The Balancing Act: Ultra-Running and Entrepreneurship

Hey there, fellow Trail Sisters! Ever find yourself caught between pounding the pavement and hustling in the office or side gig? Yeah, me too. The gals at Trail Sisters asked me to share my tips on navigating the wild ride of entrepreneurship while clocking in running miles on the trail. 

As a clinical owner of an Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine clinic, The Wellness Tree, a  doctoral student, and an ultramarathoner, my schedule is a colorful mosaic of responsibilities and  passions. Since 2013, I’ve been navigating the dual worlds of business ownership and endurance  running. I’ve pushed my limits, conquering several 100-mile races and embracing a new several year running streak, logging at least a mile daily. It’s a whirlwind, no doubt, but I’m all about  practicing what I preach. Whether I’m helping my patients find balance in their lives or fine tuning my own time management skills, I’m on a mission to live out my values and carve my  own path in this crazy world. 

In a typical week, you’ll find me dedicating around 42 hours to my clinic, another 15-25 hours to  my doctoral studies, and squeezing in 10-20 hours for running, yoga, hiking, and occasional  weight training sessions. Sleep is a non-negotiable for me, with a solid 8-9 hours each night, and  I also make time for relaxation with 1-2 hours of TV on average. Depending on the fluctuations  with my school workload, training regimen, and clinic demands, I can find myself with an  additional 4-38 hours of free time per week. This flexibility allows me to reinvest those hours  into social engagements and family time, ramp up my training ahead of races, or buckle down on  studies when tests or deadlines approach. It’s all about finding the balance that works for me and  staying adaptable to the ever-changing rhythm of life. 

Practical Advice and Insight: 

1. Block That Time: Picture this: you’ve got your work hat on, but the trail is calling your  name. Solution? Time blocking, baby! I’m all about carving out chunks of time for both work and play. Inspired by Jay Shetty’s wise words in his book “Think Like a Monk, ” I  do regular check-ins to ensure my schedule aligns with my goals. He recommends  writing down all your values and goals and then doing a time audit to assess whether your  time aligns with your values. Tip: Check your screen time in the settings on your phone  and see if this reflects your values. Most people spend 4-5 hours on their phones daily. 

2. Chill on the Perfectionism: Rachel Hollis nailed it in her book, “Girl, Stop  Apologizing”, when she said we have to rethink our standards. Who needs a spotless  house 24/7 anyway? By dialing down the perfectionism and outsourcing the stuff that  doesn’t light me up, I free up space for the good stuff. A clean house makes me feel  happy, but when I wrote out my values, it wasn’t there. It doesn’t mean it isn’t important;  it just isn’t the most important thing for me, so I have had to let go of that aspect of  perfectionism to free of mental space for other values. 

3. Rise and Grind: Have you heard Tony Robbins’ morning mantra? “Work out first thing  in the morning because if you don’t, you’ll find an excuse, and it’ll be a good one.” Truer  words were never spoken. Morning workouts set the tone for my day. As an entrepreneur,  if I wait until the evening for my workouts, I will inevitably have a good excuse to skip; a  patient will have thrown out their back, a friend needs a shoulder to cry on, or I’m just exhausted from the day. 

4. Squad Goals: Surrounding yourself with a crew who’s on the same wavelength is key.  Even though my schedule doesn’t always leave me with extra free time for socializing,  community is one of my core values, so it’s crucial that I make time for my friends.  Having friends who share similar values and time commitments has been a game-changer  for me. I’ve found that scheduling brunches after long runs allows me to catch up with  both my running buddies and non-running friends in one go. On recovery days, I block  out time for yoga sessions with friends, followed by a well-deserved wine session to  catch up on life. It’s these connections and shared experiences that keep our motivation  levels soaring high. 

5. Roll with the Punches: When I block out my time, I’ve noticed that I have anywhere  from 4 to 38 hours of unaccounted free time for some weeks. That’s a massive time differential, isn’t it? It’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling constantly stressed about not  having enough time, but how can we be sure that’s true if we don’t take a closer look?  Learning to roll with the punches and stay flexible has been key for me. It’s all about  reallocating to shift with our values. When I find myself with some unexpected free time,  I embrace it. Maybe it’s a chance to catch up with friends, or perhaps I’ll use it to double  down on my training or dive into some focused study sessions. The key is staying  adaptable and making the most of whatever life throws our way. 

Being an entrepreneur and active woman isn’t for the faint of heart, but neither are we, right? As  we navigate the crazy rollercoaster of life, let’s remember to cut ourselves some slack, lean on our tribe, and keep chasing those dreams. Here’s to finding our balance, one mile at a time. 

Top 5 Tips for Trail Sisters 

1. Make time for yourself and your passions; no excuses. 

2. Don’t sweat the small stuff – delegate and focus on what truly matters. 3. Get moving in the morning to kickstart your day like a boss. 

4. Surround yourself with positive people who’ve got your back. 

5. Stay flexible and go with the flow – life’s too short to stress.