How to reduce pastor burnout?

You reduce pastor burnout by being aware and creating a work-life balance. As a pastor, you are expected to take care of your congregation and put their needs first. This can be troublesome when you forget that you also need to take care of yourself.

The first step in reducing pastor burnout is to be aware of what burnout is and what can cause it to happen in the first place. According to the Mayo Clinic, burnout is "a state of physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion combined with doubts about your competence and the value of your work."

It is important to be aware of these states and to realize that as a pastor, you are not superhuman and you are susceptible to stress and the repercussions that come with that stress. The New York Times has reported that most pastors have or will experience burnout at some point in their ministry.

According to their report, while some pastors still found satisfaction in their jobs despite the burnout, up to 80% have considered leaving the ministry as a result of their burnout. This is largely due to the symptoms that can be caused by burnout including:

• Obesity

• Hypertension

• Depression

• Shortened life expectancy

• Failures in marriages or other relationships

• Indiscretions

• Issues of morality

In addition to being aware of what burnout is and the signs of it, pastors must take note of their overall well-being. This also means being diligent about getting enough rest and creating a work-life balance.

It has been reported that on average, a pastor or clergyman will spend 56.2 hours per week in ministry and 12 nights per month away from home performing church duties. This time is also often spent in situations that will be draining physically, emotionally, and mentally.

To that end, it is important to get adequate rest and this refers to more than just getting 8 hours of sleep each night. It is important to take regularly scheduled days off and to enjoy holidays and vacations.

Downtime is an important way to support your health and well-being.

Block out important dates and times. Make time for your spouse and your family. It is okay to take time for a date night or to attend your child's recital or sporting events. Use out-of-office messages or leave an alternate contact for your congregation to use during your time away.

Remember to treat yourself with the same kindness that you would treat one of your churchgoers. If someone came to you and said that they were working 80 hours a week and never took time off, you would counsel them to take better care of themselves. You must counsel yourself to do the same.

You should also be willing to ask for help and to delegate tasks when you can. You may feel as though you have to be at every event, but the truth is that you cannot do that alone. Consider finding another minister or pastor who can rotate duties with you (similar to a doctor's office).

Delegate duties or create a buddy system where you can tackle obstacles together. Find others who can help you with visitation duties, letter writing, or just administrative tasks. Most churchgoers, see their church as an extension of their family and are happy to help out where they can.

Lastly, to reduce burnout, you need to make your needs known. Don't be shy about sharing your concerns and needs with others. People want to help, but sometimes they aren't aware that you need help. Take advantage of pastor-appreciation events and take the time to invest in yourself and your well-being.