What do you do if your social impact work is emotionally draining?

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Working in social impact can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest is the emotional toll it can take. You're often faced with situations that are deeply unjust or heartbreaking, and it's only natural to feel overwhelmed at times. The key is to find ways to manage that emotional drain so you can continue doing the work that's so important to you. It's about finding a balance between caring deeply and taking care of yourself.

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1 Acknowledge Feelings

It's crucial to recognize your feelings as valid and important. Working in social impact means you're likely exposed to situations that can elicit strong emotional responses. Acknowledging these feelings is the first step toward managing them. Instead of pushing them aside, give yourself permission to feel them fully. This isn't a sign of weakness; it's a part of being human. By accepting your emotions, you can begin to understand what specifically about your work is impacting you and start to develop strategies to cope with these feelings.

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2 Set Boundaries

Establishing clear boundaries is essential to prevent burnout in social impact work. Determine what you can realistically handle in terms of workload and emotional investment, and communicate these limits to your colleagues and supervisors. It's important to say no when necessary to protect your well-being. Remember, setting boundaries isn't about shirking responsibilities; it's about ensuring you can continue to contribute effectively without compromising your health.

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Peggy AZAM - GALAI

Chargée de communication et Webmestre chez STRMTG- Service Technique des Remontées Mécaniques et Transports Guidées
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Prendre conscience que "le droit à la déconnexion" est un droit mais aussi un devoir envers soi-même, pour préserver aussi sa vie privé et se ménager des moments "hors travail" dans la journée.

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3 Seek Support

You don't have to carry the emotional weight alone. Seek out colleagues, friends, or professionals who understand the unique pressures of social impact work. Sharing your experiences and feelings with others can provide relief and validation. Additionally, consider joining support groups or networks for individuals in similar fields. These communities can offer a space to exchange coping strategies and remind you that you're not alone in feeling emotionally drained.

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4 Practice Self-Care

Self-care is not a luxury; it's a necessity, especially in emotionally taxing work. Incorporate activities into your routine that replenish your energy and bring you joy. Whether it's exercise, meditation, hobbies, or simply taking a day off, prioritizing self-care helps you maintain your emotional resilience. By taking care of yourself, you ensure that you have the inner resources to care for others.

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5 Reflect and Reassess

Regularly take time to reflect on your work and its impact on your emotional well-being. Ask yourself if your current role aligns with your values and if the emotional toll is sustainable in the long term. It's okay to reassess and make changes if needed, whether that means shifting your focus within the field or finding new ways to contribute that are less emotionally draining. Your effectiveness in social impact work is closely tied to your personal fulfillment and emotional health.

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Michael Sheldrick

Co-Founder, Global Citizen | Author of “From Ideas to Impact” (Wiley 2024) | Professor, Columbia University | Speaker, Board Member and Forbes.com Contributor
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Ask yourself the true cause of this. Some possible examples: - feeling you’re making too many personal sacrifices and not able to take care of yourself (ie financial salary is not sustainable/ or not having enough time with your family). - Bad work environment or relationship - you are not seeing the social return on investment of your hard work. In other words, you’re not seeing the impact of your actions in improving lives. Figuring out the cause of your burnout will affect what strategies to employ. It might require an honest conversation with your supervisor re pay (and don’t apologize!), but it might also be more fundamental about the org’s theory of change itself. If you no longer believe it, then different approaches will be needed.

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6 Build Resilience

Building resilience is key to sustaining your efforts in social impact work. This involves developing coping strategies that allow you to recover from setbacks and maintain a positive outlook. Cultivate a mindset that views challenges as opportunities for growth. Resilience doesn't mean being unaffected by the hardships you encounter; it means learning how to adapt and continue moving forward despite them.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What do you do if your social impact work is emotionally draining?

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1 Acknowledge Feelings

2 Set Boundaries

3 Seek Support

4 Practice Self-Care

5 Reflect and Reassess

6 Build Resilience

7 Here’s what else to consider

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