Are you feeling a little more stressed than blessed these days? Maybe you planned an event, and it wasn’t the success you thought it would be. Or perhaps you’re feeling overwhelmed by your ministry to-do list. Maybe you can’t even take the time to make a to-do list because you’re paralyzed by everything on your plate.

Kidmin leaders, I have five strategies to share that just might help if you are in a season of being bummed out or burned out with the work God has called you to. I want to offer you words of encouragement and practical steps to get you back on track and, hopefully, in a healthy and productive place.

One of the easiest ways to get burned out is by being accessible and accountable to everyone all the time. I’m going to hazard a guess that you are in ministry because you love the Lord and care about His people—at least, I hope that is the case. But responding to texts from His people 24/7 is a surefire way to burn out. I encourage you to establish healthy boundaries so you can prioritize relationships with the families and staff you serve while maintaining a balance between your work and personal life. This might mean setting up “out of office” notifications in your email settings or silencing text notifications when you’re home with your family. It might also mean kindly letting someone know that you will respond to their phone call, text, or email the next day if it isn’t an actual emergency. Prioritizing your quiet time, whether it’s a morning Bible study or daily prayer, is important too. Establishing boundaries is strategy number one for avoiding burnout.

Have you ever planned an event, only for it to be a complete flop? Maybe very few people attended, or it just didn’t have the impact you imagined. Full confession: I planned a game night at my church last year that literally no one attended. Not a single person. Talk about being bummed out! When something like that happens, my best advice is to give yourself grace. Of course, you’ll also want to perform a bit of a post-mortem to determine exactly what went wrong—whether it was timing, location, weather, confusion in messaging, poor marketing, conflict with similar events, etc. Some things are within our control, and some aren’t, but in either case, give yourself grace. You can’t win them all, so learn what you can from the experience, but don’t dwell on it. Strategy number two is to give yourself grace. Besides, you have no idea how God might use the prep work you did! Some of the coolest “only God” connections I’ve experienced have come from what I initially considered less-than-stellar events.

My next strategy is to invite others into the work you are doing. Start by making a list of all the things that are part of your ministry. Everything. Write down the tasks that are easy for you and the ones that are hard, the ones you enjoy doing and the tasks that loom over your head. Then, have a friend or colleague help you categorize each task by the skill needed to perform it. Are there tasks better suited to someone else’s skill set? The next time someone asks, “How may I help?” you can actually answer them instead of brushing off their offer. For instance, if creating marketing images isn’t your thing, invite someone to help instead of putting it off or causing yourself undue stress.

While we’re talking about inviting others in, please do not forget or forgo the importance of asking for prayer. People appreciate the opportunity to pray for specific, articulated needs in the work you’re doing, and there is so much power in praying specifically for both the big and the little things.

The fourth strategy to avoid burnout is to raise up leaders. Too often, we feel like we are the only ones who can do the work we’re doing. We tell ourselves it’s easier to handle everything alone instead of collaborating or delegating. Instead, let’s aim to work with other ministries within the church to build relationships and promote collaboration. Pour into your volunteers—and learn from their expertise as well—so that you are empowering them to take appropriate actions and make decisions when needed. We don’t have to do everything; in fact, we can’t. By raising up leaders, we not only prepare for the future but also put our own importance in perspective.

The last strategy to try when you’re bummed out or burned out is this: give encouragement to someone else. It may seem counterintuitive, but you can actually feel lifted up as you bless others with words of encouragement.

I’m praying for you, friends! May you be blessed by the work He has called you to do. Don’t forget to set boundaries and give yourself grace when things don’t go as planned. Invite others in and raise up leaders. Offer words of encouragement to others—you might just make their day and yours!

Hey, I’m feeling better already.

Beth Golik is the Ministry Director for Key Ministry, an organization that equips churches to welcome individuals and families affected by disability, particularly hidden disabilities. Visit keyministry.org to schedule a free consultation.