This month’s Just 1 Thing from Swell takes a different direction than our usual feature-focused sessions. As many nonprofits head into the busiest part of the year, the work can feel professionally, emotionally, and personally heavy.
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Introduction
In this session, Brooke sat down with licensed professional counselor and leadership consultant, Rachel Fry, to talk about recognizing burnout, creating healthier boundaries, and caring for yourself and your team.
Rachel brings over 20 years of experience supporting high-performing and mission-driven professionals. Together, she and Brooke discussed what burnout looks like, why it happens, and small, practical steps you can take to regain stability, reset your energy, and support colleagues who may be struggling.
Video and Transcript
Key Takeaways
- Burnout is common among high performers and nonprofit professionals. It’s a normal response when demands exceed your capacity.
- Early signs of burnout include procrastination, numbness, irritability, withdrawal, changes in routine, and feeling disconnected. 
- Simple routines help buffer stress: movement, laughter, healthy meals, a grounding commute routine, or connecting with someone you trust.
- Talking with someone you trust can help you recalibrate your workload, clarify priorities, and regain stability. Many people don’t notice burnout in themselves until someone else checks in. 
- Leaders can support their teams by checking in with intention. Ask “How are you?” privately and with genuine curiosity. Remember that you're just opening space and removing barriers here instead of trying to fix everything.
- Outside support, such as a therapist, can be helpful if internal strategies aren’t enough or if burnout persists. There’s no downside to trying a first appointment.
- Burnout can become a learning moment. Recognizing it early helps you build or adjust your personal system so it supports you better during demanding seasons. 
Resource Mentioned
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily & Amelia Nagoski. You can find it at your favorite bookseller. Here are a few direct links to get you started (not affiliate links):
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