How do you navigate self-care practices when dealing with emotionally draining social impact cases?

To navigate self-care in emotionally draining social impact work, set clear boundaries between work and personal life, and schedule regular breaks. Engage in activities that recharge you, like hobbies, exercise, or mindfulness practices. Seek support through therapy or peer groups, and maintain a strong support network. Reflect on your purpose and celebrate small wins to stay motivated. Prioritise rest and ensure you have a plan for recognising and addressing burnout early.

As a white person working in the impact space, managing and tending to my own emotions is important to me so I do not perpetuate or exacerbate existing workplace inequities by asking those around me to do emotional labor on my behalf. Here are a couple of ways I attempt to do that: 1) Remembering that my emotional reaction to a problem does not have the same weight as actual lived experiences. 2) Remembering that I am solely responsible for proactively educating myself. 3) Reminding myself that the people living through impact challenges do not get to just 'look away' when it gets too much. 4) Staying clear and aligned on my forward-looking values

Acknowledging stress is crucial for maintaining your well-being, especially in demanding roles focused on making a difference. Stress can manifest subtly, with signs like feeling overwhelmed, irritable, or disconnected from your work. Recognizing these indicators early on is the first step in managing them effectively.

Develop a Stress Inventory Create a personal stress inventory where you regularly note down the stressors you encounter in your social impact work. By identifying and documenting these stressors, you can begin to see patterns and take proactive steps to mitigate them. This approach helps in building self-awareness, allowing you to address emotional fatigue before it escalates.

Setting boundaries is vital in social impact work, where emotional investment can often blur the lines between personal and professional life. Establish what you can realistically handle and communicate these limits clearly to your colleagues and supervisors. This could involve setting specific work hours, deciding not to check emails after a certain time, or delegating tasks when necessary.

At The Cookie Project, we established a culture of respecting work-life boundaries, which was crucial for our team's well-being. We set clear guidelines around work hours and encouraged our team to disconnect after hours, ensuring they had time to recharge. This practice helped prevent burnout and maintained high morale, even during intense periods of social impact work.

Whether through a formal support group or a simple coffee chat with a colleague, building a network that offers empathy and advice is essential. This support system can help you process difficult emotions, gain perspective, and find renewed energy to continue your important work. Remember, seeking support is a sign of strength and self-care, not weakness—it’s an integral part of sustaining your ability to make a difference.

Build a Support Network Beyond Work Form a diverse support network that includes colleagues, mentors, friends, and even professionals like therapists. Regularly check in with these individuals, sharing your experiences and seeking their advice. At The Cookie Project, we found that having a mix of internal and external support systems was key in managing the emotional demands of our work, as it provided different perspectives and coping strategies.

At The Cookie Project, we introduced short mindfulness sessions during team meetings. These sessions included deep breathing exercises and brief meditations, helping everyone reset and stay grounded. This practice became a valuable tool for managing stress and maintaining focus, especially when dealing with emotionally heavy cases.

Create a Holistic Wellness Plan Develop a holistic wellness plan that includes not just physical health, but also mental and emotional well-being. Schedule regular exercise, balanced meals, and sufficient sleep into your routine. At The Cookie Project, we supported our team's health by providing resources for physical activity and mental wellness, such as access to fitness classes and mental health days, recognising that a healthy team is more resilient in the face of emotional challenges.

Schedule Reflection Time After Key Milestones. After significant milestones or challenging periods, take time to reflect on what was learned and how it impacted you emotionally. At The Cookie Project, we made reflection a part of our project debriefs, allowing team members to share their feelings and insights. This not only helped in personal growth but also in refining our approach to future projects, ensuring continuous improvement and emotional resilience.