Caring Without Burning Out: Boundaries, Resilience and Joy in Advocacy

Following the response to Why We Keep Showing Up, Nick Cook and Sarah Prout-Rennie continue the conversation by asking an equally important question: How do we keep showing up without losing ourselves in the process? This episode moves beyond the typical idea of self-care and focuses instead on resilience built through boundaries, connection, community and joy. Nick and Sarah talk candidly about the exhaustion that comes with housing and homelessness work, the pressure to respond to every crisis, and the importance of recognizing that caring deeply does not mean being responsible for every outcome.From learning to say no and identifying what is truly ours to carry, to accepting that advocacy does not always produce an immediate win, the conversation explores how service providers and advocates can stay grounded for the long haul. Nick and Sarah discuss prioritizing the work where they can have the greatest impact, separating personal responsibility from outcomes beyond their control, and finding strength in relationships and shared values. The message is simple but essential: this work is a marathon, and sustaining it requires protecting your capacity, staying connected to your purpose, and making room for joy along the way.