Are you at risk for burnout? Are you?
August is National Wellness Month! But instead of just one month because a reminder popped up, we really should find ways to prioritize our wellness all year long. What an absurd idea!
I’ll be honest. I hit the top of my burnout game last year. The challenges that came with working in HR, on top of physical and mental health issues that I continually pushed off because “I didn’t have time”, all came to a burning, crashing head. I did a complete overhaul on how I wanted to spend my time (way more flexibility), how I actually worked best (which didn’t include working full-time for a company), what I found joy in (project-based work with lots of different clients), and what was a “must” in my daily routine (slow mornings with coffee and a journal) versus a “nice-to-have” (yeah, I can do without the commute and office).
In McKinsey & Company’s 2023 survey, they found that burnout in the nonprofit sector is pervasive. Of the nonprofit employees surveyed:
88% said they self-identified they are approaching or experiencing burnout, including fatigue, health problems, panic and anxiety.
6 out of 10 symptoms were physical health symptoms being lack of/difficulty sleeping, followed by feeling I’m not good enough, family demands, and lack of exercise.
The main contributors to their burnout were work culture, financial concerns, and lack of control.
The increased demand of social and community services due to the pandemic and social justice issues isn't surprising to me that the nonprofit sector is feeling the impact even more than other sectors. Just like the flight attendants advise: you have to put the air mask on yourself first. Or the saying: you can’t fill from an empty cup or take care of yourself so you can take care of others. There’s a million sayings out there. Why don’t we listen to them?!?
So if you’re thinking, “Hey, maybe that’s me”, check out this Burnout Self-Test from MindTools, a free resource because I’m a sucker for self-assessments.
And to celebrate and lift up National Wellness Month, I’m opening FIVE free-no-strings-attached 30-minute virtual coaching sessions for nonprofit leaders this month. Let’s talk about how you can incorporate more wellness in your life and career and create a game plan to take action.
Check out this testimonial from a nonprofit leader:
“I can’t recommend Niki enough. Through pointed questions, Niki was able to help me navigate through my goals and most importantly - the roadblocks I put in my own way. Niki is a unique practitioner; you instantly feel like you are talking with a life-long pal and someone with a fresh set of perspectives at the same time. In our coaching sessions, Niki curated activities and conversations that helped me understand my big picture. She provided me with the tools and support to start down the path towards professional fulfillment and ownership of my experiences. Our conversations provided me with the clarity and confidence that I was missing.”