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You’ve heard from many of our students, faculty, and graduates on this page and on our social media channels about what they are doing as health coaches.

I have been working as a health coach, nutritionist, and the CEO of The Integrative Women’s Health Institute since 2009, so I thought that I would share some behind the scenes of what a day in my life looks like as a health coach. 

I hope that you’re inspired by what this career could look like in your life!

As a women’s health coach, I am passionate about helping women prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Every day brings something new and unexpected.

I remain committed to my clients and take care of my own health.

This keeps me grounded. Here’s a glimpse into a typical day in my life:

morning routine<br />

Morning Routine

Starting the morning off on the right foot is crucial to setting the tone for the rest of the day.

Before I dive into work, I spend some time focusing on self-care. For me this starts with waking up with the sun around 5:30 or 6am (usually it’s still dark in the winter), and taking my morning supplements with a big glass of water with electrolytes.

Then, I step outside, roll out my yoga mat, and spend 20-30 minutes doing a gentle morning yoga and meditation practice.

I do a combination of yoga stretches and strength-building exercises. This helps me to feel energized and prepared for the day ahead. First I start with some sun salutations to warm up my body, followed by a series of standing and seated poses.

I also incorporate some breathing exercises to activate my parasympathetic nervous system and help me stay focused and centered throughout the day.

After my yoga practice, I meditate.

I find that meditation helps me stay relaxed, focused, and productive throughout the day, even if the demands of my busy life try to rattle me.

I usually meditate for 10-15 minutes, focusing on my breath and a simple mantra while softening my muscles and letting my thoughts flow..

I start each day with an intention. Lately, I have been focused on the intention, “Receive the gifts you’re being given.”

It’s a lovely focus to allow me to better absorb the beauty of the flowers in my garden, the fresh foods I cook for my family, the health in my body and mind, and helps me to stay more mindful when I am listening to my team and clients.

Next, I take a quick shower, and get ready for the day. Finally, I make and eat breakfast consisting of protein such as eggs, lots of vegetables, and some healthy fat like olive oil or a smoothie with avocado, coconut milk, or nuts and seeds.

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day! I also take the rest of my morning supplements with my breakfast.

Overall, my morning routine is an essential part of my daily self-care practice. It helps me start the day feeling centered, focused, and energized, and sets the tone for a productive and fulfilling day ahead.

Client Support

Starting at 9 or 9:30 am, I meet with clients a few days per month, and every other week, I have a group coaching call with the clients in our Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Health Coaching Program.

Meeting with clients is the heart center of my work, and it keeps me fresh for teaching our students real life scenarios, challenges, and inspiring client success stories.

I have been teaching students desiring to become health coaches for 15 years, and one of the best things about our health coaching program is that it’s taught by me and all of our master coaches who are still very hands-on with clients.

The Women’s Health Coach Certification is not just a theoretical training program, it’s a deep dive experience taught by people who have extensive experience coaching clients in the field.

I enjoy continuing to work directly with clients, and it keeps my teaching on the leading edge. I learn so much when working directly with clients struggling with all kinds of women’s health concerns from perimenopause and menopause to infertility to endometriosis, pelvic pain, post viral illness, and more.  

As a health coach, I understand the importance of building healing, professional relationships with clients.

Each session is tailored to their unique needs and goals, whether that’s improving their nutrition, incorporating movement into their daily routines, or working on stress management techniques.

I begin each session by actively listening to my clients. I encourage them to share their thoughts and concerns, and I take note of their body language and tone of voice to ensure that I understand their needs fully.

Once I have a clear understanding of their goals, I offer guidance and support to help them achieve success. I actively keep myself grounded in these sessions, and am fully committed to my own mindfulness practice in order to optimize my active listening ability. 

Listening is one of the most important skills you will learn in your health coach training.

Coaching communication skills are a set of professional tools that will help your client to get to the true root of her health issue, and be able to be consistent with her health behavior changes.

Other key skills that I use include reflections, powerful questions, and strategies to overcome barriers to change. 

Overall, my goal as a health coach is to empower my clients to take control of their health and wellbeing. I believe that with the right guidance and support, anyone can achieve their goals and live a happy, healthy life.

Content Creation

In addition to meeting with clients, I spend time creating content for our website, programs, and social media platforms. This includes blog posts, videos, training course materials, and social media content that’s designed to inspire and educate you.

I believe that creating high-quality content that is fresh and cutting edge along with research and innovations in our field keeps our brand at IWHI strong.

It’s important for me to maintain my work as a thought leader in this field in order to offer our students and clients the best learning and coaching experiences in the world. 

The most important aspect of content creation is staying up-to-date on the latest research and cutting edge innovations in the field.

I regularly attend and present at global professional conferences, read peer reviewed research, and have important conversations with respected colleagues. This allows me to provide you with the most up-to-date and accurate information possible.

Finally, our marketing team and I prioritize engaging social media content to not only keep you informed and inspired, but to build and strengthen our global community.

IWHI is unique because it has thousands of health and wellness professionals who are passionate about women’s health.

These professionals are from around the world and are from a variety of complimentary, integrative and traditional health and wellness backgrounds. Our community is one of the very best things about IWHI. 

group of women exercising

Leading Your Team

As IWHI has grown, I’ve had the immense pleasure to work with a team of health coaches and a leadership team who share my passion for women’s health.

Part of my day involves checking in with them, offering guidance and support, and collaborating on new projects and ideas.

We have been delighted to witness the positive effects of our collective efforts of helping more than 15,000 women all over the world.

One of the most important aspects of leading a team is establishing clear communication channels. This means setting up regular check-ins, using a shared project management system, and being available for questions and feedback.

Communication should be open and transparent. This will ensure that everyone is aware of the same information and working towards the same goals.

Another key element of successful team leadership is creating a positive and supportive work environment.

This means recognizing and celebrating team members’ successes, providing constructive feedback, and fostering a culture of collaboration and respect.

It’s my strong commitment to be sure that our team members feel valued and supported.

Finally, effective team leadership also requires a willingness to adapt and evolve. As your team grows and changes, you may need to adjust your leadership style or approach to better meet the needs of your team.

This might mean delegating more responsibilities, providing more autonomy, or simply being open to new ideas and feedback from your team members.

Many of our IWHI graduates have their own unique journeys of effective team leadership. I love to witness the growth of our graduates’ practices. This growth enables them to serve more women and help them heal beyond what they could do on their own.

What is the inspiration for your health coaching practice? Do you see yourself as a leader of a brilliant team of health coaches?

Anything is possible with clarity, focus, and the support of our smart and caring community!

woman lying in bed sleeping

 

Evening Success: Balancing Work with Your Family Health

As important as work is, I’m also committed to balancing my time with my family. In the evenings, I prioritize family dinners and quality time with my husband and daughters.

This is a time for me to recharge and connect with the people who matter most.

Being the mom of two teenage girls keeps me focused on our mission. Not only is my job as a mom to prepare my girls for the world, but to make the world better for them. 

Evening Routine

I wind down the day with a warm shower, a cup of tea, and reading fiction. My younger daughter has been encouraging me to start a skincare routine, but I keep that pretty simple.

I love to read fun novels or memoirs to relax in the evenings. Sleep is essential for me, and it helps me keep up my busy pace and maintain my health. This is especially important after I have lived with Long Covid for the past few years.

I switch off screens two hours before bedtime. During summer, I enjoy watching the sunset at the beach near my home. I also stop eating a few hours before bed.

I stopped drinking alcohol a few years ago, and that has been tremendously helpful for my sleep quality. I track and adjust my sleep habits using an Oura Ring.

As with any career, being a women’s health coach comes with its share of challenges.

But the opportunity to positively impact the lives of so many women makes it more than worth it.

By prioritizing self-care, staying grounded in self-compassion, and remaining committed to my clients, I’m able to live a fulfilling and purposeful life. It’s been the honor of my life to work in this field.

 

Dr. Jessica Drummond headshot with black background

Founder & CEO

Dr. Jessica Drummond,

DCN, CNS, PT, NBC-HWC

Dr. Jessica Drummond, DCN, CNS, PT, NBC-HWC, is the founder and CEO of The Integrative Women’s Health Institute, The Outsmart Endo Health Coaching Program, and the creator of the Women's Health Coach Certification.

She is passionate about caring for and empowering people who struggle with women’s and pelvic health concerns. She is equally passionate about educating and supporting clinicians and wellness professionals in confidently and safely using integrative tools to transform women’s and pelvic healthcare.

Dr. Drummond has two decades of clinical experience as a licensed physical therapist, licensed clinical nutritionist, and board certified health coach working with women with pelvic pain, including endometriosis, vulvodynia, and bladder pain syndrome. She brings a unique, conservative, and integrative approach to supporting women to overcome hormonal imbalances, and chronic pain conditions.

She is a sought after international speaker on topics such as integrative pelvic pain management, natural fertility options, optimal hormone health, menopause, and female athlete nutrition. Dr. Drummond was educated at the University of Virginia, Emory University, Duke Integrative Medicine, and Maryland University of Integrative Health.

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