On twitter Iβm seeing dozens of threads from Black activists warning people against burnout, giving all sorts of useful tips about preventing and managing it for the sake of a long-term, sustainable effort.
On tumblr Iβm seeing a hell of a lot of young white kids yelling at anyone who actually follows those steps, and acting like burnout is a moral falling rather than a well-proven psychological phenomenon.
Be careful who you get your information from. Donβt let guilt lead you to make choices that will harm both you and the movement.
Iβm going to reblog this again since I see more individuals are inquiring about burnout prevention tips in the notes and itβs why I sought out this resource. I hope it helps you!
source
This is important!!
[text id:
Preventing burnout.Β Keeping the movement alive.Β
What is burnout?Β Burnout is the experience of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion often caused by longterm involvement in emotionally demanding situations.Β
Effects of burnout on a movement.Β In a 2015 study it was observed that roughly half of activists who experienced burnout did not take a break or hiatus. Instead, they ended up leaving the movement for good.Β
Why is burnout common among activists?Β Research has highlighted burnout among activists is usually caused by the setting of unrealistically high standards for oneself.Β Activists commonly feel the weight of the world upon their shoulders, with a heightened sense of accountability, empathy, and guilt.Β
Tips to fight burnout.Β 1. Identify your feelings.Β Symptoms of burnout can include:Β
Anxiety
Guilt
Isolation
Irritability
Anger
Sadness
Pessimism
Disappointment
Numbness
Fatigue
Insomnia
Lack of motivation
Physical pain/sickness
2. Talk to a trusted confidant. Whether a therapist or a friend, sometimes taking the opportunity to let out your thoughts and feelings with someone who understands us can alleviate stress, or point us in a direction we may not have yet considered.Β
3. Find healthy outlets.Β Work on a coping bank, a go-to list of activities and behaviors that give you a sense of fulfillment, relief, and replenishment when youβre feeling burnout.Β
4. Learn when to step back.Β While your voice is valuable, know that many others are willing to carry on the work you have done, until youβre ready to step back in.
βJust donβt give up what youβre trying to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I donβt think you can go wrong.β β Ella Fitzgerald.Β
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You cannot be everything. You cannot fight systemic problems on your own; you are too small. You cannot be perfect. You cannot face all the horrors. You cannot win every fight.
You are worthy of compassion. Yes, you. I know what Iβm talking about because Iβve offered compassion to people who have killed and hurt other people very badly, and I guarantee there is nothing you say that will convince me you are less worthy than they were. You are worthy. You are worthy now, not later, not when youβre finished, not when youβve proven yourself, not once youβve grown up. Now.
Compassion is saying not βI didnβt even tryβ but βitβs understandable that I didnβt have the energy.β Not βIβm not as good as themβ but βIβm learning,β βwe all bear different burdens,β βthe way Iβm growing is in a different direction.β
This starts with being a compassionate witness to yourself. And if you canβt be, try a friend who can be kinder to you than you can be to yourself.
I literally imagine myself as having paladin oaths, because Iβm a nerd, but one of the oaths is:
I will protect myself, because I am no less worthy than any other I would protect.
Losing, being defeated, itβs inevitable in my line of work. Whatβs crucial is gathering the wisdom that comes from the loss, not carrying the pain. I mean, weβre human and sometimes we carry the pain. But you canβt carry it all. Not alone.
Be kind. Be kind to yourself. Kindness is giving yourself space to grow, not locking yourself away. Kindness is resting. Kindness is caring for yourself.
I got a little carried away here, but back to the beginning: the solution to burnout starts with compassion.
