Olympic Mindset for Nonprofits: Rest as Resilience
Something I’m super excited to see going on in the fitness world is the discussion of rest as part of building resilience. Olympians know that rest allows muscles to repair, leading to stronger muscles in the long term. Taking a day off allows your body to beat fatigue.
I’m glad to see more people advocating for rest in spaces of social change as well.
I was reading the book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle a few years ago, when this line stopped me in my tracks:
“When we deprive ourselves of our own basic needs as mammals under the misguided apprehension that that’s how we show our commitment to an issue or to the people we love, we burn out. And then we drop out. Only by making sure we have as much energy coming in as we have going out can we all stay committed to the people, work, and ideas we love…. An overlooked aspect of being 'woke' is getting enough sleep."
The authors, Amelia and Emily Nagoski, talk about this awful social disease they call “Human Giver Syndrome,” which they define as the belief that certain people “have a moral obligation to GIVE their whole humanity, and give it cheerfully” to others who have more privilege, resources, or whatever other advantage they have.
I see the nonprofit sector as an industry rife with people infected with “human giver syndrome.” The only way out of it is to recognize that we are each human beings with a right to rest, a right to breaks, and a right to put ourselves first sometimes.
So as we head into this holiday weekend that celebrates the workers who fought for our right to rest, I want to use my time, and my homework assignment for you, to send you to Trisha Hersey to check out the amazing work she’s doing over at The Nap Ministry. Her book Rest is Resistance is next up on my reading list, and I hope you put it on yours too.
YOUR HOMEWORK
Celebrate Labor Day by remembering the workers who fought hard for our ability to rest. Take some time to rest and restore yourself. Fall is busy for every nonprofit I know. Block off some days for rest and restoration as we head into the fall season and year end giving. You can’t hustle harder when you’re already too tired. Get some rest, my friend!
