Here's how you can use self-reflection to prevent burnout as a community organizer.

AIM for Happiness: Assumptions Intentions Motivations 1. What Assumptions am I making about the situation that might be sustaining the problem? 2. What is my Intention in this situation? What do I hope to accomplish by engaging in the behavior? 3. What is my Motivation for engaging in this behavior? What do I hope to get out of it?

I agree with this and think it is incredibly important to monitor ourselves for burnout symptoms. I also think it is important to recognize that burnout can sometimes have nothing to do with workload and everything to do with habits. Exercise, sleep hygiene and nutrition can help prevent burnout as well. In addition, we need to trust “our people” (family, friends) to help us identify when we are exhibiting symptoms of burnout.

One of my favorite talks on boundaries indicated that boundaries aren’t always putting up a 6ft privacy fence. Sometimes boundaries are knowing where our yard ends and our neighbors’ begins, otherwise we mow the whole street. Sometimes we feel guilty setting boundaries, but we need to conceptualize them differently - how often do you feel guilty for not mowing your neighbors’ lawns?

I felt always good to have boundaries between work and home, don’t bring home to work and don’t bring work home. I know jobs have tried to get me to do work related stuff at home unpaid. I was like no. I’m not doing that. I’m not taking my families time from to give it work that I’m not being paid for and two even if I was I’d still say no, time is what I can’t get back. That should be the attitude. Our time is valuable, so spend it wisely.

I'm not a journalling kind of gal. Did that, done that in my angst-y 20's. Instead I do a mental review of a checklist I have that keeps my mental health, well...healthy. If I start slipping on any one of them for too long, my mental health can start to quickly slide which in turns affects my experience at work. My checklist probably will be very familiar to you - things we know that are good for us. For those of us with mental illness, we can't skimp on these. What about you? What's your burn-out prevention checklist? Here's mine: Exercise Medication Healthy eating 7 - 8 hrs sleep Contact with friends Fun (yes - it's essential) Meaningful work (even a tiny bit) Meditation & spirituality Therapy when needed

The most important part of being the best psychotherapist I can be is making sure I stay healthy and practice regular self-care. I must be aware of and accept my own limitations, and be willing to ask for help when I need it, regardless of fear and shame telling me not to. My ability to support clients efficaciously depends on my good health. I’d rather ask for help, including taking a leave of absence if necessary, than provide sub-optimal care out of avoidant shame or willful pride. I am a role model for my clients -- and what message would that send?

I like to use the airplane analogy with healthcare providers (but really this is important for every person, especially those caring for others in any capacity). Already having our own self-care routine in moments of crisis is akin to putting our own air mask on first in flight. We can't help others to put on their air masks if don't already have our own oxygen source. Similarly, we can't help anyone who may be experiencing a crisis if we have unmet needs and lack stability and are not near or in equilibrium ourselves.

My favorite de-stressing skills are Dialectical Behavioral Therapy's (DBT) TIPP Skills, where TIPP is an acronym for the four skills including: Temperature, Intense exercise, Progressive muscle relaxation, & Paced breathing. Regarding temperature, holding ice in ones hand can mitigate pain (i.e. bloating while recovering from an eating disorder). Holding ones hand in a bucket of ice can be so painful that it distracts from urges to self-harm. Doing an ice-dive creates a calming effect during panic or extreme pain, similar to taking a benzodiazepine minus tolerance and dependency.