If you work in a nonprofit, ministry, or pregnancy center, chances are you know the weight of burnout all too well. You’ve probably stayed up late stewing over a conversation with a client, answered one too many emails on your day off, or told yourself "just one more task" until your joy started to flicker out. We’ve all been there. And if you haven’t, chances are you might be on your way.
Leadership Coach and longtime pregnancy center director Robin Fuller joined us to discuss something many in ministry struggle with silently: burnout. This session was packed with honest stories, practical tools, and soul-refreshing wisdom for those carrying heavy loads in pro-life work and ministry settings.
Here’s a recap of some of Robin’s most powerful points, with encouragement and insight for anyone navigating nonprofit burnout, ministry fatigue, or just needing a reminder that it’s okay to say "no."
Meet Robin Fuller
Robin Fuller is not just a coach — she’s someone who’s walked the road of ministry leadership for over two decades. Before becoming a leadership coach, Robin served as the executive director of three non-profit pregnancy center ministries for more than 23 years. She understands, firsthand, the isolation, challenges, and deep emotional weight that come with ministry leadership.
Now, as a Professional Certified Coach (accredited by the International Coaching Federation), she works with leaders around the world — helping them rediscover joy, strengthen their leadership, and finish well. Robin is also a Strengths Champion Certified Coach using CliftonStrengths. Her top five strengths are WOO, Positivity, Activator, Belief, and Competition.
Outside of coaching, Robin lives in Grants Pass, Oregon, along the stunning Rogue River, with her husband Steve. She’s a coffee-lover, chocolate enthusiast, and enjoys deep conversations, her cats, and her beloved labradoodle, Nellie.
Burnout Doesn’t Mean You’re Failing
Robin opened with this reassuring truth: burnout isn’t a sign of failure. It’s a signal that you need to refill mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
With over two decades in pregnancy center leadership, Robin knows how easy it is to feel like if you stop, you’re being selfish or letting people down. The need never stops—another client, another fundraiser, another life to save. But if you keep pouring out without refilling, burnout becomes inevitable.
Understanding Compassion Fatigue (Before It Becomes Burnout)
Before burnout sets in, there’s often a sneaky precursor called compassion fatigue. It’s that mental and emotional exhaustion that shows up when you feel too much for your clients. You’re giving and giving, but your tank is empty.
Some symptoms of compassion fatigue include:
- Irritability
- Low energy
- Distancing from staff or clients
- Insomnia or poor sleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Low empathy or drive
- Feeling hopeless or helpless
The dangerous thing about compassion fatigue is that it can lead directly to full-on burnout—unless you take time to recognize and treat it.
Burnout: The Not-So-Honorable Badge
Let’s be real: burnout is not a badge of honor. Robin nailed it when she said, "Burnout is not a badge of honor; it's a lack of discipline."
Burnout creeps in when we don’t manage chronic workplace stress. It's more than being tired; it's losing your passion, your joy, and even your sense of purpose.
Some common signs of burnout:
- Procrastination
- Cynicism or apathy
- Increased conflict or tension
- Physical symptoms (headaches, high blood pressure)
- Depression or sadness
- Feeling like you can't care anymore
"If she chooses life, God gets the glory. If she chooses abortion, God gets the pain." — A phrase Robin and her team would say aloud after every client to release the burden into God's hands.
Tools for Avoiding Burnout (That Actually Work)
Robin shared a list of burnout prevention tools that are super practical and totally doable. Here are a few standout ones:
- Leave work at work — Stop taking your laptop and email home.
- Take personal days — Yes, even if it feels selfish.
- Write your to-do list the day before — Helps your brain rest.
- Get moving — Just 20 minutes walking makes a difference.
- Hydrate and sleep — Drink more water and protect your rest.
- Schedule joy — Prioritize what makes you smile.
- Wake up with nothing to do once in a while — Let your soul breathe.
Your Personalized Burnout Prevention Plan
Robin encourages every leader to create a personalized burnout prevention plan tailored to what refuels your body, mind, and spirit. Here are the 14 key areas she recommends:
- Don't forget your first love — Keep God first.
- Discover true joy — Deep-seated peace, not just surface happiness.
- Learn to rest — Trust that God is handling all the situations.
- Get some sleep — Prioritize healthy, consistent rest.
- Pay attention to diet and exercise — Care for your physical body.
- Be silent and still — "Be still and know that I am God."
- Create outlets for joy — Do things you truly enjoy. Schedule them.
- Give your burdens to God daily — Let go and trust Him.
- Triage your daily/life events — Stay focused and present.
- Set realistic expectations — For yourself and others.
- Resolve small tasks quickly — Don’t let easy things pile up.
- Manage your time with boundaries — Learn to say "no."
- Delegate — Ask, "Can someone else do this?"
- Find accountability — Surround yourself with people who will check in.
Break this down into:
- This Week – What small, immediate shift can I make?
- This Month – What do I need to plan for deeper rest or connection?
- This Year – What big rhythms, sabbaticals, or retreats will support my soul?
The Ministry Life Coach You Might Not Know You Need
Sometimes, the best way to get out of a burnout spiral is to ask for help. Robin talked about how her own coach helped save her from quitting and how important it is for ministry leaders to have someone they can talk to in confidence.
If you want a life coach who truly gets ministry, Robin’s your person. She offers personal coaching and burnout prevention retreats, and she’s passionate about helping leaders finish well.
Final Thought
Burnout happens. But it doesn't have to be the end of your story. With awareness, grace, boundaries, and a little bit of help, you can find rest, joy, and purpose again.
You are not alone.