Preventing Burnout and Dismantling Oppression with Self-Care
The barrage of negative news and economic uncertainty has made life extremely stressful for concerned citizens in the Trump 2.0 era. We need strategies that help preserve our sanity, build community, and the wherewithal to fight back. In this presentation, we will look at the root causes of burnout, especially for people who work in environment and social justice. We will discuss the difference between external and internal self-care, the impact of systemic oppression, and how self-care is a radical act of resistance. Focusing on five strategies—self compassion, boundaries, authenticity, community, and movement building—we will explore how self-care empowers us to become agents of healing in our own lives as well as in the broader community. For those for whom doing good is a calling, preventing burnout is vital in our quest to make a difference. When we collectively make self-care a priority, we start to dismantle the systems of oppression and instead move us towards collective healing and liberation.
Participants will take away:
- Understanding the root causes of burnout
- The role of white supremacy culture and moral injury
- Internal vs. external self care
- Strategies for reducing stress and anxiety
- Strategies for self-compassion, boundaries, and authenticity
- Strategies for cultivating community and taking action
This event is open to all Switzer Fellows.
About the Presenter
Clara Fang, Ph.D. has been a climate and social justice advocate for over twenty years. She is the founder of Green Tara Consulting, which works to advance equity, belonging, and inclusion through individual and collective healing. She has worked on projects with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United Nations Environmental Programme, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, Citizens' Climate Lobby, Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, and more. Dr. Fang has been a Buddhist meditator for over twenty years and holds a certificate in workplace mindfulness facilitation. She has also received training in authentic relating from ART International and has been hosting authentic relating workshops since 2023. She holds a PhD in environmental studies from Antioch University, a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University, and a BA in English from Smith College. She is a 2021 Switzer Fellow.
Testimonials
"Everyone needs to hear this presentation! Clara's approach to self care goes beyond bubble baths and candles to strategies that can transform your life and transform our society from one of extraction to one of care."
"It feels like therapy! I really appreciate the sense of community this session created."
Accessibility
This online event will be held on Zoom. It will last for one hour, and will use breakout groups. Zoom captioning will be enabled. You will be able to let us know about any access needs that you would like to share in the sign up form, and/or you can contact Cora (cora@switzernetwork.org) with any questions or to discuss further.
Code of Conduct
The Switzer Network Code of Conduct establishes norms and expectations for participation in virtual and in-person communication, meetings, and events sponsored by the foundation. We expect all stakeholders to abide by this Code of Conduct while attending Switzer events.
