From Frazzled to Flourishing: How Club Synergy Transforms Working Parents Through Movement and Community
In a world where working parents—especially solo entrepreneurs—often feel pulled in countless directions, finding the time and energy for self-care can seem impossible. Yet what if the very thing you think you don't have time for could be the key to unlocking greater productivity, creativity, and joy in both your personal and professional life?
Kelly Houston, founder of Club Synergy, discovered this transformative truth during her own journey as a lone parent struggling to keep her consultancy business afloat. What began as a reluctant commitment to run a 10K race became the foundation for a unique approach to supporting working parents and small business owners through the powerful combination of movement, accountability, and community.
Club Synergy isn't just another fitness program—it's a reimagining of how we can integrate well-being into our busiest seasons of life. By combining exercise with business accountability and peer support, Kelly has created a space where parents can invest in themselves without guilt, knowing that every step, every shared challenge, and every moment of connection is actually enhancing their capacity to show up fully for their families and their work.
In this candid Q&A, Kelly shares the personal struggles that sparked her mission, the science behind why exercising with others boosts productivity, and the remarkable transformations she's witnessed in members who've gone from overwhelmed to empowered. Whether you're a solo parent juggling business deadlines and school runs, or simply someone seeking a more sustainable approach to work-life integration, Kelly's insights offer both inspiration and practical wisdom for finding your own path from frazzled to flourishing.
What inspired you to create Club Synergy, and how does your personal experience as a lone parent and small business owner influence the club’s approach?
In 2006, I was a lone parent to three daughters, trying to make enough money through my small learning and development consultancy to put food on the table. This was in stark contrast to my early years in business which, given the household income at the time, was truly a “lifestyle” one. Perhaps rather ironically, while I wasn’t worried about money, work flooded in and I could pick and choose projects.
A change of circumstances and I HAD to make my business work…
Once money, or rather lack of, came strongly into focus for me, work began to dry up. I was transmitting an air of desperation, cutting my fees to secure work, and grabbing anything available. The result – a frazzled, broke, joyless mum and business owner – maybe this resonates with you?
I discovered the power of exercise as a “reluctant” runner…
In 2006 I was challenged to enter a local 10K race and help fund-raise for our local cancer treatment facility.
As someone who struggled to run after three lively young children, this was a big ask. But who can refuse a request like that?
That day my life changed for the better. Training for the 10k I discovered something that drives the Club Synergy model today. I didn’t know what was happening at a neurological level, I just knew that the headspace and me-time I was gaining while out running was having an amazing effect. Positively impacting focus, productivity, creativity and ultimately my personal and business fitness. This allowed me to ditch the guilt I had been carrying about taking time out for myself. Something that is shared by many working parents.
Talking to people about the positive impact of running on my mind, body and business led to the creation of an activity-based charity in 2012…and a new husband!
Running changed my life and the lives of thousands of others through the 5×50 Challenge…
The 5×50 Challenge was undertaken by thousands of people across the globe and raised £250,000 for various charities. Mark, now my husband, got a 4 for the price of 1 bundle and a shed!
For 7 years my learning and development business, a personal commitment to exercise and developing the charity existed side by side until in September 2019 we had to take the difficult and upsetting decision to bring the 5×50 Challenge to an end. That provided a great business learning experience you can ask me about later!
Perhaps unsurprisingly, while out for a run as we were winding down the Charity, my mind connected a few dots and the Club Synergy concept was born.
Today, membership is largely made up of women raising children and building small businesses. As a 54 year old with a grown up family, I no longer have the same pressures and can enjoy more autonomy in how I shape my day, but I fully remember the juggle. The Club Synergy way is, and always has been to make movement accessible, fun and enjoyable while providing opportunities for business building and development to save precious time. We encourage members to bring their pre-school children (and dogs!) to our in-person events and our activities are hosted in the window between 'school runs'
Can you describe how Club Synergy’s unique blend of fitness, accountability, and community support enhances productivity for freelancers and small business owners?
Exercising with others boosts your productivity, there is scientific research to support this. We know from the data that:
- Exercise releases endorphins
- Connection releases Oxytocin
- Achieving something releases Dopamine
Exercising with others combines 3 of the 4 feel good hormones (the 4th serotonin can be found in chocolate 🍫...yay!)
Feeling good boosts creativity and productivity
At Club Synergy we combine accountability (dopamine), connection (oxytocin) and exercise (endorphins) in each of our sessions. Whether that is:
- being held accountable for an online workout and clearing last month's book-keeping during an Active Accountability Session
- or celebrating reaching the top of a hill that felt like too much of a stretch in the company of others on a Fresh Air Friday hike.
- or having a real business break-through as a result of really observing the natural world during a 1 to 1 micro adventure.
What impact have you observed in your members’ work-life balance and overall well-being since they began integrating exercise into their daily routines through Club Synergy?
I've had the privilege of witnessing many members grow and change from being frazzled to embracing fitness (in a way that works for them) in their daily lives. Take Amy, a Financial Advisor and lone parent who has gone from complete overwhelm to achieving more by doing less AND running three times a week. Or Katie, mum of 2, who is about to run her 2nd 10k race less than 12 months after joining us with low energy, feeling very isolated and demovatived working from home. She's an Active Accountability regular and swears by the peer accountability to help her clear the 'big frogs' in her day early on, leaving room for that all important lunchtime run. She loves that her big tasks and exercise commitments are ticked off before the kids get in from school so that she can be fully present with them in the evenings.
Socials
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-houston-clubsynergy/
https://www.instagram.com/myclubsynergy/
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