5 Things You Can Do to Prevent Activism Burnout

It's been a few months since this movement kicked off, and we are so grateful and heartened by the outpouring of support from the community at large. For many, you've been civically engaged for years. For others, this may be your first time protesting or getting more involved. Either way, you might be feeling burnt out right now. And if you’re not, great! But no matter where you are, having the tools to take care of yourself keeps you prepared to support others. 

Activism burnout is very real, and if you’re feeling it, you’re not alone. The reason it’s especially tricky is because of the guilt we often carry when we even consider rest. While we’re burned out, millions of others are still suffering and don’t have the privilege to take a break.

But as Audre Lorde, Black feminist, writer, and activist, reminds us:

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

When we prioritize rest and care, we’re not stepping away from the work. We’re making it possible to keep going. It’s how we keep challenging systems that demand everything from us.

Here are five things you can do to help prevent or ease burnout while staying connected to the movement:

1. Understand the Why

Burnout and overwhelm often happen when we feel like the work isn’t making a difference or there’s just too much happening at once. Maybe the problems feel too big, or it seems like not enough people care. But that’s exactly what oppressive systems want. They flood us so we’re fatigued, despaired, and silenced.

Instead, we can remove the guilt from intentional rest and see it as a form of resistance. We can also assess our own personal habits that may be adding to the overwhelm. Are you pushing through exhaustion? Skipping meals? Doomscrolling till 3 a.m.? When we understand why we’re feeling this way, we can find sustainable ways to keep going.

Like many movements for change before us, this is a journey, not a sprint. Durability is always going to help us go further than burning ourselves out ever will.

2. Zoom In

The scale of what we’re facing (climate collapse, authoritarian doom, global injustice) is overwhelming by design. It’s normal to feel frozen when we’re zoomed all the way out. Especially when our brains are wired to fixate on what’s going wrong.

So: zoom in. Focus on what actions you're taking. Track the local wins. Did someone new show up to a rally? Did you help a neighbor learn their rights? Did you rest, so you could return recharged? That counts.

Activism is not just mass mobilizations. It’s also one conversation, one call, one shift, one person at a time. We all have our spaces, skills, and expertise. Focus on what you know. That's where you can make an outsized difference.

3. Lean on Your People

Burnout thrives in isolation. And connection is what protects us. Reach out to friends and family. Not always just to plan an action, but to be human together. Share a meal. Laugh. Be mad. Cry. Go outside. Celebrate.

Even better: find joy with your movement community. Go to protests and meet new people. Volunteer with friends. Connection and joy might feel out of reach, or even inappropriate during heavy times, but joy is not a distraction from the work. It is a part of the work. 

4. Set Real Boundaries

You are not a machine and you don’t have to do it all. This goes for activism and your personal life. 

You do not have to go to every protest. You do not have to read every headline. You do not have to answer every text or show up when you’re running on empty.  

Boundaries are often mistaken as barriers. But actually, they’re foundations for sustainability and strength. Let people know when you’re off-grid. Protect your days off. Say no. And trust that it’s okay to miss something. The work continues, and so will you.

Remember: doing less doesn’t mean you care less.

5. Seek Support When You Need It

Burnout can mask deeper layers of grief, anxiety, or trauma. There is no shame in needing help. If you’re struggling to cope, consider speaking with a mental health professional, ideally one who understands the weight of activism and systemic harm.

You don’t have to carry it all alone. Healing is collective, too.

What We Carry Forward

This work asks a lot of us. But it also needs us for the long haul. Let’s build a movement culture where longevity is the goal. Where groundedness is strategy. Where each of us is cared for, you included.

You’re not just allowed to rest. You need to rest.

Because we need you in this movement. Not just today, but tomorrow, and the day after that.