Here's how you can effectively handle and juggle multiple non-profit programs simultaneously.

Identify priority outcomes of recipients related to mission and collaborate among key products and programs designed to achieve those results that matter most to those served.

Mission alignment is first and most essential; everything seems really critical, but it's not true. Managing multiple programs means first getting clear on the actions that most impact the mission and benefit program participants. Second, accepting my/our limitations, i.e. discerning what to say no to, and what to say "later" to is the second key to prioritization. When not a fit, gently and clearly stating so; when things fit, but not at this time, keeping communication open for access down the road. Everything isn't equally important or impactful; it can't possibly be. Over time, I believe we all get better at understanding the difference.

In my career, I've played a contributing role at every level from intern to entry-, mid- and executive. I used to be terrible at delegating, until I realized I was holding my team, our mission, and my own self back! A hard lesson to learn; I thought doing a lion's share each day was my best gift/contribution to the missions I felt so strongly about. I didn't know another way. After burning out a couple of times, (so common in our field-nonprofit), I knew I needed to grow up and change; to trust myself to let go and trust the talented people around me to the fullest. Since this epiphany so many years ago, life's been much better at work. I'm more balanced in my approach- still going as hard as possible, but not overdoing it like before.

The reality is that good to great systems save us from ourselves. In nonprofit, we get into it and stay for the mission's impact, for the chance to change lives and even save lives sometimes; not for unglamourous data entry or other mundane systemic tasks. In my experience implementing systems is like a really difficult hike that takes you through treacherous terrain; once you start migrating data and rolling out training modules to staff, you'll wish you never started the journey and some people may drop out along the way... but the right systems, at the right time can/will absolutely enhance your work, and when you summit the mountain's peak, you'll be rewarded with more space and capacity to do the transformative work we all love.

In a culture that values hustle so much, it can take more than feeling calm to cultivate calm. You have to develop a culture where calm is seen as the goal and stress and busyness aren't inadvertently overvalued or praised as evidence of hard work. Praising calm and valuing good time management are critical aspects of creating a culture of calm.

Always maintain your own mental health and allow others to maintain theirs. If your mind isn’t healthy, your work will reflect it.

Nonprofit, service, social-mission work; these are beautiful callings we've dedicated part or all of our lives toward. We fill the gaps, caring for individuals and communities in a way essential to the betterment of our society. Nonprofit programs are the vehicles with which we do the work. In my experience, the best programs successfully lean in to all they can do with vigor and gusto and total commitment, while setting clear boundaries to the needs outside of their capabilities, leaving that which they cannot fulfill to the experts, leaders, and helpers around them.