Claudine Thornhill
NATUROPATHIC NUTRITIONAL THERAPIST AND HEALTH COACH
Software and Technology
I had been working as an HR Manager for 10 years when I decided to study Nutritional Therapy. I studied part-time and graduated with a diploma in Nutritional Therapy from the College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2016. During my studies, I reached out to other professionals in the field to volunteer at their wellness events, which helped me to gain connections that I still benefit from today.
I set up my practice a few months after graduating. Initially, my clients were friends and work colleagues which helped me build professional experience. Within a year I started a contract running Type 2 Diabetes prevention workshops for the NHS. Following this started giving talks and running my own events alongside seeing clients both online and in person. I continued to work fulltime in HR until 2018 when I went part-time to allow me to dedicate more time to the business.
AM
My morning routine is important to me as it sets the tone for my day. It includes gratitude, yoga, working out, affirmations, and reviewing and updating my calendar and to-do list. I’ll also use my mornings to listen to inspiring audiobooks or YouTube videos while I am getting dressed or having breakfast.
After this, I’ll check and respond to emails. I’ll usually pick up on any client communications in the morning, and will text or email clients to check-in, book in sessions, and follow-up on any actions.
I’ll do client consultations and coaching calls, which can be from 45 to 90 mins between 11 am and 2 pm. After each client call, I’ll make notes that will help me prepare for their next session, so that can take a bit of time. I’ll also use this time to catch up on any CPD which might be webinars, reading, or research so that my knowledge stays refreshed and up to date.
PM
I am more of a creative in the afternoon and evening, so, if I’m not speaking to clients or doing CPD, I’ll be working towards client materials, that might be a client handout, a client’s nutrition plan, or learning resources, lead magnets and training materials. On a normal day, I’ll aim to finish by about 5 or 5.30 pm. I do hold a few evening sessions between 6.30 pm and 8.30 pm, so may speak to clients during that time. If I have an event coming up too, I might prepare materials and content in the afternoon.
- Continually ask yourself how you can be of service to your clients and how you can make their lives less painful and easier.
- Have a dedicated working space that works for you. For example, mine needs to include music, sunlight, will have a minimalist feel and sense of comfort and warmth. It can be helpful to switch up where you work from sometimes, that might be a nice hotel bar or a local cafe.
- Break down work into chunks of time and then have a break. For example, dedicate an hour to the writing blog post then shift your energy by doing something else, possibly physically moving from your working space. You can then dedicate another hour to refining and editing the blog post.
MY WORK
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