Communication
Reignite Your Passion For Communications In 2025 And Beyond!
By Grace Oduor
Congratulations! You had a highly rewarding year in 2024. You successfully executed all communication activities outlined in your initial communications plan. The journey was exciting and inspiring, but it also brought its fair share of challenges. Over time, work may have started to feel like just that- work. Your passion and sense of purpose may have diminished slightly.
As communications professionals working in NGOs, we have all experienced both highs and lows. Burnout creeps in, and we sometimes forget the reasons we chose this career path. How do you reignite that spark and sustain it to fuel your ambition and impact?
Here are some practical and inspiring tips to help you rediscover your passion in the new year 2025 and beyond!
Take Care of Yourself
You are your greatest asset. As a communications professional, prioritizing your mental and physical well-being is crucial. When exhaustion or demotivation sets in, your ability to produce creative, high-quality work suffers. This inevitably reflects in the outcomes of your projects.
Prioritizing self-care isn ' t just beneficial; it’ s necessary. Taking regular breaks, using your leave days, and setting clear boundaries can significantly boost both your productivity and creativity. Reduce unnecessary meetings, manage expectations within your team, and confidently say‘ no’ when needed. Focus on what you can realistically deliver without stretching yourself too thin.
Make time for the things that recharge you- hobbies, exercise, or even simple moments of joy. These small acts of selfcare not only enhance your well-being but also position you to bring your best self to your work and the causes that inspire you.
Remember the Why In the whirlwind of daily communication
You are your greatest asset. As a communications professional, prioritizing your mental and physical well-being is crucial. When exhaustion or demotivation sets in, your ability to produce creative, high-quality work suffers. This inevitably reflects in the outcomes of your projects.
tasks- designing content, rolling out campaigns, managing social media- it’ s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. But amidst the deadlines and deliverables, it’ s crucial to pause and remember your why. Why did you step into the communications field? Was it the desire to tell stories that matter, drive meaningful change, or amplify the voice of a cause close to your heart?
Reconnecting with that initial spark can reignite your passion and provide renewed energy for your work. Take a moment to reflect on the impact of your organization. Consider the lives changed, the policies influenced, and the communities uplifted through your initiatives. Revisiting these stories can be a powerful reminder of the significance of your role.
When possible, step away from the screen and engage directly. Visit project sites, connect with project participants, and hear their stories firsthand. Witnessing the real impact of your communication efforts can provide the motivation you need to keep going, even on the busiest days. Remember to hold onto these moments. Let them ground you when the workload feels overwhelming.
Less is More
Feeling overwhelmed and burned out often results from trying to accomplish too much in too little time with limited resources. As you work on the 2025 communications plan, prioritize key objectives that align with the organization’ s goals. Instead of spreading yourself thin, focus on delivering highimpact activities with a reduced frequency. For example, aim to produce one op-ed or TV interview per quarter, or create
40 MAL64 / 25 ISSUE