30 days of fundraiser self-care

The first thing that pops into my brain whenever anybody says “self-care” is the resplendent Donna Meagle from Parks and Recreation enticing us all to “TREAT YO SELF!” In the past I have, perhaps, used this mantra to justify some retail therapy. “It’s fine that these Rothy’s cost $150. I can wash them and wear them forever. I AM TREATING MYSELF.” But in the current environment, I find myself thinking more about self-care as a true necessity for my own sanity.  

As Bianca Dereoune wrote in our article Caring for Fundraisers in Isolation, “Most fundraisers skew toward an energetic, enthusiastic, and collaborative personality type—the ‘I-type’ in the DISC model. They thrive on constant motion and interaction with people.” As someone who most definitely identifies as an I-type and has gotten “extraverted Slytherin” on every Buzzfeed quiz I’ve ever taken, I feel this. I spend a good chunk of my day actually trying to not climb the walls. (I swear, once upon a time this tiny apartment in Park Slope sounded like a great idea.)  

I’m sure you have seen the numerous posts flying around social media reminding you to cut yourself some slack, but I am here to tell you again. Cut yourself some slack. During times of crisis and the unknown, you will not be and should not expect yourself or others to be, as productive as you were before and that’s okay. 

One thing I’ve found helps during these times is having something to look forward to. Even if it’s just a little something: a short walk with my dog through my neighborhood at the end of the day, a meditation session on Instagram Live, or ordering in dinner instead of cooking for the 47th meal in a row, etc. 

Assuming you might be in the same boat, we invite you to join your fellow fundraisers in 30 days of fundraiser self care. With all the chaos swirling around both inside and outside of our homes, the least we can do for ourselves is to dedicate time each day to a boosting our mood and our confidence. 

(Why are we starting this on April 23rd? Because, why not? We haven’t known what day it was for the past six weeks anyway and decided that we didn’t want to wait to share some joy!)

I hope you’ll find a smidge of inspiration for something that will bring a bit of joy to your day.

Follow @fearlessfundraisers on Instagram to join our journey!