My burnout struggle and what I plan to do about it.

I am struggling with burnout. Like many activists and those devoted to a life-or-death cause, we can experience mental and emotional fatigue because we live and breathe our passions every single day. For me, my daily personal and professional focus is on preventing devastation due to climate change, but I must also acknowledge that there are atrocities everywhere that demand our attention. Climate change just happens to be the global issue I personally have dedicated my life to fight against.

And that is what it feels like – a fight. An everlasting fight for the livelihood we all deserve. A fight that I am honored to be a part of, while it also rips me apart. It is somewhat ironic that I am experiencing climate burnout because this feeling was born from my transition out of climate anxiety. I guess this is phase two of what people may experience when they are trying to understand and take action against one of the largest and interconnected issues our species has faced.

No big deal.

What I did to dig my way out of climate anxiety is I took action. Now, my daily actions have exposed all the different ways that individuals and organizations are dealing, or not dealing, with the climate crisis. It’s like I’ve gone from burying my head in the sand to now banging my head against a wall – my head has been through a lot recently.

We are up against one of the most complicated and interdependent issues and the consequences are catastrophic. If we continue down this path, there will be unavoidable increases in climate hazards and multiple risks to ecosystems and humans. We know this to be true because all of us are experiencing this today at some level. Our risks depend strongly on near-term mitigation and adaptation actions, and for every increment of global warming, these risks will continue to rise. Even though this is terrifying, I am no longer anxious because I know the path forward. I know how to solve it! Many of us know the answers and they aren’t as complicated as we may have originally thought. Hooray! It’s over!

Unfortunately, the solutions must be sold, convinced, negotiated, and prioritized. That part is exhausting and at the end of the day, I feel the burnout. But it’s a burnout I can’t quit. A burnout I will never be willing or want to quit. Quitting this work would mean walking away from my livelihood, my loved ones, and my awe of this beautiful home we all share. So, here I am again. Do I stick my head in a hole and scream in frustration or do I find the next path out of this feeling?

I will only accept the second option, and maybe exploring meditation, but the second option is the only option. Therefore, I’ve been doing my research and what I have found is that I need to become proficient in radical acceptance and the art of altruism.

Here are the steps I am going to take, and I invite others to join, share, comment, provide feedback, or just massage someone's feet because its hard out there:

Step 1: Radical Acceptance

I must fully and nonjudgmentally accept the distressing reality that I alone cannot solve climate change and that not everyone wants to focus their life on preventing this crisis from getting worse. Ugh, it hurts!

I must not resist or fight against this fact but must surrender control because it was never there anyway. I was never in control, and I must embrace this reality. By doing this, I can reduce the suffering and lessen the emotional pain that I am currently experiencing. And less pain, means more brainpower and less burnout!

Step 2: Educate & Identify

After the radical acceptance phase, I will embrace the fact that individuals and organizations have reservations that prohibit their full commitment toward climate action. Maybe they are focused on equally important things? Maybe they don’t feel part of the movement? Maybe they simply don’t have the resources? Or maybe they have ulterior motives that justify their inaction? Honestly, it’s not really my place to speculate. It is my place to educate myself on the primary reasons for inaction and then identify my cause. How can I come from an open and understanding place to then build a team of like-minded people? How can I understand the reasons for inaction and prove that action will actually support their current goals - no matter what they are?

Step 3: Build the Network

Successful movements cannot be made alone. They require collaboration and teamwork. If the "educate and identify step" has gone well, that means that the team members may have different reasons for being in the group, but we all want to come to the same result – a stable, cleaner world. We can then move forward with an empathetic group of individuals that see climate action as a means to our diverse set of goals. Together we can continue to recruit those that are willing to contribute their skills and expertise.

Step 3: Raise Awareness

To protect my head from further wall smashing, I will change the narrative. Yes, there is urgency and a desperate need for unanimous action, but how about the “what’s in it for me” angle? Rather than shouting about the dire need for everyone to do their part because it is the right and most necessary thing to do, we will pivot a bit to focus on the other “whys.” The team and I will create a compelling message based on facts, co-benefits, and how easy it is to join. We will focus more on how business goals, KPIs, profitability and growth, hopes and dreams, and future vacation plans can all thrive by using climate action as a primary tool.

Step 4: Commit to Doing No Harm

As a passionate climate activist, I must also acknowledge that I am experiencing the sweet end of the deal right now. I think climate change is bad for me, but honestly, I have zero clue what it really feels like to be a true victim of climate disaster, racism, injustice, and poverty. Within the movement, we will consider the impact of climate change on marginalized communities and advocate for equitable solutions, that will continue to fuel the goals of this movement.

Cue the applause for co-benefits and climate justice!

Step 5: Collaborate with Other Existing Movements

Can ‘bigger is better’ be a slogan for a climate movement? It can now! At the halfway point of this global, cultural shift, our network will join forces with other organizations and movements that share our goals around stability and prosperity. Who doesn’t want prosperity? Being collaborative will further support all hypothetical movements and strengthen our collective goals.

Note to self: Lots of optimism here in Step 5, which is great, but remember, don’t slip back into assumptions, disappointment, and banging your head against the wall! Remember, “prosperity in the terms of the beholder,” which is the movement we want to create and grow. Not because it is the right thing to do, but because it is the right thing to do for them.

Ok, carry on. And you are doing great by the way!

Step 6: Measure, Track, Adapt, Repeat…Forever

Radical acceptance moment here! It is going to get better or at least there is a clear path for it to get better, but I may not get to see the end of the movie. It may continue to evolve and improve while I am an active participant, and this network can be pivotal to that foundation. Lessons will continue to be learned and adaptations will continue to be embraced.

To do this, we are going to have to see how it is going and be willing to make modifications. We are planning on building a movement of participants that are currently “inactive” and move them to “active.” The obvious tactics may not be the right tactics, otherwise, they would already be here. We will have to regularly evaluate the impact of our initiatives, see how they succeed or fail, communicate results to relevant parties, and then adapt where we see the need for change. This level of transparency will build trust and accountability, while also reducing the feeling of burnout. It’s science!

Step 7: Take One Day at a Time and Stay Resilient

Climate activism is challenging and it is what has led me here to this state of burnout. But it may be more my mentality about climate action versus the movement itself. Perseverance is key and desperation hasn’t ever served me well, so we should just ditch it. We will celebrate our successes, learn from setbacks, and keep our passion and determination alive. If this dedication, perseverance, and the ability to inspire and mobilize others is taken one day at a time, we may be on to something!

This is my way out of burnout, and I hope with my entire, exhausted being that it works. But one day at a time, right? Today I wrote this and maybe that does something for someone else. And maybe that is today’s success story. If you are also tired but continuing the fight, I see you, and I wish you the very best in your pursuit. Maybe we can join forces?

Thanks for listening.