How To Knock Off The Rust
A few days before Christmas I was hit with the flu. It wasn’t anything too serious; however, it had me tied to a couch with prayers of not dying....
As I drove away from the beach I started to get choked up. It wasn’t the sunset in the rearview mirror, nor the joy-filled memories that were formed during the week, it was that deep in the pit of your stomach feeling where you just don’t want to go back to work. I was burning out and I didn’t know it. What I did know is that after a vacation I shouldn’t have felt this drained.
Not all vacations are designed to refuel us, but that joy I had for years in my career was gone. There was nothing that excited me or had me thinking, “I can’t wait to tackle ____” I was done and I had nothing left in the tank. It would take me 3 months to figure that out.
In ministry, we spend a lot of time figuring out how to invest in others and not enough time in ourselves. If you aren’t looking at ways of how you, others or God can refuel your leadership then you will lead a ministry on empty. Not only will you feel tired, but you will lose your joy and that’s not a great place to be. Leaders need to refuel and they do that by:
FINDING LEADERS WORTH FOLLOWING
Healthy leaders follow other healthy leaders and sometimes you don’t have to look far to find one. There are people in your congregation with successful relationships, businesses, finances or health that could help you discover habits to fuel you forward. To identify those people you need to know what a healthy leader looks like. Here are some resources to help you do that:
The Call To Courage Dr. Brené Brown’s Netflix Special
Good To Great by Jim Collins
The Better Pastor by Patrick Lencioni
After you identify a leader ask them about their habits, mindset, and strategy. Allow their wisdom to impact your thinking and strategy to lead others.
CONNECTING WITH AFFIRMERS AND ENCOURAGERS
The vision that God places on us isn’t meant to be held by one person because when we do the burden that comes with it can be overwhelming. As a leader, you need to share the vision because not only will it fuel others, it will fill you in return. A vision brings hope and that’s key in times when obstacles seem larger than life.
When your team unites around a common vision it opens the door for encouragement and affirmation. Your volunteers will keep you going when the path ahead is unclear. They’ll remind you of what matters most. If you don’t have a vision or need assistance clarifying it check out our MYM Realignment Kit.
USING ALL OF YOUR VACATION AND DAYS OFF
We don’t take enough vacation. According to research done in 2018 by The US Travel Association, 52% of American employees had an unused vacation by the end of the year. While there are trends of this getting better we still have a far way to go (To read the full report, click HERE).
I’ve found that many of my clients struggle to use their vacation and days off. While ministry requires flexible schedules, not having a consistent day off doesn’t allow us to have a break free from the weekly grind. And you need that break because that’s where you discover relationships and habits that can refuel you with what you need after a long week.
To take back vacation and your days off plan your personal calendar before you start locking in obligations for your professional one. Even if you don’t know what you are going to do next summer or this fall, block it out before you lose it. If you want to guarantee you’ll make it do something that requires a non-refundable deposit because if there are something people in ministry have a tough time losing its money!
INVESTING IN YOUR MIND, BODY, AND SOUL
Not only do you need to invest in your ability to lead you to need to make sure you are taking care of your whole being. I believe a healthy leader is not only someone who is wise but a person who:
- Eats right
- Stays physically active
- Prays regularly
- Makes sleep a priority
When you are struggling at work it’s important to look at how other areas of your life are impacted. If you aren’t making time to care for your mind, body, and soul it will drain you. Talent can only take you so far, you need your health to keep those skills sharp. Journaling is a great method of tracking your mindset, but if you want something more extensive I recommend the Monk Manual.
When your career is focused on pouring into others it’s easy to lose sight of how to stay full. Take the time to look at the people, and habits you have in your life and construct a plan because the church needs you for the long haul.
HOW DO YOU REFUEL?
At Marathon Youth Ministry we are committed to creating healthier leaders and stronger ministry structures that will commission the next generation of disciples to share the Gospel throughout the world. Check out our store, MYM University and don’t hesitate to set up a conversation with a ministry expert.
