Giving Compass' Take:

• Vu Le knows first-hand what is like to live for his nonprofit work, but here he describes why and how nonprofit staff should take (and be given) time for themselves. 

• Can philanthropists offer unrestricted funding to ensure that nonprofits can add necessary staff and treat them well? What are the consequences of letting or making staff burn themselves out?

• Learn why unrestricted funding is a path to impact philanthropy.

Working for a nonprofit is all-consuming. Even when we aren’t at the office, we are thinking about work, worrying about clients and payroll and programs and reports. And we never feel that we are doing enough, that we ourselves are enough.

And while we work, the people we love change. Kids grow older, our parents grayer, our friends don’t call or drop by as much anymore.

Many of us don’t have the financial stability or the support of our organizations. But even for those who do, we often are our worst enemies. But we would be happier and healthier, and our organizations would be more effective, and society would function better, if we all paradoxically worked less. Here are some suggestions and things to think about:

Flex your time: Chances are you are working way more than the standard 40 hours a week. Those of us who are exempt don’t even count our hours any more. You should. Work diligently during your hours, but when you are over 40 hours a week, take the time you need off to recharge. You’ll be happier, and your work will be higher quality.

Schedule mid-week appointments with friends and family: Your work is not nine-to-five. It cuts into the times when you would normally spend with your loved ones—evenings and weekends—so why not balance it out by visiting the people you care about during the day?

Read the full article about nonprofit staff by Vu Leat Nonprofit AF.