Constant exposure to topics that invoke our human empathy can, without proper acknowledgement, push us along the road to burnout.
I heard the news today, oh boy
It’s a funny thing, working in the nonprofit sector. By and large, the folks who work in the sector tend to be the thoughtful, considerate, and deeply feeling people that you would expect to be working for substantive change. And, if you ask them how they’re doing, they will quite possibly be positive. Because they’re doing meaningful work for organizations that they believe in! It’s a great thing!
But are we really doing well? Or, are we ignoring our very real emotional reactions to the news, the mission, and the stories that we are immersed in, because we need to keep focused on doing the good work that is needed to support our organizations?
Two upfront facts: first, we love working in our sector and with people whose big hearts inspire us. Second, we are by no means mental health experts—but remain very deeply invested in “keeping it together”. The follow observations and experiences are strictly our own, that we hope will resonate with others. We wrote about this from a prospect research lens in “From the Ground Up: Prospect Research for Nonprofits,” but feel that the considerations and suggestions are broadly applicable.
Taking a step back
Let’s be honest. sometimes, we are not doing well, and our teams and colleagues are struggling. Our work often requires us to be living and breathing missions that are inherently difficult, and include the added obligation of being informed of news that is inherently stressful. Constant exposure to topics that invoke our human empathy can, without proper acknowledgement and mitigation, be a significant contributor to pushing us along the road to burnout—something rife in the sector.
Let’s break down three challenges we have encountered, and the balance that we need to strike with each. Take note if these examples are relatable or a surprise. If they surprise you, all the more reason to pay attention, because they may be impacting people on your team.
Challenge #1: The news
Because our sector is dependent on the generosity of donors for support, we have to be aware of what might affect peoples’ desire and ability to give, which means staying current on local, regional, national and even international news. And, if you haven’t noticed, the news these days is consistently awful. It may mean that we don’t permit ourselves respite, even when it means encountering deeply triggering information and topics.
The balance: Do you absolutely need to read three newsfeeds? Or, is there a way to curate the topics that are most important for your organization? A mindset shift can be helpful here. You don’t need to read everything, and you certainly don’t need to do it all at once. Break it into specific tasks, and ensure that you have breaks and the opportunity to read positive news in amongst the headlines. Furthermore, set aside scheduled time for media review, and keep to that scheduled time. It may feel like we’re in a race to be the first to know something, but that is a fool’s errand. Be a thoughtful and critical consumer to avoid falling for clickbait, rage bait, or full-on lies.
Challenge #2: Information overflow
It’s always been a case of “if it bleeds, it leads,” but as journalism scrambles to keep up with a perpetually online, scrolling readership, news stories are selected for their ability to catch and retain our attention. The more clicks, the more “likes” that they receive, the more our feeds are filled by outrage and despair.
The balance: Social media companies work hard to keep us scrolling, and traditional media has followed suit in a constant crusade for people’s time and attention. It can be tricky to break the hold that the algorithm has on us. Intentionality and discipline can be helpful. When reaching for your phone, or clicking through your browser, take a pause and ask how this is serving you. Is it to gain information? Is it to relax your mind? Or is it to stave off boredom? While you won’t necessarily be able to beat the algorithm, you can separate your feeds. Use a work device without your personal logins on your browser, so that work-focused content doesn’t turn up in your personal life. Personal devices and logins can be saved for reels about puppies and baby elephants (or whatever your personal jam is).
Challenge #3: The mission
We have both worked in organizations where the mission of the organization is inherently difficult: treating critically, even fatally ill, children; combatting disease; humanitarian emergencies; war, conflict, and natural disasters; animals in crisis; environmental catastrophes; and highly vulnerable populations. It’s easy to tell yourself that you’re not on the frontlines, “those folks, they’re the real heroes who need to take care”. We are not (after all) performing surgeries, distributing necessities to the unhoused, or negotiating peace agreements. So, we brush off our emotional reactions.
The balance: Feel your feelings, and encourage your colleagues to feel their feelings as well. The more in tune you are to your reactions, the better and more safely you can engage with the mission. Understand that everyone has different ways of dealing with, and getting through it. Be aware of your colleagues, and how their lived experiences may inform their ability to process and work through the effects of the news and the mission. Don’t assume that you will know which triggers are particularly harmful, or at which point a person will reach a limit in their ability to cope. Do your best to remain generous and empathetic.
How do we keep on keepin’ on in challenging times?
Everyone has their own way to deal with stress. It can be as simple as admitting to someone that a topic has been on your mind. Or, you may need to build in transition time to absorb and reflect on what you’ve been researching. For certain topics, we’ve found it beneficial to seek outside learning and information to better educate ourselves, because having the additional knowledge allows us to approach the topic from a more centered place. Sometimes, it may take self-reflection about how you process things to understand how you’re being affected. You will need to be mindful and notice the state of your mind and body. This can be difficult work, but is valuable in learning to better care for yourself.
After all, to paraphrase RuPaul: if you can’t care for yourself, then how the hell are you going to care for anyone else?
Author’s Note: For additional reading, this article, has very specific advice like blurring images, muting and fast-forwarding through videos first.
Sarah Marcotte is a librarian by profession and by choice, and has almost 20 years of experience in the nonprofit space, focusing on prospect research, prospect management, and data management. She is currently Senior Specialist, Data Steward at SickKids Foundation, and has previously held senior roles in prospect research at Weizmann Canada, Canadian Red Cross, and SickKids Foundation. sarah.e.marcotte@gmail.com
Katherine Scott is a prospect research and development professional with over a decade of experience working in philanthropy for a range of organizations including MSF Canada (Doctors without Borders), Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, Canadian Red Cross and Toronto Metropolitan University. kathmscott@gmail.com
