Beyond Balance: Strategies for Work-Life Integration in Wellness Practice Ownership
Mar 06, 2025In this refreshingly honest episode, Anna and Kendall tackle the often-idealized concept of work-life balance for wellness practice owners. Right from the start, Kendall challenges the terminology itself, preferring "integration" to "balance": "If you're really trying to balance things, like if you picture yourself physically holding all of these items, at some point balls are going to drop."
The hosts share their personal approaches to work-life integration, acknowledging that it varies depending on life phases and business needs. Kendall notes that while she has created an environment that benefits her own health, she sometimes crosses her own boundaries: "The times when we are needing to recruit and hire and onboard unexpectedly, I absolutely fall out of integration and balance every time."
Anna offers a valuable reframe, suggesting that these intense work periods can be viewed as choices rather than failures: "If you can maintain the fact that you're making the decision to spend your creative time and energy thinking about the business in that moment, then I don't consider it a falling off of boundaries at all."
The conversation explores several practical aspects of work-life integration, including whether to discuss business with partners or spouses. Both hosts acknowledge the benefits of their partners' different perspectives while being mindful of the potential for stress. Anna shares her approach of developing ideas fully before presenting them: "I really work the things through, and then I present them to him... I need to show, 'Well, this is the thought process behind it. This is the projection. This is what I've considered.' And then we're in a place to have a discussion."
The hosts also discuss the complexities of talking about business around children, with Kendall sharing a humorous example of her daughter overhearing a difficult conversation with an employee. Both hosts emphasize the importance of being mindful about business discussions while also wanting to model entrepreneurship for their children.
When discussing strategies to prevent work from consuming home life, both Anna and Kendall emphasize the importance of setting boundaries that align with their energy and family needs. Anna notes, "I take a lot of time off, and I'm unapologetic about it," while Kendall shares her practice of avoiding work in the evenings when her energy is depleted.
Throughout the conversation, both hosts emphasize that work-life integration is an ongoing practice rather than a destination. As Kendall reflects, "It's a practice. Right. It's never a place of perfection. It's always just learning and practicing and prioritizing our own health."
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About Anna Rudel
Anna Rudel, L. Ac is the owner and founder of Lokahi Acupuncture Clinic in San Jose California, founded in 2003. Anna is a master organizer and clinician, and as a Coach she specializes in working with Clinic Owners in the state of California, and Acupuncturists and Acupuncture Clinic Owners, or groups wanting to add Acupuncture worldwide, as well as teams that need support with employee retention and satisfaction. Born in the UK, Anna has traveled extensively in Asia and now has a thriving multi-practitioner clinic in the US!
Anna's Website and Links
- Website: https://lokahiacupuncture.com/
- Learn Group Coaching: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/group-coaching
- For info about Individual Coaching: https://www.wellnesscentercreators.com/individual-coaching
About Kendall Hagensen
Kendall is a Somatic Mental Health Therapist, Multidisciplinary Clinic Owner and Business Coach. She specializes in, and is passionate about, working with healthcare professionals to create the businesses of their dreams. Big goals always have a psychological component beneath the surface, so Kendall uses her background in Somatic Psychotherapy and EMDR Therapy mixed with Business Coaching tools to help clients develop a healthy relationship with their business and their strength as a leader.
As someone who lives with a chronic illness herself, Kendall feels that health happens best within community, which is why she takes a holistic, integrative, and collaborative wellness approach to her personal and professional life.
Kendall’s Web/Social Links