Rest Is Resilience
When advocacy is personal, stepping back can be one of the most
powerful things you do
For many people, advocacy isn’t just something they do - it’s something they live.
So much of this work is driven by lived experience. Whether you’ve experienced injustice, harm, discrimination, loss or trauma, it’s often those experiences that inspire us to speak up and push for change. But carrying both the cause and the personal connection to it can be incredibly heavy.
That’s why stepping back is sometimes necessary.
Taking time away doesn’t mean you’ve stopped caring. It doesn’t mean you’ve lost your passion or commitment. It simply means you’re recognising your own limits and giving yourself the space needed to keep going.
Rest is resilience. The strongest advocates are not always the ones who never stop. Often, they’re the ones who recognise when they need to pause, recharge and protect their wellbeing.
Five free or low-cost ways to realign yourself
1. Take a phone-free walk
Give yourself permission to be present. No emails, no notifications, no campaign updates - just some time to clear your head.
2. Make a ‘look how far I’ve come’ list
Write down things you’ve achieved, conversations you’ve started, or moments you’ve helped someone feel seen. Progress is easy to overlook when you’re constantly focused on what’s next.
3. Spend time somewhere that inspires you
A library, gallery, museum, park or community space can offer a change of perspective and a reminder that life exists beyond the issue you’re fighting for.
4. Write for yourself, not for others
Journaling, note-taking, or simply getting thoughts onto paper can help process emotions without the pressure of an audience.
5. Make space for joy
Listen to music, cook something you love, call a friend, watch the sea, sit in the sun. Joy is not a distraction from the work. It is part of sustaining it.
A reminder for anyone who needs to hear it
Advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint. You do not need to carry everything, all of the time. You do not need to earn rest. And if your advocacy is rooted in lived experience, taking care of yourself isn’t stepping away from the cause - it’s honouring the person at the centre of it.
Sometimes, the most important thing you can do is pause, breathe, and trust that both you and the work will still be there when you’re ready to return.
