How Can We Go On When The World Is In Shambles?

I set out to write a blog post about mental health since May is Mental Health Awareness Month and hit several walls. How can any of us be expected to do our jobs in the midst of all of the injustices that break our hearts, keep us up at night, and stress us out? Not to mention the daily challenges we face while working to strengthen our communities?

In an age of bringing one’s “full self” to work, it can be hard to show up when there’s so much going on, but there are some tools in my toolkit that have helped me when “I'm weary of the ways of the world” like Solange said.

Don’t Get Straight to Business

I love an agenda and making sure that I’m making good use of my time and my collaborators’ time. Too often early in my career, I’ve rushed to the business part without taking time to connect with my colleagues on a personal level. During the peak of the pandemic when socializing felt crucial, I started doing check-in questions, sometimes silly, sometimes poignant, and felt closer to my new colleagues as people, not just people responsible for deliverables or projects. You can also add time to your next meeting agenda to celebrate small and large wins with your team as a great way to reconnect with your mission. If you’re in fundraising or operations it can be easy to feel distant from the direct service work of your organization, by sharing your wins you can help reinforce the work you do to the greater mission of your organization. 

Just Be Thankful 

Creating a culture of gratitude is another great way to support your mental health and your team’s collective mental health. Numerous studies show that practicing gratitude is one of the best ways to improve our mental health. Adding regular opportunities to share gratitude for team members whose contributions have made the work a little easier, who have brightened your day, or who have gone above and beyond is important for your organization’s culture. If you want to start a personal gratitude practice you can just start with a sheet of paper or your phone’s note app and note things that you’re grateful for. If you need a little more structure, the Mayo Clinic Health System offers a free 30-day Discover Gratitude program.

Remember to thank and celebrate yourself too! It’s easier said than done, but so important to include yourself in the kindness you share with others.

Image courtesy of Getty Images

*Note, we do NOT condone a "no days off" philosophy. Check the next suggestion.

Relax. Seriously.

When was the last time you rested? Truly unplugged, turned on an out-of-office, and did what makes you happiest?

If you’re like me, it’s probably been too long. 

One of the things that brings me the most joy in my life is supporting Arsenal Football (Soccer) Club. I admire the ethos of the club, the style of play, the kits, and so much more. I really admire our manager, Mikel Arteta, who after a beautiful, challenging season where his young team gave it their all and scored a club record, said “We need to rest, have a beautiful holiday. Everyone has used every single drop of energy and passion, so now we need to rest and after that we think with clarity.” This isn’t the first time Arteta has advocated for the importance of rest, during a pivotal part of football season he took advantage of a built-in break in the season to bring the team to Dubai for a chance to rest and reconnect. We, well the players, went on to win eight consecutive Premier League games, scoring 33 goals in the process.

Arteta gets it. 

Please take time off. The work will be there when you return. If you’re a decision maker and your organization is able to, consider a week of rest during the summer months as well. If you’re looking for possibility models, check out Youth Speaks’ rest statement from a few summers ago. At a minimum, ensure you are prioritizing time to catch your breath, to breathe, and just to be. Numerous studies show that rest promotes creativity and productivity, but rest is good in and of itself.

These tools are not the end all, be all, but they can be a start. I hope these summer months provide you with an opportunity to relax, relate, and release.