Typically, as we shift into the summer, many in the nonprofit community find time to pause and recharge – something that’s important for both personal well-being and organizational health. But with potential government changes ahead, nonprofits face a lot of ambiguity, which makes this summer feel more uncertain than restorative. To help us manage this uncertainty, I turned to one of my favorite energy experts – Nydia Cardenas with The Energy Takeback – for strategies to help us ride the waves of change. I have personally used these techniques and found myself in a much better place.
After quitting my job at a tech startup because of burnout in 2020, I found myself watching thermodynamics videos, hoping physics could help me make sense of my own depleted energy. What I found were surprising parallels between the science of energy and the reality of my exhaustion.
In college, I earned a degree in mechanical engineering and studied thermodynamics, a branch of physics that studies how energy moves and changes form.
The first law of thermodynamics states energy can neither be created nor destroyed – only transformed. That resonated with me. The passion I had for community and equity hadn’t disappeared – it had been transformed into frustration and hopelessness. This started a journey to my current work – The Energy Takeback.
But the tech startup wasn’t my first encounter with burnout. My first job out of college was at a nonprofit focused on economic development in the Latino community. I gave my heart to that work – only to find myself in a toxic environment and quitting without a backup plan. This burnout–recovery–burnout cycle continued for years.
I eventually pursued an MBA and joined the Center for Positive Organizations at the University of Michigan because I had experienced how “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” I’d worked at organizations with powerful and compelling missions, but broken work cultures prevented their employees from turning those missions into reality.
In her recent blog, Suzanne shared jarring stats about mental health. But maybe they’re not so jarring after all – when we live in a culture obsessed with productivity and perfection, metrics start to matter more than our well-being.
So let’s ask:
What is energy, and why is it important that we take it back?
No, I’m not talking about what powers your blender. I’m talking about your life force – the energy that flows through you when you’re connected to your purpose and showing up with alignment and power.
And here’s the hard truth: we are sacrificing that energy at alarming rates.
If you’ve watched the “Star Wars” prequels “Andor” and “Rogue One,” you’ve seen how our culture romanticizes sacrifice in justice work by portraying resistance fighters as noble outcasts who must give up personal safety, relationships and even their lives for a greater cause. These stories frame self-denial and martyrdom as the ultimate proof of commitment, casting sacrifice as both tragic and heroic in the fight against oppression.
The idea is that you must burn out, suffer deeply and even die for the cause. These stories inspire us – but they can also trap us. We start to believe that if we’re not giving everything, we’re not giving enough.
But when we sacrifice to the point of depletion, we lose access to exactly what we need most: our imagination, our compassion, our creativity. Without those, how will we ever build the better world we say we want?
I recently facilitated an energy segment at a strategic planning retreat. In the face of funding uncertainty, systemic pressure and personal overwhelm, I asked: How do we transform that energy?
The answers were simple and powerful: Celebrate beauty in the everyday. Invite creativity. Foster connections with people who bring you energy. Choose intentional rest. Center joy.
Because staying in the work requires energy – not martyrdom.
So, I invite you to tap your inner engineer and experiment. Whether solo or with your team, consider conducting an Energy Experiment:
Your Energy Experiment
What will you try?
Start with one behavior change that feels exciting or nourishing. In my 2022 experiment, I decided to dance more. I found a Sunday Salsa dance meetup at a park. It got me outside, moving and fully present – it was joyful and the movement helped me de-stress.
What insight is driving your experiment?
Tie it to something meaningful to you. At the time, I was supporting dozens of early-stage founders, and my energy felt heavy by the end of the week. Dancing lightened that load and reminded me not to take everything so seriously.
When and where will you try it?
Be specific. Weekends are what worked for me. For you, it might be during Monday team meetings or right before you open email each day.
Who needs to know?
Whose support will help you be successful? Who might benefit from this, too? I told my friends about this experiment and even said I was committed to dancing for 50 hours before the end of the year. They cheered me on and even joined me sometimes. They also kept an eye out for music and dancing events I might like.
What result are you hoping for?
Maybe it’s calm, clarity or more presence with your family. I was hoping to feel lighter and more resilient. The bonus? I made many lasting connections – I am even a pretty decent dancer now!
Burnout doesn’t have to be a badge of honor. Let’s stop over-sacrificing and start reclaiming our energy—for the sake of the movements we care about and the people we love.
Here are a few simple ideas to try:
- Start meetings with a grounding breath.
- Use Monday mornings to map your energy for the week – what do you need your best energy for and how will you know when to rest, push or pause?
- Make a daily “ta-da” list instead of a to-do list. Celebrate your accomplishments and focus on what’s truly enough for the day.
Your energy is not a limitless resource. It’s a sacred one. Learning to care deeply and lightly enough to sustain that care is the only way we will build the world we need—without burning out.
I love Nydia’s approach to reclaiming energy. I hope you have time this summer to follow this step-by-step process. Nydia and I would love to hear how it goes!
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