The Burnout No One Talks About

Welcome to HERe to Shake the Table—a blog space where we’re committed to keeping it all the way real. This isn’t just where we celebrate the wins (though we’ll always shout out our team’s triumphs); it’s where we peel back the curtain and talk about what it actually looks like behind the scenes in nonprofit work. And today, we’re getting honest about something many of us feel, but few of us say out loud:

Burnout.The kind that creeps in slowly… even when you love the work. Especially when you love the work.

The Call to Serve vs. The Cost

Many of us got into this line of work because we were driven by something deeper than a job description. Whether it was lived experience, a heart for justice, or a relentless belief in the power of community—we answered the call. We wanted to make a difference. We still do.

But somewhere between the grant deadlines, emergency referrals, late-night texts from members in crisis, and being a small team doing big team work, we started to feel the weight. And not just on our shoulders—but on our spirits.

The passion didn’t go away. But the pressure? It started taking up space, too.

Signs of Burnout We’ve Learned to Recognize (Sometimes Too Late)

It didn’t always look like falling apart. Sometimes it looked like auto-pilot. Other times, like slowly detaching from the mission we care so deeply about.

Here's what our team members have to say about burnout:

“Not having the ability to listen and truly hear what others are telling me, whether that be in a meeting, friendships, relationships. I’ve noticed when I’m at the burnout stage, I just don’t have capacity to even process a quality conversation or give people the time they deserve to be heard.”

“If I get too stressed, I start to have anxiety and then I start messing up on stuff. But also I’ve always been a caregiver and sometimes I do things more for other people and take care of myself last and I’ve seen burn out in that in me sometimes.”

Burnout doesn’t always scream. Sometimes it whispers. It shows up as brain fog. Exhaustion. Avoidance. Irritability.And too often, we push through—because the work must get done.

The Guilt That Comes with Rest

One of the hardest things to unlearn in this space? The guilt around rest.That whisper in our heads that says, If you slow down, who’s going to catch her when she falls? If you set boundaries, does that mean you care less? If you take a day off, are you letting someone down?

We’ve been conditioned (sometimes even praised) for overworking. For “doing whatever it takes.” For self-sacrifice. But the truth is—there’s nothing sustainable about that model. And there’s certainly nothing empowering about burnout.

How We’re Choosing to Shift the Narrative

We’re not writing this because we have it all figured out. We’re writing this because we’re in it—learning and unlearning in real time.

Here are a few things we’re actively trying to do differently at EmpowHERment:

• Normalize check-ins that go beyond “How are you?” We’re asking, “What do you need to feel whole this week?”

• Respect off-hours boundaries. Emergencies happen—but they’re not the norm.

• Say no—even to good things—if they stretch us beyond capacity.

• Celebrate small wins with the same energy as big ones. Every step counts.

• Encourage time off—without guilt. Rest is revolutionary. Period.

• Utilize Wellness Grants to treat your team. We recognize when our team needs a pick me up, which is why we carve out time for wellness days to treat our team. 

We’re reminding ourselves (and each other) that the mission thrives when we do.

A Call to Other Purpose Chasers

To our fellow change makers, community builders, and nonprofit partners—this is your reminder:

You can care deeply and still need rest.You can be committed and still have boundaries.You can do good work and still say no.

Let’s shake the table not just by challenging broken systems outside our organizations—but also by healing the culture within them. Burnout is not a badge of honor. And impact doesn’t require our exhaustion.

We’re learning. We’re growing. And we’re rooting for you to do the same.

XOXO,