As an advocate, you’re probably someone who cares deeply. You want to make the world a better place, for yourself and others.
Sometimes, this can mean that we take on the weight of the world – and this can quickly become overwhelming.
That’s why it’s important to start by setting a specific
SMART goal for our advocacy. If you start by making sure your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound, you’re managing your own expectations of what will be achieved through your advocacy.
It is important to set boundaries for yourself as an advocate. Setting boundaries can look like:
- Being assertive: Having the skills to say what you want and need. (For more on this, see the section on Assertiveness)
- Learning to say no: Sometimes your plate is already full, and you don’t have the bandwidth to take on anything else, even if it’s a great cause.
- Protecting your time and energy: You can’t be an advocate 24/7. Be intentional about where you spend your time and energy on the things that matter most to you, and make sure you have some down time as well.
- Getting support from others: Having the ability to ask for others’ help when the weight is too much to carry alone. (Let’s dig into this more in the next section.)
