Here’s a useful HBR piece co-authored by Adam Grant and Reb Rebele on how to beat generosity burnout. The theme throughout the article is that you need to be a warrior advocate for yourself if you are going to sustainably share your time, energy and experience.
I grabbed these 7 points from the article on how to be a productive giver.
7 Habits of Highly Productive Giving
- Prioritize the help requests that come your way — say yes when it matters most and no when you need to.
- Give in ways that play to your interests and strengths to preserve your energy and provide greater value.
- Distribute the giving load more evenly — refer requests to others when you don’t have the time or skills, and be careful not to reinforce gender biases about who helps and how.
- Secure your oxygen mask first — you’ll help others more effectively if you don’t neglect your own needs.
- Amplify your impact by looking for ways to help multiple people with a single act of generosity.
- Chunk your giving into dedicated days or blocks of time rather than sprinkling it throughout the week. You’ll be more effective — and more focused.
- Learn to spot takers, and steer clear of them. They’re a drain on your energy, not to mention a performance hazard.
Enjoy the article.