Honoring International Self-Care Day: Why Self-Care Is a Necessity, Not a Luxury in Nonprofit Work

It's International Self-Care Day, a global reminder that caring for ourselves—body, mind, and spirit—is not only essential, it's critical. For those of us who work in the nonprofit sector, the message hits especially hard.

In a field based on compassion, advocacy, and service to others, nonprofit professionals often carry the weights of the populations they serve. We are counselors, connectors, crisis responders, and changemakers. But in our enthusiasm to serve, we too often forget the one resource we can't afford to burn out: ourselves.

The Reality of Burnout in Nonprofit Work

Nonprofit professionals report some of the highest rates of emotional exhaustion, especially those in direct service, fundraising, and community organizing. Passion is powerful—but without rest and boundaries, it will quickly convert to burnout.

Ignoring self-care doesn't hurt just us—it hurts the causes we're committed to. When we're burned out, our creativity, compassion, and judgment suffer. By caring for ourselves, we are protecting our ability to lead well and resiliently.

What Self-Care Really Means

Self-care isn't all yoga retreats and bubble baths. Self-care is boundaries, mental health days without guilt, asking for help, and saying no when your plate is full. Self-care is struggling for healthy work cultures that honor rest, reflection, and professional growth.

At YNPN Phoenix, we believe that investing in yourself is a revolutionary act of leadership. We believe in emerging nonprofit professionals not just growing in their careers—but thriving wholeheartedly.

Self-Care, According to Our Board

We invited a few of our board members to share with us their deal-breaker self-care practices—the routines and rituals that allow them to show up fully for the work they do and the life they live.

Here's what they shared:

Brett B. – "Eight hours of restful sleep and at least 30 minutes a day away from electronics."

Kari B. – "I am the type of person that I need sleep—the more my body has, the better."

Gabby S. – "Boxing or watching reality TV like RuPaul's Drag Race."

Josette R. – "Reading."

These insights remind us that self-care is unique to each of us. What matters is finding what works for you—and making it a non-negotiable part of your life.

How to Practice Self-Care in the Sector

Here are some ways that we're encouraging self-care in our community:

• Normalize mental health days and model them for your team.

• Find your people. Talk with peers who understand the unique pressures of this work.

• Set boundaries between your work life and personal time (stick to them).

• Celebrate your wins, no matter how small.

• Make a commitment to ongoing learning that inspires you, not just what's required.

• Say yes to rest—you don't need to earn your “me” time.

You're Not Alone

If you're a nonprofit newbie or seasoned pro, here's what you need to remember: taking care of yourself is part of the mission. It's how we build resilience. It's how we show up stronger for our communities. And it's how we ensure the sustainability of the causes we dedicate so much of ourselves to.  

On this International Self-Care Day, take a deep breath. Drink water. Text a friend. Go for a walk. Make time to rest. Whatever self-care is for you—shamelessly do it.

We're with you every step of the way.