Care

Not my usual post this week. I wanted to take a moment to check-in with you. To see how you are doing. With everything going on these days, it can be pretty hard to get out of bed in the morning.

Sometimes I forget with all the rush of the day-to-day operations of a non-profit that needs to be nurtured, monitored, and cared for, that I need caring too.

COVID numbers are climbing in my area and hospitals are at capacity. My province isn’t doing so well. Add to that family health stressors and personal challenges, and I’m not doing so well either.

I’m genuinely glad to go to work in the morning to keep my mind occupied with something other than worry and stress. It helps to dive into a project, but I know I can’t sustain that for all my waking hours.

Usually, my garden is my after-work de-stress zone, so I’ve been putting off the annual fall clean up. I know once things are pulled and composted, I will need to find something else to help me keep the worry, anxiety, and loneliness away.

I’ve been a non-profit executive director for many, many years. I’ve been through the good and the ugly with a board of directors. I’ve dealt with terrible employees. I’ve survived funding cuts and cruel funder criticism. Over time, I’ve developed my own coping mechanisms and ways to do better, but sometimes I think COVID has me beat.

Over time, I’ve developed my own coping mechanisms and ways to do better, but sometimes I think COVID has me beat.

COVID, and 18 months of virtual programs and services, has been challenging. We started strong; we really did. We embraced the lockdown when it first started, and swiftly shifted to full virtual delivery. We stayed true to our strategic plan and met our outcomes and deftly tracked data and measurements. We had a banner year and were proud when our funders complimented our ability to sustain operations.

But now, now we’re tired and we don’t want to stay in the office anymore. We want to hit the road and meet with people. We want to bring the doughnuts, and drink coffee, and see what’s new in the communities we serve. But we can’t. We’re halfway through our second virtual year and feeling spent. I know you are too.

So, how are you doing? Are you leaning on family and friends? Are you exploring new hobbies? What are you doing to stay emotionally strong during this health crisis that never seems to end?

Take care my friends. Let’s get through this together.

-Christie

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Hi, I'm Christie Saas, former board member, current Executive Director, and non-profit volunteer. I remember well, those early years when I lacked the training, the confidence, and the work-life balance to focus on becoming the best non-profit leader I could be.

Fast-forward past many bumps in the road, lessons learned, and you’ll find me still in the trenches, but a little wiser, a little calmer, and a whole lot happier. I love my work and I want to help you love yours too.

I created ChristieSaas.com to give you tools, tips, and templates to remove the mystery of learning to run a small non-profit. If you’re a brand-new non-profit leader, or a little more seasoned, someone who’s looking to make a meaningful contribution and still have time for a full life away from the job, you’re in the right place.

© Christie Saas 2021 All Rights Reserved

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