Burnout is real and widespread right now in corporate sustainability. One way to find balance for your team is to break up long-term sustainability goals into smaller, bite-sized objectives that you can celebrate as milestones once achieved. Progress comes slow in sustainability - if at all - and you'll need to be intentional about tracking advancement. And, more practically, be sure to allow your team plenty of time off to enjoy time with family and friends and doing things that they love.

When my team is feeling burnt out from sustainability work, it’s essential to address both their workload and their emotional well-being. Start by acknowledging their challenges and openly discussing what aspects of their work are draining. This transparency fosters a supportive environment where team members feel heard and valued. Encourage breaks and time for reflection. Sustainability work can be intense, so integrate moments for rest and team-building activities that reconnect them with the positive impact of their work. Empower them to prioritize tasks, and delegate or scale back where possible to prevent overload. Finally, celebrate progress and small wins. Remind them that sustainability is a marathon, not a sprint.

I’ve probably spoken to close to 100 sustainability teams in the last 12 months and I find that the majority of them are spending 80-90% of their time collecting data, following up, calculating , and producing reports. It is important work but it is not what most sustainability professionals signed up for when they decided to pursue a career in the space. I think key to solving this is organizations evaluating what their teams are spending their time on and figuring out how to automate and streamline their work to reduce administrative tasks so professionals can be allowed to focus on impactful actions.

Well I think the reason why there is burn out in the first place is because we make sustainability this something extra that needs to be done on top of the "normal* work. The key is to make sustainability the normal, make ir part of your every action, decision and what's needs to be done. Then it doesn't become a burden. It should not just be a strategy, policy or agenda. It should be part of everyday SOP, Protocol or procedures in small actions that people get accustom to until it becomes a habit. Eventually people will start implementing it into their own personal lives. And soon enough it will just become the new normal.

To help your team find balance and resilience during sustainability work burnout, start by acknowledging the stress they’re under. Encourage open dialogue so team members feel heard, and assess workloads to prioritize key tasks. Promote regular breaks and encourage work-life balance, emphasizing that sustainable work habits are just as important as sustainable practices. Introduce wellness initiatives like mindfulness sessions, exercise breaks, or team-building activities to boost morale. Delegate responsibilities where possible and set realistic goals, ensuring no one feels overwhelmed. Lastly, celebrate small wins along the way to keep motivation high, reminding the team of their positive impact.