What do you do if your late career as a community organizer is taking a toll on your personal life?

So as a peace organizer for a short time after retiring from the military. I learned a few things. More is done when its a team effort. Know that the work will always be there. One does their best work when there is rest and time to cotemplate. Get grounded with nature and water is good for washing away stress and eat good food. Indigenous people have a saying you cant give away what you dont have and if your giving your tired self then it is not your best self and probably creating more work in the long run. Rest your mind and feed your spirit our your emotions might take charge. Priority is you, family, community, world and where ever job fits in there after you. Peace Out!!!

I have had the honor of knowing some outstanding community organizers. I am always struck by Audre Lorde's sage counsel: "“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” I try to show up for friends and colleagues involved in such work and see the toll it can take alongside the amazing achievements. I hope people are able to take time to care for themselves and that burnout culture is an exception rather than the norm.

In my experience, your goal set during the community engagement process should be done with the involvement of the community. This strategy will help keep your goals according to what the community actually needs. As a community organizer or mobilizer, we failed our priorities due to the lack of community involvement in our planning. As for our personal priorities, it is important to focus directly on yourself without getting involved with your job. Prepare an ethical framework to ensure that your community engagement is consistent with ethics and moral values.

This is good to ponder and prioritize. At the end of the day i can only do so much and i am indispensable right? But most of all it is manageable than continue my work but burnout. Better bounce back with new vigor.

You must first realize; any community work involves the community. You cannot change the world yourself. The more people working towards the same goal will produce a better the outcome. Therefore, learn to delegate and take a step back, so to speak, that way we can ensure that the work continues when the time comes to pass on the torch. We have to prioritize our health and families in order to be able to give our all to community work.

Is 9-5 even a thing now? I think it needs to be, unless your job requires you to be on call in Emergency situations. I think of boundaries with other staff, with clients, with your time and with your resources. I think it's important for others around you to know what they can expect from you and what you stand for. I think the diversity of peoples boundaries and their strength is what makes an incredible team.

A method that I'm using more and more frequently is that I will actually leave my laptop at the office each evening. I still make sure I have my planner book in case of emergencies, however, I know that it would be impossible to answer multiple emails, edit spreadsheets or begin working on a new document using only my cell phone. Leaving my laptop at the office ensures that I can unplug and relax for the evening.

Self-care, self-love, or any form of "me time" is the most healthy method to form a clear boundary between you and your work as a community leader. Because the passion of our work, we can lose site of actually nurturing ourselves while we usually are pouring energy into projects, work and others. Surround yourself with genuine people. Refrain from anything that will cause you too much stress. Lastly, if it is too much to deal with at the moment, sit back, breathe, recharge or...simply let it go.

It is important to keep in mind that, although it is necessary to establish limits, many of the stakeholders participate voluntarily outside the usual 9 to 5 schedule and during weekends.

If I don't have a deadline to meet, I always try and adhere a set schedule. That way I don't overwork and end up burning out.

It's been over 8 years working and supporting communities. I have felt very motivated doing things for others no matter when or what time someone comes to seek help. I will be willing to take on, i still have that inside fire of helping the community. However, this had taken a toll on my work and personal life at some point. I learnt the hard way and I have now become assertive, I allocate my work time and stick to it, I take a holiday. I have become self disciplined, I value my personal me time so that my family life has an equal balance of me being their for them. Independently, I learnt the hard way. However, I have no regrets, I now delegate, communicate, train my team, I let my team work together to learn from each other.

Teamwork makes the dream work! If you want to scale, delegate. As the African proverbs say, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." One might achieve quick results alone, but sustainable & significant achievements are more likely when efforts are shared with others. ??

Really you don't have to get everything done just by you alone. Collaborate with like minds, get people who share same values as you. So when there are many capable hands directed to achieve same goal, work to be done is splited, that way an individual is faced with a manageable task. Before you know it, work is done and the set goal achieved within a stipulated time and with ease.

I agree with this. Empower others for you as a person, you are never permanently there and so train someone else who can bear the torch even in your absence. The community always outlives an individual.

Delegating can be can be hard. There often aren’t people who are ready and able to take on a task. When there is someone who could take on some of the work, I offer tasks and projects. it’s vital to bring opportunities to people who are newer to organizing so that they can build skills and grow. That’s the added benefit of delegating.

It may seem difficult at times to ask for help, but from my personal experiences, we must set our pride aside and ask for some assistance. Whether it be personal or professional. Remember you deserve to be appreciated and healthy.

One thing I find helpful is to remember your purpose. As a community organizer you can become overwhelmed depending on the circumstances of the situation. Having a support system can really be beneficial. Self preservation has to be your first priority.

Some ways to get started: 1. Communicate with people close to you that you're feeling that way 2. Tell other community organizers that you may need to take a step back. 3. Reach out to a therapist 4. Delegate tasks to others 5. Identify ways to contribute that do feel within your capacity at the moment, and focus on those 6. Rest assured that you will be in it for the long-term, and that taking care of yourself is an important way to continue to take care of the community

People can also undermine you happen. Sometimes the smartest thing to do is walk away. Don’t let your worst day define who you are. You’re more than the sum of your parts. I’ve failed a lot.

Invest in a coach. A coach is on your side, sees the best in you (more than you can see for yourself much of the time!), and helps you navigate any tricky situation in your full power.

What I like to do as a community leader is designate days out of the month to fast. Meaning I'm so far away from my phone, any socializing or work that I am able to truly let my mind, body and spirit rest. Trust me, it will be there when you get back. Take care of your self or you wont be able to take care of your community.

You have to prioritize self-care, which can look like all the other suggestions: delegating, setting boundaries (and sticking to them), etc. It also means getting rest. Disconnecting from our technology. Having a hobby drastically different than our careers. Doing something that brings you peace. You're more productive when you take care of yourself first. I can always tell when organizations have staff that is fried. It shows up in how you move and relate to the community.

This sounds good in theory, when you’re an innovator, big organizations fail their people. The person at the bottom of the pyramid holds the entire thing up. Be a bridge that uplifts and acknowledges that the cleaner is important to the organization. Give them a seat at the table. Stop beating up on poor people.

As a comunity organizer, I always gave myself a break when there wasn't an urgent deadline. The work will alwys be there but when there are times where I can rest, I always took it so I could come back stronger!

Absolutely, self-care is crucial for maintaining effectiveness as a community organizer. Integrating activities that rejuvenate you physically, mentally, and emotionally is essential for preventing burnout. Whether it's exercise, hobbies, or simply taking quiet time for yourself, prioritizing self-care ensures you can continue to make a positive impact in your community. Listening to your body and mind and allowing yourself to rest when needed is key to long-term sustainability in your work.

I find taking a few steps back, and reflecting on how much is done, what worked, what hasn't, and what needs to be done is important. I've come to realize learning and moving forward is the most important aspect of being in the front line or managing, and not all solutions that might seem to work, actually work!

Easier said than done. Allow people to grow, experience, and get back up. One day at a time. We do better when we all get better.

Ensure work life balance. You need to have energy to provide services tomorrow. Empowering community and allowing new leaders to emerge. This ensures sustainability an success.

Keeping a journal is a great way to reflect. You don’t have to write it everyday but set yourself an achievable start by writing once each week. At night before you close your eyes try thinking of three positives in your day and finish by setting yourself an intention for the next day. You don’t have to write it down but just the thinking it will help you to reflect.

In my experience, “good” COMMUNITY ORGANIZING is the foundation of “effective” PUBLIC SERVICE, and instead of allowing yourself to remain overwhelmed by the micro-issues that are generally NOT being addressed quickly by most organizing efforts over time, devote your energy to an “open” leadership position in a public servant’s role, where either a political office or an official governmental office role — enabled you to extend the life of your efforts to tackling bigger issues by having a greater impact; not being frustrated by spinning wheels or dead-ends that always resolve themselves eventually, as technology, trends and crowds demands it! WS-3

Take a break. Shut everything and everyone out. Go into hibernation. And come back when the phase is gone. With total hibernation & shut down, it won't take too long to bounce again better and greater.

Community Organizing can be a calling: a priority to the exclusion of most other priorities. Depending on the urgency of your mission, there may be no other good options for delegating, setting traditional boundaries. There are parallels between Organizing, military service, and missionary work: there can be a start and an end - with a voluntary, whole-life immersion between. Our "term of service" can be a boundary that strengthens us in the short term. It can be more sustainable for our key supporters when our family/friends see our work as a tour of duty for the greater good. It's easier when they know they will "get us back" eventually. Can you tolerate an all-consuming organizer lifestyle for a set time - a year, two years, five?

I am passionate regarding connections and building bridges to elevate and move us from one height to a higher one. My purpose is to give back the life that I almost lost to those seeking their passion and destiny through connection. It is important for me to surround myself with family, friends, women who ride until it's done, wisdom bearers, goliath slayers, and others who have reached those heights, and can connect and coach me while I am moving in spaces and being intentional about the mission of building up. That's my tribe and my community. I don't have to know it all, do it all, or even connect all the dots. My tribe will hold me accountable for my actions. Passion and purpose unbridled will eventually resemble chaos and pride.