You love youth ministry. The encounters, the conversations, the moments when you sense: something is happening here. But sometimes you also notice that you yourself are falling by the wayside. That your batteries are empty, your faith feels hollow and you’d really just like to get away for a while. And then you ask yourself:
Is it just me?
No. Lots of people feel this way. And that means you’re allowed to take concrete steps that help you stay healthy for the long haul. Self-care is not a luxury. It’s what makes it possible for you to keep serving with your whole heart. Here are seven simple ways to help you keep from burning out.
About the series “🔥 Fireproof Leadership: A Survival Guide Against Burnout”
Work can be fulfilling, but it can also drain you. Many leaders burn out because they’re constantly giving, sacrificing themselves for others and ignoring their own limits in the process. This series helps you spot the warning signs early, live out your idealism in a healthy way and stay stable for the long haul through self-care.
- Fire Alarm: The Most Radical Step in Dealing with Burnout: Don’t Fight It
- Smoke Signals: Why You’re at Risk of Burnout as a Youth Leader
- Embers and Ashes: Why Do the Best Burn Out? Idealism and the Trap of Self-Sacrifice
- Shield: Self-Care Is Not a Luxury: Seven Ways to Stay Healthy
- Campfire, Not Wildfire: Healthy Team Culture: Share Responsibility Instead of Wearing Yourself Out
- Rekindling the Fire: How to Get Back on Your Feet After Exhaustion
- Fuel for the Soul: Healthy Spirituality: Living Your Faith Without Burning Out
1. Set clear boundaries
You are not responsible for everything and everyone. You don’t have to be at every event. It’s okay, in fact it’s necessary, to say no sometimes. Setting boundaries doesn’t mean letting others down. It means taking yourself seriously.
2. Build in regular breaks
Jesus, too, withdrew to pray, to rest, to recharge. What about you? When was the last time you intentionally took a break? Schedule your time to recover as firmly as your appointments. Because if you wait until you’re completely exhausted, it’s often too late.
3. Cultivate spiritual routines that are good for you
Your faith isn’t a to-do list you have to work through. Spirituality doesn’t thrive on duty but on connection. Which forms of spirituality truly give you strength? Maybe it’s short prayers throughout the day, maybe silence, maybe music or a walk in nature. Find out what truly nourishes you, and give yourself permission to live out your own way of encountering God.
4. Get support
You don’t have to carry everything on your own. Find a team you can share tasks with. Talk to other leaders and share your experiences. Sometimes it helps just to know: I’m not the only one who feels this way.
5. Take care of your body
Eating, sleeping, exercise: the basics we often forget. If you don’t get enough sleep or eat poorly over a long stretch, you can’t keep going strong in the long run. Your body is a gift. Treat it with care.
6. Let go of what you can’t change
There are things that aren’t in your hands. Decisions in your church, the way teenagers behave, difficult situations, your current energy level. Remind yourself: you are not responsible for everything. And you can place things in God’s hands.
7. Remember your calling
Sometimes it helps to remind yourself why you started. What was your motivation? Which moments in youth ministry got you excited? Hold on to that. And if you notice that you’ve lost your joy, be honest with yourself. Maybe it’s time for a break, a longer break. Or a new direction.
You’re allowed to take care of yourself. In fact, you should
Self-care isn’t an ego trip. It’s a sign of responsibility. If you want to stay in ministry for the long haul, you have to learn to take good care of yourself. God didn’t call you to burn out but to live. Full of strength, full of love, full of devotion, but not at the expense of your own health.
