Ever feel like you can’t fully relax on vacation because you now you might get a text from a client? Or you feel like you should be checking in on your athletes workouts, even if you told yourself you wouldn’t? Or you’re thinking about all the catch up you’ll have to do?
Or maybe you work through vacation, telling yourself it’s necessary because your clients really need you. You still post on Instagram and share your vacation on stories to make sure people are still thinking about you.
Here’s the truth: you need a true vacation. Even as a business owner. Even as a coach. All humans need a break. Just like we tell our athletes to take at least a week off after a big goal race to recharge, you need a break with your business. It will actually make you a BETTER coach if you schedule breaks.
You are not a run coach 24/7, 365. You’re also a partner, a parent, and a human with needs and other interests.
And when you’re in growth mode, it can feel like your business is EVERYTHING. At least that was how it felt for me. During my biggest growth year, I never set good boundaries in my business, even on vacations or trips. My clients had my phone number and I was responding to messages. I was thinking about business while on vacation. And admittedly, I was resentful when someone needed me. This didn’t allow me to fully relax and it also caused me to be short with my kids or family when I felt like I needed to get something done.I didn’t set great boundaries. I didn’t communicate well that I was going to be fully checked out. And I didn’t STICK to my own boundaries.
I am not telling you that you have to fully check out and go off grid for EVERY trip you take. You can travel and do basic business maintenance tasks. You can also travel and still grow your business, like I did when I spent a month in Costa Rica in 2021.
But at least 1-2 times per year, I want to encourage you to fully unplug from your business. A week is ideal, but even if it’s a short trip of just a few days, you need that mental break.
Here’s a few tips for preparing to take time completely away from your run coaching business:
- Schedule athletes workouts in advance, including the week after you get back. You can always tweak it when you return, but leaving that week after you return unscheduled will just create extra stress.
- COMMUNICATE with your athletes that you will be completely off grid and on vacation & that they should not contact you. People will understand!!! Tell them that you will not be checking their training logs or responding to messages during this time. Trust me, there are no emergencies in run coaching. And if you have an athlete who needs you so badly that you cannot take one week off, then you are giving them too much of your time and energy in the first place & this is a sign you may need to set better boundaries in your business.
- Turn on your out of office message and do not respond to any messages that come in.
- Delete or move apps on on your phone to a special folder (label it DO NOT OPEN) so you don’t accidentally open your coaching software, email or instagram.
- Do not listen to running podcasts, business trainings, or anything else related to growth on the trip. Allow your mind to wander. Enjoy your trip!!!!
Bonus: Create a guide or resource that helps them to modify their own training when needed. (For example, explain what to do when they need to skip a run) Most people won’t actually need this, but it might help give you peace of mind and ultimately, it will educate your clients to be more self sufficient!
Are you traveling this summer? Did these tips help? I’d love to hear from you! Comment below!
Learn more about the Runner Rising Academy to strengthen your run coach business year round!
