# Session and Homework Reminders for Coaches: A Weekly Rhythm > How coaches can cut no-shows, get clients doing their between-session work, and keep their own prep and notes in order, with a weekly rhythm that sticks. Source: https://www.getmindie.app/blog/coaching-client-reminders (published 2026-10-29) Your client arrives at the session and says, "I didn't get round to the exercise this week." It's the third week in a row. The session turns into catching up instead of moving forward. Coaching happens in the session, but progress happens in the six days between. Here's a simple rhythm of reminders for both sides: the ones you send your clients, and the ones that keep you prepared. ## Two kinds of reminders It helps to separate them: - **Client-facing reminders:** session confirmations, homework nudges and mid-week check-ins. These go from you to the client. - **Your own reminders:** prep before each session, writing notes after, sending the check-in you promised, chasing fees. Most coaches are good at one and patchy at the other. A rhythm that covers both is what makes clients feel looked after. ## Cutting no-shows and late cancellations Missed sessions cost you money and break a client's momentum. A few simple habits make a large difference: ### Confirm the day before A short message the day before each session, with the time and the link or address. Keep it friendly and give them an easy way to rearrange: > Hi Jess, looking forward to our session tomorrow at 6pm. Here's the link again. If anything's come up, just let me know today and we'll find another time. ### Give a reason to show up Remind them of what you'll work on. "Tomorrow we'll pick up the conversation with your manager" is more motivating than a time and a link. ### Have a clear policy, and say it once Agree a cancellation window at the start, such as 24 hours, and mention it in your welcome pack. You rarely have to enforce it if clients know it exists. ## Homework that clients actually do Between-session work tends to fail for the same reasons any new habit fails: it's vague, too big, and has no cue. Fix those three things. ### Make it small and specific "Work on your confidence" won't happen. "Before Thursday's team meeting, write down one point you'll raise, and raise it" might. A useful test: could the client do it in under 15 minutes, and would they know when they'd done it? ### Tie it to a moment in their week Ask, "When will you do this?" and write down the answer: "Sunday evening after dinner", "on the train on Tuesday morning". A task tied to an existing moment is far more likely to happen. [How to build a habit that sticks](/blog/how-to-build-a-habit-that-sticks) explains why anchoring works. ### Nudge once, mid-week One short message halfway between sessions is often enough: > Hi Jess, how did the Thursday meeting go? Did you get to raise your point? It shows you're thinking about them, and it gives the client a deadline that isn't the next session. ### Start the next session with it Open each session by asking about the homework. Clients quickly learn it'll come up, and they're more likely to do it. ## Your side of the rhythm ### Before each session: ten minutes of prep Read your notes from last time, check what homework you set, and pick the one question you most want to ask. Ten minutes beats walking in cold. ### Straight after: two minutes of notes Write down, while it's fresh: - What the client wanted to work on - What they committed to before next time - Anything personal they mentioned that's worth asking about - Your one idea for next session Two minutes now saves the awkward "remind me where we got to?" next week. ### Monthly: fees and admin Check which clients have paid, which packages are running out, and who's due a review of their goals. Set your own certification and insurance renewals once, months ahead. ## A sample week For a coach with a dozen weekly clients: | When | What | | --- | --- | | Monday morning | Look at the week's sessions and any promised check-ins | | Day before each session | Send the confirmation to the client | | 30 minutes before each session | Prep: notes, homework, one question | | Straight after each session | Notes, and set the mid-week check-in | | Mid-week | Homework nudges to clients | | 3rd of the month | Check payments and package balances | ## Doing it with Mindie Mindie is a reminder service in WhatsApp. It only messages you, so it covers your side of the rhythm, and helps you send the client side yourself. For your own prep and notes: - "Every Tuesday at 5:30pm remind me to prep for Jess's 6pm session" - "Note: Jess, wants to raise the workload issue with her manager Thursday, homework is to write one point and say it" Before the next session, ask "what did Jess commit to?" and the note comes back. For the client-facing messages, set a reminder for yourself and ask Mindie for a ready-to-send WhatsApp link with the wording. You tap it, check the message, and send it to the client from your own WhatsApp: - "Remind me Wednesday at 12pm to check in with Jess about the Thursday meeting" - "Every Monday at 6pm remind me to send Jess her session confirmation for Tuesday" If you track your own habits, like journaling or a daily walk between clients, Mindie can keep a streak for those too. Connect Google Calendar or Outlook to add sessions from a message and ask "what's on tomorrow?" The optional weekly review gives you a look at the week ahead. Mindie doesn't take bookings or payments, and it never messages clients directly. More examples are on the [Mindie for coaches](/for/coaches) page, and fitness coaches may also like the [Mindie for fitness trainers](/for/fitness-trainers) page. ## Reminders worth setting - [Meeting reminder](/reminders/meeting): A heads-up before each session with the link or address. - [Client follow-up reminder](/reminders/client-follow-up): A check-in with past clients a few months after they finish. - [Invoice follow-up reminder](/reminders/invoice-follow-up): A nudge when a session fee or package payment is late. - [Journaling reminder](/reminders/journaling): A daily prompt you can suggest to clients, or use yourself. ## FAQ ### How do coaches remind clients about sessions? Most send a short confirmation the day before, with the time, link or address, and an easy way to rearrange. Mentioning what you'll work on gives the client a reason to show up. ### How do you get coaching clients to do their homework? Keep each task small and specific, agree when in their week they'll do it, send one nudge halfway between sessions, and start every session by asking about it. ### How often should a coach check in between sessions? Once a week, halfway between sessions, is enough for most clients. More than that can feel like pressure. Keep it to one short question about the homework or the situation you discussed.