What do you do if your work in Social Impact is taking a toll on your well-being?

Rethinking self-care in the context of social impact work as a civic duty is something to think about, in my opinion. Accept the idea that taking care of yourself first will allow you to help other people and make a lasting impact in the long run. Mindfulness meditation, frequent exercise, nutritious eating, and reaching out to friends, family, or a professional counselor are all examples of holistic activities that can benefit your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. You may empower yourself to make a difference and encourage others to do the same in the social impact sector by working on your resilience and practicing self-compassion.

In my experience, it's essential to prioritize self-care and take proactive steps to address burnout and prioritize well-being. One can start by establishing clear boundaries between work and personal life. Allocate specific times for work-related tasks and disconnect during personal time to recharge. It is also important to dedicate time to activities that promote your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, such as exercise, meditation, hobbies, spending time with loved ones, or engaging in activities that bring you joy. One can also consider seeking support from a therapist or counselor who can provide coping strategies, stress management techniques, and a safe space to explore emotions and experiences.

Conversar, contrastar y leer sobre bienestar y entorno laboral es una forma de comenzar a detectar se?ales y patrones, en ocasiones, nuestro compromiso con el trabajo y su impacto nos impide reconocer nuestros propios patrones.

Take stock of all of the resources available to you, such as through your employer, family, friends, social groups, associations, etc. Once you have an understanding of all of the resources available to you, you’ll be better equipped to seek support. It’s not easy to ask for help or support, so some channels may be easier to tap into than others. Also, even if you don’t use a channel for support, you probably can leverage it later. The most important part is prioritizing yourself to get the care you need.

Conversar con colegas que entienden la situación puede ser de gran ayuda, pero también, buscar apoyo profesional externo a nuestro entorno que nos permita ser más objetivos respecto a nuestra situación personal/laboral.

Há cerca de 6 anos, quando vivi um período longo de extremo desgaste físico e psicológico por conta da carga de trabalho e estresse decorrente dela, comecei a atentar para o quanto profissionais que trabalham por uma causa e/ou gerando impacto social, precisam estar ainda mais alertas com o estabelecimento de limites saudáveis de trabalho/entregas que realizam, pois, tendem a estar também diante de um propósito pessoal. Considerando ainda contextos que tende a envolver recursos enxutos e necessidades latentes, se torna ainda mais essencial que esse seja um ponto de inflex?o e responsabilidade transversal dentro das organiza??es sociais, a fim de evitar impactos negativos sobre a saúde e o bem-estar de seus próprios colaboradores.

Setting boundaries also includes working with team members, colleagues, and your boss to set (or re-set) expectations and requirements. If the work overloads an individual, then it opens an opportunity for an in-depth conversation on responsibilities and resources. Without these actions, the overwhelming sense will be burden and burnout.

Para lograr un mayor impacto a través de nuestro trabajo, nuestro bienestar y nuestras condiciones personales tienen qué estar bien fundamentadas y en una situación sana, poner límites respecto al tipo de trabajo, la carga y los tiempos es fundamental para lograr un balance.

Here are my tips: ??? Journal. Keep track of your personal and professional highs and lows. ?? Have something to look forward to every week (bonus if it's also a physical and social activity!) For me, it's always my dance classes.???? And a good workout.???? ?? Nourish your body! Eat healthy and make sure you're getting all your nutrients and hydrating properly. Trust me, it makes a huge difference! ?? Nurture your creativity. Paint, write, sing. Anything that will become an outlet for you while also creating something not work-related. ?? In a nutshell: If you work in social impact and care about making a change in the world, we certainly need more people like you! Don't be discouraged. Take care of yourself. Hope this helps!??

Be kind to yourself and recognize that experiencing emotional exhaustion is a natural response to working with trauma. Treat yourself with the same compassion and understanding that you extend to others. Set clear boundaries to protect your emotional well-being. Recognize when you need to step away from challenging situations and permit yourself to take breaks as needed. Dedicate time to activities that nurture your emotional health, such as journaling, spending time in nature, or engaging in creative pursuits. Prioritize activities that help you relax, recharge, and replenish your emotional reserves. If feelings of burnout persist despite self-care efforts, consider seeking support from a mental health professional.

Existen muchas formas de practicar el autocuidado, cada persona tiene sus propias formas y hábitos. Encontrar lo que mejor funciona de acuerdo a intereses, gustos y contexto personal es importante, pero establecer límites en espacio y tiempo para buscarlo es el primer paso.

Reconnecting with your purpose is a great way to recharge your batteries as a social impact professional. For me, the best days at work are those where I see the direct impact our initiatives are making through our nonprofit partners. So when work starts to take a toll on my mental health, I either schedule visits with our nonprofit partners or read through testimonials from volunteers and individuals served. I keep a folder with testimonials and photos for easy access, which also comes in handy for impact reports and performance reviews!

A veces olvidamos el propósito profundo de nuestra vocación y nos desgastamos en el día a día. Reflexionar sobre nuestros valores y objetivos personales nos puede reconectar para encontrar mejores formas, los "cómos" pueden cambiar siempre y cuándo tengamos el "qué" bien establecido.

When engaged in mission-driven social impact work, it's vital to balance your well-being with the demands of the job. Remember to "water your flowers," nurturing yourself amidst the challenges and responsibilities. After all, you can't pour into others if you haven't poured into yourself first.

In addition to understanding the impact of your work on your well-being, it will be very helpful to take some time off, fresh your mind and reflect on the factors that affect your well-being. It could be the work environment, organizational culture, lack of resources or skills within your team, or different values within your organization. This list can go on. Also, working in social impact means that while you create positive outcome for the community or the world in general, it may be more emotionally draining for you, though quite rewarding. Remember that working in social impact is like running a marathon and not a sprint for a mission to create something good for the society and the environment, and you do your best.