Creating Balance as a Community Professional: Tips to Avoid Burnout
As a community professional, it can be easy to get caught up in the daily grind of moderating online forums, managing community programs, answering customer questions, and organizing events. The constant engagement and pressure to be available can lead to burnout if not properly managed. Personally, as I try to connect authentically with the members of my community, the heightened emotions can be a lot to deal with at times even while being exhilarating at others.
To avoid burnout, it’s important to be in the habit of actively working to create balance with the work you do with community development and management. Here are a handful of things I do as well as recommend to my Community Development team.
Take time to reflect
Reflecting regularly on your work and its impact can help you to stay motivated and to identify areas for improvement. Keeping a journal, a “lessons learned” register, or writing down your thoughts can be a helpful tool for reflection. This can also be a helpful process to uncover anything that doesn’t serve your role’s purpose or KPIs. This can give you the opportunity to redelegate, tweak, or discontinue things that aren’t helping you reach goals.
Set realistic expectations
Being realistic with yourself about what you can accomplish in a given timeframe can help you to avoid taking on too much work, and to manage your workload more effectively. It’s also important to set clear expectations with colleagues about your availability and workload. This includes setting boundaries around when and how you will respond to work-related communications, such as email or instant messaging. Doing this can take practice and gets easier the more you do it. If you’re hesitant, start with something small and add on as your confidence grows.
Take care of yourself
Taking care of your physical and mental health is crucial for avoiding burnout. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating well, and getting regular exercise. You may also choose to practice mindfulness or meditation or perhaps take on a new or dive deeper into an existing hobby. It can also be really beneficial to set aside time to disconnect from work and technology altogether. Self-care is not a one-size-fits-all concept and it’s important to find what works for you. The important thing is to make it a priority, schedule it into your day and make it non-negotiable.
Seek out support
Joining a professional community or networking group can provide an outlet to discuss the challenges of the job, and to learn from the experiences of others. If you’re at all like me, there is a surprising amount of relief in knowing I’m not alone in the challenges I face as a community professional. If you’re really struggling, don’t be afraid to seek out a therapist who can also help you to cope with the emotional demands of the job. Finally, I’ll add that I’m personally grateful for the many peer mentors I have at my company who can help me work through the tougher moments.
Reflecting on this, it’s clear that creating boundaries to avoid burnout while working in the community space is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. By prioritizing self-care, setting realistic expectations, reflecting on your work, and seeking out support, you can better manage your workload and avoid burnout. Remember that burnout is a gradual process and it’s important to take steps to prevent it before it starts. Listen to your body and mind, and take the necessary steps to prioritize your well-being and the effectiveness of your work. With a little effort, it’s possible to find a balance that works for you and to thrive as a community professional.
Do you work in community? How are you creating balance in your life and avoiding burnout? Let me know in the comments!
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About Adiel Cloud Nuesmeyer
Hi, I’m Adiel (she/her)! I’m a Sr. Director of Community Development, leading a team of 13 to connect with our customers — as well as form connections between them. My professional superpower is being able to glean insights and features from engaging 1:1 with customers — because I truly care about them and the community.
When I’m not leading the charge (and teaching others how to lead their *own* charge), I can be found driving my kids to umpteen gymnastics practices, tending to a literal indoor jungle of household plants while watching the Utah Jazz — and pretending I don’t see my husband talking about buying a 5th grill. Yes, a *5th* grill, lol. I’d love to connect with other passionate professionals and mission-driven organizations on LinkedIn!
