Building Resilience
Building Resilience
Section titled “Building Resilience”Rapid response work is demanding. Building resilience—for individuals and the network—is essential for sustainability.
Individual Resilience
Section titled “Individual Resilience”Recognizing Burnout
Section titled “Recognizing Burnout”Warning signs:
- Exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest
- Cynicism or hopelessness
- Decreased effectiveness
- Physical symptoms (headaches, insomnia, illness)
- Emotional numbness or volatility
- Withdrawal from the work or relationships
Be honest with yourself. These signs mean you need to make changes.
Preventing Burnout
Section titled “Preventing Burnout”Set boundaries:
- Define your availability hours
- Take days off
- Say no when you need to
- Don’t check channels constantly
Maintain other parts of your life:
- Relationships outside the network
- Hobbies and interests
- Physical activity
- Rest and sleep
Process emotions:
- Talk about difficult experiences
- Journal or reflect
- Seek support when needed
- It’s okay to feel things
Self-Care Practices
Section titled “Self-Care Practices”Daily:
- Adequate sleep
- Nutritious food
- Movement/exercise
- Connection with others
Weekly:
- Time away from the work
- Activities that bring joy
- Meaningful rest
- Check in with yourself
As needed:
- Professional support (therapy, counseling)
- Time off
- Adjusting your role
- Stepping back temporarily
After Difficult Incidents
Section titled “After Difficult Incidents”Immediately:
- Take a break before debriefing
- Drink water, eat something
- Physical movement (walk, stretch)
- Connect with someone supportive
Within 24-48 hours:
- Debrief with team
- Process what happened
- Acknowledge the difficulty
- Get rest
Ongoing:
- Notice how you’re doing
- Seek support if struggling
- Be patient with yourself
- The impact may be delayed
Team Resilience
Section titled “Team Resilience”Shared Load
Section titled “Shared Load”Distribute responsibilities:
- No one person should do everything
- Rotate demanding roles
- Backup for every position
- Mutual support
Cover for each other:
- When someone needs a break, others step up
- No guilt for taking time off
- Flexibility in scheduling
- Appreciation for those who cover
Healthy Team Culture
Section titled “Healthy Team Culture”Normalize:
- Taking breaks
- Asking for help
- Saying no
- Having limits
Discourage:
- Martyrdom
- Competition over who works hardest
- Guilt-tripping
- Ignoring warning signs
Check-Ins
Section titled “Check-Ins”Regular team check-ins:
- How is everyone doing?
- What’s working?
- What’s not working?
- What do we need?
Individual check-ins:
- One-on-one conversations
- How are you really?
- What support do you need?
- What changes would help?
Celebrating Wins
Section titled “Celebrating Wins”Acknowledge successes:
- Effective responses
- New members trained
- Protocols improved
- Problems solved
Thank people:
- Specific appreciation
- Public recognition (when appropriate)
- Private thanks
- Note contributions
Organizational Sustainability
Section titled “Organizational Sustainability”Succession Planning
Section titled “Succession Planning”Avoid single points of failure:
- Multiple people know how things work
- Documentation of processes
- Cross-training
- Leadership development
Plan for transitions:
- People will move on
- Transfer knowledge
- Train replacements
- Maintain continuity
Institutional Memory
Section titled “Institutional Memory”Document:
- Protocols and procedures
- Lessons learned
- Contact information
- Historical context
Store securely:
- Encrypted, accessible to leadership
- Updated regularly
- Backed up
- Transferable
Adapting to Change
Section titled “Adapting to Change”External changes:
- Policy shifts
- New threats
- Community changes
- Political environment
Internal changes:
- Membership fluctuations
- Leadership transitions
- Capacity changes
- Lessons learned
Be flexible:
- Review and update regularly
- Adapt to new realities
- Don’t cling to what doesn’t work
- Learn continuously
Addressing Secondary Trauma
Section titled “Addressing Secondary Trauma”What It Is
Section titled “What It Is”Secondary trauma (or vicarious trauma) comes from exposure to others’ traumatic experiences. In rapid response, you witness fear, family separation, and injustice.
- Intrusive thoughts about incidents
- Avoidance of reminders
- Hypervigilance
- Changes in worldview
- Difficulty feeling safe
- Numbness or disconnection
Addressing It
Section titled “Addressing It”Acknowledge it:
- This is real and valid
- It doesn’t mean you’re weak
- It means you’re human
Get support:
- Talk to others who understand
- Professional help if needed
- Peer support within the network
Practice ongoing care:
- Not just after incidents
- Regular practices that help
- Build resilience before you need it
Community Care
Section titled “Community Care”Collective Approach
Section titled “Collective Approach”Resilience isn’t just individual—it’s collective:
- We take care of each other
- We create systems of support
- We build cultures of care
- We’re in this together
Peer Support
Section titled “Peer Support”Create structures:
- Buddy systems
- Regular check-ins
- Debrief protocols
- Support contacts
Train for support:
- Active listening
- When to refer to professionals
- How to support without draining yourself
Community Resources
Section titled “Community Resources”Connect with:
- Mental health professionals who understand activism
- Community healers and counselors
- Support groups
- Wellness resources
When Someone is Struggling
Section titled “When Someone is Struggling”How to Help
Section titled “How to Help”Listen:
- Create space for them to share
- Don’t judge or minimize
- Acknowledge the difficulty
Offer concrete support:
- “Can I cover your shift?”
- “Would it help to talk?”
- “Is there something specific I can do?”
Respect their autonomy:
- They know what they need
- Offer, don’t push
- Follow their lead
When to Be Concerned
Section titled “When to Be Concerned”Escalate if:
- They express thoughts of self-harm
- They’re unable to function
- They’re isolating completely
- Professional help seems needed
How to escalate:
- Express concern directly
- Offer to help connect with resources
- Involve leadership if appropriate
- Don’t abandon them
Long-Term Sustainability
Section titled “Long-Term Sustainability”Pace Yourself
Section titled “Pace Yourself”This is a marathon, not a sprint:
- You can’t help if you burn out
- Sustainable effort beats intense burnout
- Plan for years, not just weeks
Build for the Future
Section titled “Build for the Future”- Develop new leaders
- Train others to do your role
- Create systems that outlast individuals
- Think about what comes next
Remember Why
Section titled “Remember Why”Connect to your purpose:
- Why did you start this?
- What keeps you going?
- Who are you doing this for?
- What victories have you seen?
Hope as Practice
Section titled “Hope as Practice”Maintaining hope is active:
- Celebrate progress
- Remember what’s possible
- Connect with others
- Take breaks that renew you
Resilience Practices
Section titled “Resilience Practices”For Individuals
Section titled “For Individuals”- I have defined availability hours
- I take regular days off
- I maintain relationships outside the network
- I have activities that bring me joy
- I know the signs of burnout in myself
- I have someone I can talk to
For Teams
Section titled “For Teams”- We rotate demanding roles
- We have backups for every position
- We check in on each other
- We celebrate wins
- We normalize taking breaks
- We debrief after difficult incidents
For the Network
Section titled “For the Network”- We document our processes
- We train multiple people in key roles
- We plan for transitions
- We adapt to changes
- We maintain institutional memory
- We build for the long term