Blog Health of a Christian Leader Psychological Wellbeing Manages Stress
Manages Stress
Sustainable pace, and dealing with overload before it becomes burnout.
When Time Off is not the Fix
We have been focusing on the benefits of rest and how our clients require time to recharge. The hope when our clients take a sabbatical or vacation is that they get a break from their daily life and can focus on rest, new experiences and personal discoveries. We hope that they will return refreshed and excited to engage with normal life again, maybe with a new perspective and new ideas… ... Read More
27 Jan 2026
Stepping Off the Field to Heal: Enrichment, Sabbatical, and Burnout Leave Explained
As practitioners, we understand that there are times when our clients have been significantly impacted physically, mentally or emotionally, and need to pause and rest. Similar to an injured footballer, the fans should support his decision to step away and focus on healing and health. This will allow him to return to the field stronger and sooner than if he continued to play through his injury, making it worse. Sometimes our clients, especially those in caregiving professions, are hesitant to make time for rest, but rest is essential in any journey. Once our client has acknowledged that they are depleted and permit themselves rest, we can help them consider which type of leave would be most effective… ... Read More
8 Jan 2026
Three Keys to Managing Too Many Tasks With Too Little Time
It’s a feeling that everyone can relate to: too many tasks to complete and too little time. There are a few things that feel more overwhelming than looking at a full calendar or a lengthy to-do list while the clock ticks away. Feeling overwhelmed can lead to stress, anxiety and sometimes even depression. If your tasks are consuming all of your focus, time and energy, burnout is a likely result...
30 Oct 2025
Challenge of leadership.
Leadership is difficult and leads to so many challenges. Buoyancy can lift. Who can help you?
16 Mar 2023
When Life is overwhelming
When life is overwhelming, take a step back and trust in the Lord. Get a new perspective and remember that there is always light in the darkness. Find comfort in the story of Elisha and the Arameans. Read this article for more on how to cope.
31 Dec 2022
Restoration During Covid
Previously – Covid’s Toll In our last blog, we began looking at the toll that Covid has taken on us over the last few years. For many of us the uncertainty and anxiety that struck us on day one are still very much there, but now we are also burnt out from months and months of this stress, especially with ... Read More
3 Feb 2022
The importance of healthy stress
Stress can propel us to action I have spent a lot of time in this blog, discussing the ways a person can manage stress and avoid burnout, but I want to take some time now to discuss the importance of normal, healthy stress. Our brains and bodies feel stress for a reason. It’s like our own internal smoke detector or ... Read More
6 May 2021
Two big stressors you need to know about
The two most common stressors There are many roads in our life that lead to stress. Work, relationships, personal goals… all of these things naturally come with some road bumps and road bumps usually lead to some stress. We often can’t control when stress comes into our lives, but it’s normal to experience stress now and then and there are ... Read More
18 Mar 2021
Is stress affecting my sleep?
Stress and sleep There are lots of reasons that you might not be sleeping; lack of exercise, irregular schedules, too much screen time or too much caffeine…all of these things can all affect your sleep. But nothing keeps you up when you should be sleeping like stress. One of the symptoms I listed in my first visit to the doctor ... Read More
11 Mar 2021
Practising self-care to mitigate stress
Self-care can mitigate stress You wake up from another night of tossing and turning, your shoulders are tight, your jaw aches from grinding your teeth in your sleep. For a few minutes too long you lay in your bed contemplating the day ahead of you and your long to-do list makes you want to go right back to sleep. You ... Read More
4 Mar 2021
Becoming aware of your stress
Understanding your stress? Something that many people don’t realize about stress is that it’s like a snowball rolling down a hill, which begins with just a small and manageable handful of frozen water. But then more and more snow clings to the original ball until suddenly, you have a very large, very cold boulder of snow to contend with. And ... Read More
25 Feb 2021
4 Practices in reducing Stress
This blog is by Max Rankin. Max is one called to come alongside and help. He is part of the leadership of Verve Lead. His practical insights will help many. Flick a link to this to someone who would benefit. Leave a helpful comment below. “I am not stressed but….” If you have heard something like this then read on ... Read More
5 Nov 2020
The No 1 Threat to Completing our Mission
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ministry is one of the most fulfilling and one of the most demanding professions. We share in the joys and the pains of life. We are in this because of a deep sense of call and purpose. God has touched our lives and this has produced a desire to see him touch others. What would stop you from fulling your ... Read More
1 Sept 2020
Identifying Depleters
The gravity that pulls me under The last blog spoke of buoyancy upthrust. Today we examine the gauges that indicate weight that pushes one under. What pulls you down?I call these things depleters. It took about six months to accumulate the list of things that drain my buoyancy. Here are eight depleters I have identified. Conflict I don’t run from ... Read More
1 Sept 2020
My spouse is going through burnout: part 1.
Being the spouse of a person going through burnout has its own difficulties. (Today’s guest blogger is my wife Adrienne. In Aug 2019 we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. I am proud to say Adrienne is editor of these blogs. See her article on How I became Don’s Editor) Indeed, how do we even approach the topic with our spouse ... Read More
28 Jan 2020
Tough being back from holidays?
The challenge of re-entry Coming back from holidays can be a challenge. Your heart and head have been in a different zone. Especially, if you have had a good one you will have unplugged and it takes some adjustment to re-enter. One big tip to reduce re-entry heat is to allow some time for reflection and refocus. Clarification you gain ... Read More
21 Jan 2020
Keith Farmer's Story
KEITH FARMER’S STORY – burnout, recovery and mentoring Today’s guest blogger: Dr Keith Farmer. I had been in full-time ministry for 11 years (in two churches in Sydney) when I accepted a dual ministry in Melbourne (half-time as an Associate Pastor in a local church and half-time as a Faculty Member of a Theological College). My teaching areas were Pastoral ... Read More
10 Sept 2019
Adrenaline: friend or foe
Adrenaline: the friend Adrenaline is a hormone that our body produces in response to stress. In a moment of danger, it kicks in to help us navigate to a place of safety. In this way it is a very helpful friend. Yesterday, I saw my cat playing with a meter (three foot) brown snake—one of the most poisonous types in ... Read More
15 Apr 2019
Signs of approaching burnout
I didn’t see it coming Something was wrong, and I thought I was sick physically. I didn’t wake up one morning and say, “I’m burnt out”. It was a process of realising something was not right and my GP saying, “Don, I think you are heading to burnout”. Thank you, Dr Don, for your diagnosis. Feeling tired and flat. At ... Read More
17 Feb 2019
Success, the Prelude to Burnout
Once I thought it was weak people who burn out. I am ashamed of my ignorance. Now I understand that success is the prelude to burnout. Pace and Pressure A motor burns out through excessive use. People are the same. It is the ones who want to make a difference, those with drive and determination, that are prone to burnout ... Read More
17 Feb 2019
The 3 Components of Burnout
In my late teens, burnout described an adrenaline-fueled moment in a car. You floored the accelerator, redlined the motor, dropped the clutch, the wheels would spin, scream and smoke. The vehicle would have no momentum. Eventually though, the tires would grab and the vehicle launch forward. Often the vehicle was then out of control. This was dangerous driving. Burnout ... Read More
17 Feb 2019