Burnout and Time Management
For any professional, burnout
must be understood before time management can be discussed.
Cait Donovan, burnout expert,
podcaster, and keynote speaker at the 2025 Wyoming Nonprofit Conference, explains
that feeling “foggy, reactive, exhausted, or emotionally flat” is not a
motivation problem, but “it is your nervous system doing exactly what it was
designed to do under prolonged stress.”
“You did not lose your
skills. Your brain is simply prioritizing survival over strategy. This is why
advice like “set better goals,” “be more grateful,” or “manage your time
better” often feels insulting when you are burned out. Those strategies rely on
parts of the brain that are currently under-resourced.”
As Donovan explains, burnout recovery
starts with rhythm and predictability. The simple practice of eating at regular
times, going to bed at a similar time each night, and avoiding doomscrolling
can be the start of your brain regrowing.
Excerpts from “This Is Your Brain on Burnout: Why Nonprofit Work Hits So Hard and What
Actually Helps.”
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