Life is all about finding balance, right? I’ve spent the greater part of my 15-year dermatology career seeking the perfect balance between my family of five (kids ages 11, 8, and 6), my career, professional ambitions outside the clinic, my health, and finding time for hobbies or recreation. Checking off just two or three of those boxes was a major victory when my kids were younger and I was faced with single-motherhood due to military deployments. My health and hobbies always took a back seat to family and work obligations, but through a recently discovered passion for running, I have finally found a more consistent and advantageous work-life-self-health balance—and it has made all the difference!
I have always been an athlete but never considered myself a runner. Ironically, after each pregnancy, running became the simplest and most sought after way for me to become more active and have some coveted time to myself—promoting my physical and mental wellbeing. Those first postpartum runs were predictively rough, there’s no nice way of putting it, but now I can proudly say that I have completed five marathons and 18 half marathons over the last three years.
Many of my colleagues and non-NP/PA friends have asked how in the world I find time to train while working full time as a dermatology provider and managing a busy home life. When I first started running, basic fitness and mobility was the end goal, but as more time passed, the underrecognized value of solitude and mental fortitude spurred me to keep hitting trials and roads. It has not always been easy, and even now there are days that I find it difficult to lace up my shoes and get out the door. There are times when I feel like I can fly for mile after mile, and other days when even one mile seems daunting. Furthermore, the million other things I “need” to do often overwhelms or diminishes the exercise plan; yet, even if I anticipate an abbreviated or lackluster performance, I crave the serenity afforded between just me and the pavement. By allowing myself to be a priority, my workouts are not opportunities to run away from the all-too-common healthcare demands and fatigue, but rather, to run through it and gain realigned perspectives.
So how do I make it work? First and foremost, I must schedule my running or exercise routines into my day. If I don’t have a plan, it’s likely it won’t happen. For me, that often means early wake-ups to get a run in before clinic. Many of my running friends are not early morning risers and prefer evening workouts. Bottom line, find what works for you and your family and schedule it into your day. I have learned to give myself grace for the runs that don’t go as planned and for those that I just can’t fit in. Most importantly, I took some great advice from my favorite professional marathoner, Desiree Linden, who said “Just keep showing up.” It truly is that simple, just keep showing up! Every walk, run, or workout won’t be perfect and you won’t feel like going at times. You may not see the progress as quickly as you hoped, but keep showing up anyways. Brick by brick the foundation will be laid and suddenly you can look back and see how far you’ve come. Take that first step, it’s worth it!
Jennifer Conner, MPAS, PA-C has been a dermatology PA for over 15 years and practices at Dawes Fretzin Dermatology in Indianapolis. When not in clinic, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, and running.