We’re in the middle of tough times for many nonprofits, especially those in the US.

That means fear. Anger. Sadness. Worry.

And lots of work – more than the usual lots of work.

Which all adds up to stress. Stress that can mess with your mental and physical health.

We ignore the cause of this. And we can’t will it away. It’s likely to be with us for quite some time. But we can take care of ourselves so we can weather it, staying as strong, healthy, and effective as possible.

Here are some things you can do to take care of yourself:

Acknowledge how you feel

Yes, you really do feel that way. It’s real. It matters. Denial may seem like a good way to escape it, but it’s not. Denial will only keep you from improving your situation.

So do this:  Say to yourself (out loud, if you’re in a private place) This is real.

Then do stress-fighting things, like those below…

Cultivate your communities — personal and professional

Jean-Paul Sartre said, “Hell is other people.” He neglected to mention that other people are also our lifeline.

There are people in your personal life who strengthen, encourage, and restore you. Double down on those relationships. Spend more time with those people. Communicate with them.

Then there are people who tend to push the other direction. And, often, those people are inescapable for various reasons. You may be able to improve things, but let’s be realistic: There’s not much you can do to change other people. Minimize contact, and keep your guard up for the harmful stuff.

Your professional communities are important too. Having a peer group that’s facing the same or similar challenges can make all the difference, giving you a source of encouragement, information, and practical help. Connect with your local AFP or other fundraisers’ group. Or find a community online. (The Fundraisingology Lab by Moceanic is a wonderful community!)

Watch your information sources

You want and need to keep up with what’s happening. But be careful about where you get your news. Most important, go easy on your social media! It is expertly designed to keep you enflamed, stressed, and “doom-scrolling.” And it’s not an accurate source! Social media is making society worse, one person at a time. Do your best not to be part of that.

Get your information from trusted, competent, fact-checked journalism. And be aware that even the best sources can stumble. Keep your scepticism awake. And limit your news consumption to one or two specific times per day. Don’t let it be a 24/7 deluge of information. That only leads to overwhelm and stress.

Also, limit screen time in general. Don’t access your email, news, and social media by phone; keep those activities separate from constant availability. In your down-time, read a book. Or do nothing!

Help others

This is one of the most self-helpful things you can do: Reach out to others and help them. Whether they’re close, or strangers, or somewhere between. Whether they’re facing stress like you’re facing or they are in need in other ways, be kind and helpful. Anything from “random acts of kindness” to more elaborate actions — find ways to help.

It really works!

Watch your healthy habits

• Eat right.
• Get plenty of water.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Exercise.
• Back off from alcohol and other drugs.

These are things everyone should always do. But in times of stress, it becomes much more important.

Write stuff down

Keep a journal. It doesn’t have to be eloquent and amazing. You don’t even have to ever look at it again. But writing down what you’re going through and how you are feeling helps increase your sense of control. Just ten minutes a day will help – and don’t punish yourself when you miss days. Do it as often as you can.

Get help

Maybe your communities aren’t enough. If you are struggling, admit it to yourself and find help, even if it’s help you have to pay for. Whether it’s psychiatry, therapy (individual or group), or coaching, don’t ignore the help that’s available.

And perhaps the most important thing is to remind yourself that this particular hard time will pass. I’ve been around long enough to know they always do.

Grow your fundraising with six powerful fundraising techniques. Each one is big, but together they  will send your results skyrocketing! Find out how at our free webinar, The 6 Keys to Massive Nonprofit Fundraising Growth. A must-not-miss!

Related Blog Posts:

• How to Protect Yourself from Fundraising Emotional Burnout
• 4 Ways to Reclaim Your Productivity from Negative Emotions
• 12 Ways to Get “Unstuck” When You’re Struggling to Be Productive