Just… tired: Continuing the work and caring for our exhaustion
“I think we are all just…tired.” This was a reflection offered to me after a recent presentation to a group of clergy trying to find ways to keep connecting with their communities during election season. This was not an isolated event; it is a common refrain from groups I present to, and it is usually related to all of the ongoing trauma that is unfolding around us every day.
If you turn on the news right now, you’ll see stories that pull us in all directions – stories about war and violence, stories about violence against women in the Epstein Files and the ongoing investigation at Cornell University, and stories about poverty and natural disasters. Add to this the ongoing cycle of election ads and threats to voting rights, and we can be overwhelmed. Trying to stay up-to-date is not only mentally taxing, but the stories can also be traumatizing. We are tired.
When that pastor said those words to me, I realized we need space to name that we are facing difficult times, and that we can be exhausted by this work. And, as someone who tries to resource clergy and laity for conversations at the intersection of faith and politics, I immediately started researching. What can we do when we are tired but still want to stay engaged?
My search led me to a book published over twenty years ago that still resonates today. Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide for Caring for Self for Caring For Others by Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky with Connie Burk offers insight into not minimizing our trauma but providing ways for us to be honest with ourselves when we are facing burnout and exhaustion. The book’s website has additional resources and further reading.
Originally, I hesitated to recommend the book, as it may give us additional things that call for our attention (for example, one of the case studies made me worried about the amphibious population). Still, the chapters that include research-based ways to care for ourselves makes it a need-to-read resource for anyone who is exhausted.
As the image shows, those of us engaged in this work can face trauma responses. The research offers tips for caring for ourselves while caring for others and processing what is happening in the world. If you identify with any of these statements, please pick up a copy of the book.
The research also offers ways to care for our exhaustion while helping us continue our justice work. The recommendations to care for ourselves can guide us toward longevity in our faith and political work. It can help all of us who feel tired and want to keep working while maintaining healthy practices.
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