What do you do if your personal well-being clashes with the demands of your nonprofit organization?

1 Recognize the signs

The first step to managing your well-being is to acknowledge when you are struggling. Some common signs of stress or burnout include fatigue, irritability, anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches, low motivation, poor performance, or loss of interest in your work. If you notice any of these symptoms, don't ignore them or blame yourself. They are signals that you need to take care of yourself and seek support.

3 Practice self-care

Self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity for nonprofit leaders. It means taking care of your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It also means doing things that make you happy, relaxed, and fulfilled. Some examples of self-care activities are exercising, meditating, reading, journaling, spending time with friends or family, pursuing a hobby, or learning something new. Find what works for you and make it a part of your daily or weekly routine.

4 Seek support

You don't have to face the challenges of nonprofit leadership alone. You can seek support from various sources, such as your colleagues, mentors, peers, coaches, counselors, or other professionals. You can also join networks, communities, or groups that share your interests, values, or goals. By reaching out to others, you can gain perspective, feedback, advice, encouragement, or inspiration. You can also share your experiences, challenges, successes, or learnings with others who understand and appreciate your work.

5 Embrace growth

Another way to cope with the demands of nonprofit leadership is to embrace growth. This means seeing the difficulties and opportunities as chances to learn, improve, or innovate. It also means being flexible, adaptable, and resilient in the face of change, uncertainty, or crisis. You can foster a growth mindset by setting realistic and attainable goals, celebrating your achievements, acknowledging your mistakes, seeking feedback, and embracing feedback. You can also seek new experiences, challenges, or skills that can help you grow as a leader and as a person.

6 Align with your purpose

Finally, one of the most important factors that can influence your well-being as a nonprofit leader is your alignment with your purpose. Your purpose is the reason why you do what you do, the impact you want to make, and the values you want to uphold. When you align with your purpose, you can find meaning, motivation, and satisfaction in your work. You can also overcome obstacles, setbacks, or frustrations with more grace and optimism. To align with your purpose, you need to revisit your mission, vision, and values regularly and make sure they reflect your true self and your desired outcomes.