The quieter holiday season is a perfect time to get organized and prepare your business for the busy months ahead. If you’re like me, you probably need to be doing something to feel productive. Just because you’re not as busy on the client side of things does not mean you can’t take action in other areas of your business. And let’s face it, there is never a shortage of things that need to get done. Think about everything you would love to get to but never have the time. Well, this is the time.
Here are a few tasks you can tackle:
 
Update Client Materials: Refresh your coaching materials, handouts, and any online resources you provide. A well-organized, up-to-date library of content can save time when you're working with clients.

Refine Your Programs and Packages: This is a great opportunity to assess what’s working and what could be improved in your coaching programs. Do your current offerings align with your business goals for 2025? Could you bundle services or create new packages to meet your clients' needs?

Streamline Your Systems: Take a look at your business tools—whether it’s scheduling, client communication, or payment systems—and see where you can optimize. Look for ways to make your workflow more efficient so you can focus on what really matters: coaching.

Prioritize Self-Care: Recharge for the New Year
Finally, don’t forget about yourself during this time. Business might be quieter, but life is still busy! Coaching is a rewarding but demanding profession, and it’s important to recharge so you can show up fully for your clients in 2025.

Believe it or not, studies show that there is a positive correlation between taking breaks and productivity. When we allow ourselves to rest and recharge, we increase our energy and cognitive function. We are more likely to work effectively and meet our goals.
Besides, your health and happiness are worth it.

So, whether it’s taking a break to reflect, focusing on a personal hobby, or simply slowing down to rest, make sure you’re giving yourself the space you need to come back stronger in the new year.
 
Join the Virtual Health Coaching Community
If you’re looking for extra support, accountability, and a community of like-minded coaches, I invite you to join the Virtual Health Coaching Community. This is a place where you can connect with other coaches, share insights, and access resources designed to help you grow and thrive in your coaching business.
 
As we prepare for the new year, there’s no better time to surround yourself with a supportive community that shares your passion for health coaching and personal growth. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned coach looking for fresh ideas, the Virtual Health Coaching Community can help you achieve your goals and make 2025 your best year yet.

Join us today and get ready to make 2025 your year of growth, clarity, and success.
 
Claudia is an NBC-HWC Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, the owner of Vibrant Health by Claudia LLC  and Virtual Health Coaches LLC. She studied Health and Wellness Coaching at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition where she also completed courses in Gut Health, Hormone Health, and Advanced Coaching. She is a Havening TechniquesⓇ Certified Practitioner and certified 21-Day Sugar Detox Coach as well as a co-author of two Amazon Bestsellers “The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Soul Aligned Business”,  “The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Successful Soul Professional”, and “The Ultimate Guide To Leaving Your Legacy.”
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To schedule a time for a free information call click here or join her Vibrant Health Power Community - a free Facebook Group - here. 
 
Sources:
Boyd, Caitlin. “How Smart Goals Can Help You Achieve Better Health.” Virtual Health Coaches, www.virtualhealthcoaches.com/blog/how-smart-goals-can-help-you-achieve-better-health.

Brooks, Chad. “The Key to Increasing Productivity? Employee Breaks.” Business News Daily, 22 Aug. 2024, www.businessnewsdaily.com/6387-employee-breaks.html.
Haller, Claudia. “Beyond January 1st. Cracking the Code of New Year’s Resolutions: Small Changes for Big Impact.” Virtual Health Coaches, www.virtualhealthcoaches.com/blog/beyond-january-1st-cracking-the-code-of-new-years-resolutions-small-changes-for-big-impact-in-2024.