You're not the only one experiencing advocacy burnout. Here's how you can kick it.
The 2010s were all about the hustle. Work until you drop and work hard without play. In an older and wiser 2020, we are finally starting to understand burnout. As advocates, it’s a common misconception that burnout means we’re simply not as dedicated to the cause as we used to be. But we’re here to tell you that burnout is something we all experience at one point or another.
At Dressember we are passionate about our mission to stop human trafficking, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t human and that we don’t get tired. If you can relate, here are a couple of tips to help you shut your burnout down.
1. Plan it out
Do you ever look at your to-do list and want to cry? Neverending lists can be overwhelming. Instead of becoming overwhelmed, try splitting up your tasks into specific time-slots and spread them out throughout the week. Suddenly being an advocate feels less daunting. Thursday at 9, post on Instagram about your goals. Friday at noon take an hour to plan your fundraising party. Saturday at 1, write thank you cards to donors for 30 minutes. This type of intention with planning out your time can help you balance your advocacy with the other demands of your week.
2. Focus on fundraising strategies you’re most excited about
With the internet and social media, there are endless fundraising strategies at your fingertips. However, the enormous amount of ideas and suggestions may leave you feeling overwhelmed. To help, begin with crafting a list of all possible fundraising strategies (here’s a helpful list of our tried and true fundraising ideas). Just seeing them on paper will help consolidate your thoughts a little bit. Next, go through the list one by one and star the strategies that make you most excited. Prioritize these and start making an action plan for them. The moment you try to do everything is the moment that advocacy burnout can set in.
4. Limit notifications on your phone and designate time for advocacy work
Because a lot of advocacy work can be managed through your phone, notifications can start to pile up. It’s important to be invested and dedicated to the work you’re committing to, but when you can’t seem to step away, burnout can develop. And let’s face it, when you’re burnt out you’re not doing your best work anyway. Your relationship with advocacy work should be a balanced one. Instead of stopping your day every time you get a notification, set aside time to prioritize your work. When you’re putting in quality work over quantities of work, you might just get better results and more peace of mind along the way.
5. Remember what it’s all for
It’s so important to take time to reflect. When you’re trapped in the hustle-bustle lifestyle, advocacy can begin to feel just like work and not a movement for change. To re-spark your passion for the Dressember mission, click through the impact stories from Dressember partners. These stories are powerful and heartbreaking, and remind us that the work we put into Dressember really does impact people across the globe. Remembering that your hard work and effort really does make a difference can help you keep going despite any challenges.
Finally, don’t forget that taking a break is okay. When you take the time to take care of yourself, you also equip yourself to show up in a powerful and authentic way.
About the Author
Molly Molloy is from a small suburb called Glen Ellyn right outside Chicago IL. She loves fashion, specifically ethical and sustainable fashion, tea, and exploring new cities. She makes it her mission to find a favorite cafe in every new place! Molly is currently exploring the nation's capital in Washington D.C. while she studies Public Relations at American University.