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Live United by Erin Haag

In my last column, I wrote about boundaries for the nonprofit leaders. It prompted someone to suspect that I was lecturing myself, and they asked if I was burned out. I assure you that the advice was truly written to another leader. So the question remains: Am I burned out? I don’t take this question lightly because it’s a very powerful and serious thing. This term can be used for a lot of things, kind of like, “I’m tired,” and everyone nods because we’re all tired and could use an extra nap — everyone except my son, who has boundless energy. It’s become a misnomer, undermining how serious burnout is. This isn’t something that can be cured by a good night’s sleep or even a two-week vacation. It’s not because jobs are stressful, although stress can contribute to that. Burnout develops over time, and is chronic, deep set and can affect all areas of your life. A burned out nonprofit leader can do more harm than good, but they might stay in the trenches in the name of making a difference.

Being a little nerdy and a little bit crunchy, I have an interest in what’s called neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the physiological changes in the brain that happen as the result of our interactions with our environment. It’s the ability of the brain to form new connections and new pathways and circuits. We all know about neuroplasticity. Practicing mindfulness, emotional regulation, gratitude — all of that is neuroplasticity. Studies show that thinking positive thoughts for a time period each day can help rewire your brain to naturally be more positive. The length varies depending on who your source is: 15 seconds, 17 seconds, 60 seconds. The results are clear though: Intentionally taking time to focus and intentionally think positive thoughts can help your brain form new pathways to be more grateful.

I can almost hear people putting together the pieces! Oh! Practice positive and gratitude so you don’t get burnout in your job! Nope, no, nada, no way. That would fall into the category of toxic positivity, being told to smile even when you’re not happy and all that forced cheerfulness. We’re not all Buddy the Elf with boundless joy, we’re human with the full range of emotions.

Often burnout happens because it’s “the same old thing.” You’re dealing with the same problems over and over again. It’s the classic DMV trope, with the slow-moving DMV worker calling, “Next” in a very dispassionate and disconnected way. In the nonprofit world, it can be the endless need, and the difficulty in feeling like you’re making real change. Sometimes it’s things like database systems.

There’s a database system that Rosemary and I use. We implemented it a few years ago, and it was supposed to help us complete reports. It was a rough transition, but because others used it successfully, it felt like the problem was us and we needed more training and time. Rosemary invested the time and effort and has really learned the day-to-day operations of it. When it comes time to run the reports though, we wind up frustrated and it’s a lot of back and forth with getting the reports right. We’re finally looking at that maybe this software isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. That’s just one example — and yes, it can be fixed. We can admit that this database system isn’t the right fit for us, and start the process of finding the right fit for us.

So am I burned out? No. I am borderline burned out in some aspects of it: like database systems that aren’t doing what we need it to do. I’m burned out with a few particular problems that all managers deal with. Often I’m too busy. Too busy to leave space for that creativity, development, and heck, just scheduling things onto the calendar. So it’s a surprise to some when I want to do something else, add something on. Last night, a board member told me about a project that she and some others are interested in, maybe sometime next year. It ties directly to an impact area of United Way, and my brain started firing in different directions. I was thinking about people I know, what the program could look like, the logistics of how it could be done. Neuroplasticity at work. It inspires, invigorates and rewires new pathways. That’s why I’m not burned out at my job. Every time there’s a brick wall, a small business will reach out with a promotional idea or a new volunteer will walk through the door. That solid brick wall becomes a brick wall with a lot of windows and a lot of doors.

Not everyone is lucky enough to have a job that can be that varied. This is exactly why some busy professionals love to volunteer or develop hobbies. Doing something entirely different can change your perceptions. Last week, the Intellicents team did a Day of Service. We had two shifts, the morning crew, Jake’s pizza for everyone and then the afternoon team. It was a long day for my team, making sure that everyone had the tools to do their chosen job. The volunteer crew totally reorganized our pantry, installed doorknobs, repaired sheetrock, hauled things to the transfer station and more. Conversations were had, and new volunteers and potential board members were developed. It was flat-out amazing and inspiring for us.

I think about this group of people dealing with financials, insurance, human resource management and more. They got to use their skills and energy in an entirely different way. We ate doughnuts and pizza and I hope they went back to their regular lives feeling a little more inspired. That’s why corporate philanthropy is important. It can be as simple as hosting a drive at work, or going out into the community as a team, or offering paid hours to volunteer to jump start the game. Overall, employees report feeling more productive, more engaged and more likely to stay in their positions.

What about you? Are you feeling burnout creep up? It can be professionally or personally. I challenge you to look at your life and see how you could make a change. Crunching numbers and working at a computer all day? How about working with cats at the Humane Society or being an assistant coach for the YMCA? It might feel like you have no time, but when you give it a try, you might find that instead of feeling more tired, you’ll be rejuvenated. If you’re interested in learning about volunteer opportunities to help you with that neuroplasticity, give us a call at 507-373-8670.

Erin Haag is the executive director of the United Way of Freeborn County.