It's been a year now since the world, especially our community, has been grappling with a collective burnout that feels inescapable. Since October 7th, Palestinians have been murdered on a daily basis—actually, it started long before, in 1948—but now it’s happening right in front of our eyes. Social media is flooded with horrifying images of children, women, the elderly, and men losing their lives in their homes, schools, and hospitals. Entire families are being wiped out. We can’t escape these images. They are constantly there, a heavy burden we carry with us wherever we go.
We try to continue our daily lives. We go to work, we spend time with family, we meet friends, but the situation in Gaza, the occupied territories and Lebanon lingers in the back of our minds like a constant, gnawing weight. Knowing that innocent people, especially children, are under attack every day, with little access to food, water, and medical aid, takes a toll. Images of parents mourning the deaths of their children, children grieving their parents, are burned into our consciousness.
For many of us, this is the source of an unbearable, relentless burnout. The feeling of helplessness, despite hundreds of thousands of people speaking up, protesting, and raising their voices, is overwhelming. It’s like shouting into a void, with no tangible result. Every day, Israel seems to defy the world even more, deepening the sense of despair.
We’re left feeling numb—emotionally exhausted and mentally drained. But we cannot let burnout consume us entirely. For those of us experiencing this collective burnout, it’s important to remember that while our activism, empathy, and engagement are vital, so too is our ability to take care of our mental and emotional wellbeing.
How to Deal with Burnout in Times of Prolonged Crisis
1. Acknowledge Your Burnout The first step to managing burnout is to recognize it. It’s normal to feel drained when confronted with trauma and grief, especially when it's prolonged. Allow yourself to accept that you're tired and that this tiredness is valid. It doesn’t make you any less strong or committed to the cause.
2. Create Space for Grief While it may feel like we need to constantly be “doing something,” it’s equally important to create space for your emotions. This is an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, and it’s okay to grieve, to feel sorrow, and to sit with those emotions. Speak to someone you trust or journal to process what you’re feeling.
3. Limit Your Consumption of Social Media Social media can keep us informed, but it can also trap us in a cycle of despair. While it’s crucial to stay updated, constant exposure to traumatic images can deepen emotional fatigue. Consider setting boundaries for how much time you spend consuming news. Allow yourself regular breaks from social media without guilt. Remember, disconnecting doesn’t mean you’re abandoning the cause—it’s about preserving your energy for the long term.
4. Engage in Active Rest Our bodies and minds need rest, not just sleep, but activities that rejuvenate the spirit. This could be meditative practices, breathing exercises, yoga, or simply spending time in nature. These practices can be powerful tools to regulate the nervous system and bring you back to a state of calm, even if just for a while.
5. Stay Connected to Your Community You’re not alone in this feeling. Many others are experiencing similar burnout, and together we are stronger. Reach out to your community, whether it’s online or in person. Engage in conversations where you can express how you feel. Sometimes, shared grief and frustration can turn into shared strength.
6. Focus on What You Can Control It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of such overwhelming injustice, but focusing on the things you can control can help. Whether it’s continuing to raise awareness in your own way, donating to trusted organizations providing aid, or showing solidarity at protests—small, meaningful actions matter. They won’t solve everything, but they help you stay engaged without feeling completely overwhelmed.
7. Practice Compassion Towards Yourself It’s important to remind yourself that while your empathy is a powerful tool for change, you can’t carry the entire weight of the world’s suffering on your shoulders. Give yourself permission to take breaks, to rest, to recharge. Your compassion is needed for the long road ahead, and it will only remain strong if you care for yourself as much as you care for others.
8. Reconnect with Your Purpose In times of burnout, it’s easy to lose sight of why we’re doing what we’re doing. Take a moment to reconnect with your purpose. Remind yourself of the values and principles that drive you—justice, empathy, freedom. This reminder can reignite your energy and help push through the exhaustion.
In Conclusion: Nurturing Our Spirits Amidst Chaos
This past year has been an emotionally taxing one for all of us. We’re grieving not only the loss of innocent lives but also the strain it’s putting on our mental health. It’s okay to be tired. It’s okay to feel numb sometimes. The path to justice and peace is long, and we need to take care of ourselves in the process. Only by doing so can we continue to fight, to speak out, and to hope for a better tomorrow.
So, let’s take a deep breath. Let’s create space to rest, heal, and nurture ourselves. In the end, a strong, healthy community is the foundation of any long-lasting change. Stay resilient. We’re in this together.