A quite Sunday afternoon

Last Sunday afternoon, my husband and I were sitting around doing a whole lot of nothing. Mitch had played Sunday softball with his friends of 20+ years, and I had taken a strength class at the gym. We had taken the dogs out for a game of fetch and gone grocery shopping.

My stillness (or couch potato-ness) left time for me to start feeling anxious about the week ahead—a busy schedule filled with calls, appointments, billing, and the excitement of my daughter's upcoming bridal shower, which my friends will host for her this coming weekend. In communities like ours, friends become more like family.

After a bit of pseudo-stillness, I looked at my gym’s app and saw a class at 4:00 called Surrender Yin. My guess was that it was a slow, wind-down yoga class.

So off we went. (I’m not that good at doing nothing)

It wasn’t very crowded, but the people there were true believers. A lovely lady I had never met came over to see if we were new to the class and raved about the instructor . She told us he writes his own music and plays a wooden flute at the end of class.

Alrighty then.

After one hour of yoga poses held for what felt like an eternity, I had indeed cleared my head. I focused on my breathing, didn’t check my watch, and truly surrendered.

Will I ever do this again?—Perhaps not, I am more a Barre, Spin Pilates gal.

Did I learn something about slowing down and breathing?—Yes.

These days, many people working at nonprofits are worried:

• About the immigrant populations they serve.

• About the youth they uplift.

• About the elderly who need both care and compassion. And so much more.

We all wake up every day, check the Nonprofit Council’s LinkedIn page, and maybe catch a few minutes with Savannah Guthrie or Robin Roberts.

No matter your political affiliation, I know you consider yourself a humanitarian—otherwise, you’d probably have chosen a career with a better paycheck.

We are all worried, and sometimes, as Dakota said, we must be still and breathe.

Here are a couple of ideas:

Exercise Snacks – I read an interesting idea from my alma mater (Buffalo State—Go Bengals!). Dr. Kimberly Kline discussed the power of what she calls “exercise snacks.” These are short, quick bursts of physical activity you can incorporate throughout your day. Designed to be easy to fit into a busy schedule, they contribute to overall fitness and health. What a great idea for stress reduction during your workday—plus, imagine your triceps by summer!

NOTE: I work at home and often do a few “kitchen counter” push ups when going to refill my water cup.

Midday Meditation – Midday meditation offers numerous benefits, including stress reduction, improved focus, enhanced creativity, and a boost in overall well-being.

Now, in some offices, it can be hard to find a quiet place, but if you can, even a few minutes spent calming your mind can be a game-changer.

Movement – Incorporating movement into your workday increases energy, improves focus and mood, reduces stress, and enhances physical health, all while boosting productivity and creativity.

This might mean a walk around the block, or if you’ve ever worked with me, you might remember the new business/donor dance. A bit of joy and silliness during a stressful day can not only make you happier but also serve as a visible celebration for whoever worked hard to bring in a new donor!

Water- Yes, I am one of those people with an emotional support water cup. I drink to stay hydrated, and I drink to re-center. And when I was in an office, I drank so I could take the long walk to the water cooler to refill and get some steps in!

Let’s all take a moment to breathe, move, and find small ways to take care of ourselves—so we can keep taking care of others.

What do you do to relieve your angst?

Drop us a note with your ideas. 

We are nonprofit consultants dedicated to your fundraising success and ability to breathe and survive and succeed during challenging times.

And for more information about how we can relieve some of your Fundraising stress take a look at our website.