How to Recharge After Hosting Virtual Spaces: 6 Tips for Facilitators

Facilitating virtual discussions requires more than just technical skills. Whether you're engaging communities, running a town hall, leading a virtual support group, or facilitating patient engagement, these roles demand significant emotional labor. Yet, there's not enough conversation about how facilitators can take care of themselves while holding space for others.

If your job requires listening to virtual groups, these self-care strategies will help you recharge and maintain your well-being. From patient engagement specialists to mental health professionals, and city council candidates hosting virtual listening sessions—these practices apply to anyone who connects communities in virtual settings.

1. Debrief on Paper

After the session, debrief by journaling in a paper notebook, especially if you're facilitating alone.

Writing in a physical notebook helps process thoughts and emotions without digital distractions. It creates a clear separation from the screen and allows you to reflect on key moments, reducing mental clutter.

Try these journaling prompts to guide your reflection:

• What moment during the session stood out to me the most, and why?
• What worked well in terms of facilitation, and what could I improve for next time?
• What did I learn from this session that I want to carry forward?

2. Listen to Music in a Different Language

After facilitating a session, listen to music in a different language than the one you facilitated in

Switching languages helps reset your brain, shifting gears and letting you move away from the mental space you’ve occupied during the session. It’s a small but effective way to create a mental boundary between work and the rest of your day.

3. 1-Song Dance Party

During breaks in a long Zoom session, do a 1-song dance party with a familiar, joyful song.

Virtual sessions can be full of new information and stimulus. Dancing to a familiar song calms your nervous system, allowing you to reset and shake off any tension before re-engaging.

4. Time Boundaries

Take at least a 24-hour break after a session before revisiting notes or follow-up tasks.

Giving yourself time to process subconsciously helps avoid rumination and lets you return with a fresh perspective. The break also creates healthy boundaries between work and rest, preventing burnout.

5. Post-Session Team Debrief

If you're working with a team, spend 10 minutes debriefing immediately after the session.

Reflecting as a team provides real-time insights and strengthens the bonds between facilitators. It’s also an opportunity to address any emotions or challenges from the session before moving on to other work.

Try these team discussion prompts to guide the conversation:

• What did we feel went well during the session? Any highlights?
• Were there any challenging moments, and how did we handle them?
• What support do we need from each other to facilitate future sessions better?

6. No Creepy Goodbyes (my personal favourite!)

At the end of every Zoom session, ask all participants to unmute and say goodbye verbally.

In real life, no one just disappears without saying goodbye. This human connection helps maintain the feeling of community and reminds us that we’re working with people, not just screens. It prevents the awkwardness of sudden silence and leaves a sense of closure.

Final Thoughts

If you’re hosting virtual sessions—whether you're facilitating patient engagement, community events, or online support groups—these practices are designed to help you reset and stay grounded. They ensure you’re not just facilitating others' well-being but also taking care of your own.

These tips are specifically for hosting virtual spaces. If you have your own tips or practices that help you stay grounded after facilitating, feel free to share them in the comments! Let’s create a space for facilitators and community animators to support each other. Stay tuned for my next article where I’ll share my self-care tips for in-person events.