Burnout in Ministry — Caring for YOU before Caring for Others

Working in ministry, especially as a church staff member, is a deeply rewarding but often also a deeply demanding experience. Those who serve in this capacity often find themselves juggling numerous responsibilities pertaining to the spiritual and emotional well-being of a congregation. Amid caring for others, it's easy to overlook self-care. However, to effectively serve others, it's essential to prioritize caring for yourself. This week we explore the importance of self-care in ministry and share some strategies to avoid burnout.

The Ministry of Self-Care

Ministry is all about giving, serving, and helping others. In this process, though, it's crucial to remember that you can't pour from an empty cup or, to put it plainly — if you aren’t healthy, you can’t expect to be able to properly care for the health of others. Yes, in the ministry world we are referring to health that may be spiritual, physical, mental, or a combination. Neglecting oneself leads to burnout, affecting not only your own well-being but also your ability to effectively minister to others.

It might be that you are falling back on teachings you’ve been raised with like, “to serve God you must lay down your life for your friend,” “put yourself last,” or to “offer it up” when it comes to suffering and sacrifice. Without a wholistic view of these teachings, though, it is likely that you will not be able to continue in ministry for long if you don’t prioritize your own health. You will quickly find out that you are burnt out and dropping out when, sadly, burnout could have been avoided! Prioritizing self-care is not selfish or sinful, in fact, it is an act of stewardship.

Here's how you can achieve a balance:

1. Set Boundaries

Ministry leaders often feel the pressure to be available around the clock. While your commitment is admirable, setting healthy boundaries is essential for your ability to continue to serve those to whom you minister. Clearly defining your working hours and days off, and communicating these boundaries to your team and congregation is one of the strongest steps you can take to safeguard yourself and give yourself the ability to work in ministry long-term.

Remember, when you respect your boundaries, others are more likely to respect them too. For a twist on how to think about this, think about another member of your parish. Would you expect them to have no boundaries or human limitations around the ministry work that they do for your church? Should they simply be a “yes person” and never have any agency over their own spiritual, mental, and physical health? Of course not, so what makes you any different?

For some resources and tools on how to set healthy boundaries, consider the book Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. Remember that Jesus was a master of setting clear boundaries and there are examples of him exercising his boundaries throughout the Gospels. In fact, the Bible app, YouVersion has a short Bible reading plan called The Boundaries of Jesus that can get you started in learning more about how Jesus prioritized self-care while ministering to others.

2. Seek Support

Don't hesitate to lean on your support network. Ministry can be emotionally taxing, and it's important to have people to confide in. Whether it's a mentor, colleague, a family member, or a trusted friend, having a safe space to share your thoughts and feelings can help you process and prevent emotional burnout. You may consider joining a support group for people in the same ministry as you. Many dioceses have youth minister’s groups, pastor’s groups, and more!

We suggest taking a moment and writing down the names of five people in your life who you can talk to about the challenges of ministry and putting that note somewhere easy to access that is always with you like your wallet or as a note in your phone. This way, when times get tough, you don’t have to use even more brain power to think about who to lean on — you’ll already have your list of folks in your support network handy!

3. Use Time-Saving Tools

Sometimes the right tool can make all the difference! Chances are, if you are a ministry leader, you might also be in charge of creating communications like advertisements for the programs and events that are part of your ministry. You might also be required to create or update a social media platform, website, or newsletter for that ministry. Instead of spending hours on design work and sourcing images on your own, you can save valuable time using a tool like WeCreate, our library of Catholic content. Inside of WeCreate you can find ready-to-use graphics, stock photos, social media images and story slides, flyers, posters, mailers, and more, designed by our professional team specifically for use in Catholic communications. There are even templates that are available for a large variety of church and ministry events and programs that you can simply plug your own information into and, voilà! The design is done quickly and looks great!

4. Delegate and Collaborate

Recognize that you don't have to do everything yourself and, in fact, you probably shouldn’t. Don’t forget that Jesus had 12 men with him, almost all the time, that he regularly delegated ministry tasks to! Delegating tasks and collaborating with other staff members and volunteers helps distribute the workload and prevent burnout. Encourage a spirit of teamwork and shared responsibility within your ministry and you might be surprised at the fruit that comes of embracing collaboration.

Burnout in ministry is a real concern, but it can be avoidable with the right strategies. Remember that caring for your well-being is not selfish! Your own health is essential for the effective and sustainable care of others. By putting your well-being first, you're ultimately putting the ministry and its members first too. So, go ahead, take that vacation, and come back refreshed! The Lord will be with you in times of rest, too.