Preventing Burnout: Keeping the Movement Alive
What is Burnout?: Burnout is the experience of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion often caused by longterm involvement in emotionally demanding situations.
Effects of Burnout on a Movement: In a 2015 study it was observed that roughly half of activists who experiences burnout did not take a break or haitus. Instead, the ended up leaving the movement for good.
Why is Burnout Common Among Activists?: Research has highlighted burnout among activists is usually caused by the setting of unrealistically high standards for oneself. Activists commonly feel the weight of the world on their shoulders, with a heightened sense of self accountability, empathy, and guilt.
1. Identify Your Feelings: Symptoms of burnout include anxiety, guilt, isolation, irritability, anger, sadness, pessimism, disappointment, numbness, fatigue, insomnia, lack of motivation, and physicial pain/sickness.
2. Talk to a Trusted Confidant: Whether a therapist or a friend, sometimes taking the opportunity to let out our thoughts and feelings with someone who understands us can alleviate stress, or point us in a direction we may not have yet considered.
3. Find Healthy Outlets: Work on a coping bank, a go-to list of activities and behaviors that give you a sense of fulfillment, relief, and replenishment when you’re feeling burned out.
4. Learn When to Step Back: While your voice is valuable, know that many others are willing to carry on the work you have done, until you’re ready to step back in.
“Just don’t give up on what you’re trying to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you cam go wrong.” -Ella Fitzgerald
Take a break if you need to. There is no shame in needing to step back and recharge.
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