Protecting Your Time as a Coach: Setting Healthy Boundaries Around the Holidays with Niki Sims

The holidays are one of the fastest ways for coaches to burn out—not because clients are difficult, but because boundaries were never clearly set. In this Business of Coaching Workshop, Andrew Jackson sits down with Niki Sims, Chief Experience Officer at Barbell Logic, to unpack how coaches can protect their time, energy, and sanity around holidays and vacations without damaging the client experience. Niki brings more than a decade of experience managing high-touch coaching relationships and shares why boundaries aren't about saying "no" to clients—they're about clear communication, better systems, and stronger trust. From handling last-minute messages to planning holiday schedules months in advance, this conversation gives coaches a practical framework for setting boundaries that actually improve retention and professionalism. If you've ever felt resentful answering messages on Christmas, struggled to truly take time off, or worried that setting boundaries might upset clients, this episode will change how you think about coaching agreements altogether. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why resentment is the first sign your boundaries need work How boundaries improve the client experience instead of hurting it The role of systems and communication in enforcing boundaries How to handle holidays and vacations without client frustration Why consistency matters more than "going above and beyond" How coaches unintentionally erode trust by breaking their own rules Practical ways to plan your holiday schedule in advance This episode is essential listening for strength coaches, personal trainers, and online coaches who want a sustainable coaching business—especially during the busiest time of the year. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & Introduction to Niki Sims 03:10 – Why Boundaries Matter More Than Coaches Realize 07:05 – Resentment as the First Warning Sign 11:20 – Boundaries Are Systems & Communication 15:40 – The Hidden Cost of "Quick Questions" 20:30 – Why Coaches Struggle to Say No 25:15 – How Boundaries Improve the Client Experience 30:10 – Holidays as the Ultimate Boundary Stress Test 35:00 – Setting Holiday Expectations in Advance 39:45 – Over-Communicating to Prevent Client Frustration 44:20 – Holding Boundaries Is the Coach's Responsibility 49:00 – Systems That Enforce Boundaries 54:30 – Why Breaking Your Own Rules Erodes Trust 59:30 – Final Advice for Coaches 1:02:00 – Outro & Holiday Pause Announcement PS - Want to scale your coaching business without burning out? Schedule a 1:1 call: https://app.reclaim.ai/m/mac-barbell-logic/turnkey-coach-team-call Connect with Andrew Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewbarbender/  X: https://x.com/AndrewBarBender