As we round out the year, I want to take a moment to recognize that this has probably been an intense few months for you. I know it has for me. On top of the usual year-end chaos, 2020 brought challenges that no one could have foreseen. It’s December 29th and you’ve made it! Take a moment and give yourself some love for finishing strong.
I’m so proud of the nonprofit community. We are a really resilient network of people who aim to do good for so many others.
Pause: Take a moment to shut your computer early on the quiet days that come during this time of year. I promise, your emails will still be there in the morning and they can most certainly wait.
Reflect: It’s easy to get caught up in what needs to get done or what didn’t go as planned. We may brush off the wins as us just “doing our jobs”. Yet, I know you’ve done great work and you deserve to celebrate that. Write down 3 things you accomplished this year that make you proud. Sometimes we don’t realize how many moments of pride come to mind until we take some time to reflect.
Celebrate: Give a shout out to those on your team who went above and beyond this year. Individual emails of gratitude make people feel seen in really powerful ways. You may also consider sending an email to your team as a whole where you celebrate a win for each team member. This is a great way to publicly recognize each person’s success and give your entire team a virtual round of applause.
Recharge: This is about Y-O-U. Not all self-care is done in a bubble bath, so think about what it is you need to feel ready to hit the ground running once the holidays pass. Maybe it’s a day off, some time away from a screen, a long walk, a good book, or something else that helps put your mind at ease.
Congrats, friend! You made it to the end of 2020. I’m celebrating big time over here and I hope you are too.
I'm also sharing five of my favorite ways to celebrate my team during the holiday season. Check it out and let me know what works for you.
