When December Feels Like Whack-A-Mole

Whack-A-Mole is one of my least favorite arcade games. It feels rigged. There is no way to keep up with those blasted moles. There are too many, and they are too fast. (For the record, Skee-ball is my preferred game.)

As a nonprofit professional or volunteer, you may feel like your whole life is Whack-A-Mole. Work on the grant budget. Make a plan for the staffing shortage. Reach out to the key donor who left a message. Check with the finance department about an unpaid bill. Identify a time for the strategic planning process.

And in December, the pace picks up. Those blasted moles move faster and faster. There are more of them. It feels impossible to keep up.

A Few Grounding Reminders

You already know these things. You’ve practiced them, you’ve taught them, you’ve lived them. But when the pace is especially intense and the pressure is high, even the most familiar tools can slip out of reach. Consider these gentle reminders for this season:

• Breathe deeply. By now, we’ve all heard the research about the healing power of our breath. Something that we do unconsciously has the power to reset your nervous system and pull your focus from panic to perspective. It is the quickest, cheapest form of self-care available.

• Ask for help. Philanthropy is a team sport. Rally your colleagues, your board members, and your volunteers.

• Let it go. Now is the time to ruthlessly eliminate any activities that are not essential. Every to-do list has items that can wait until January. Give yourself permission to set them down without guilt.

• Remember your “why.” Your “why” is the reason you chose this work in the first place: the families who are safer, the neighbors who are housed, the artists who are heard, the students who are seen. Let your “why” be the steady rhythm under the noise, the thing that turns a frantic game into meaningful work.

Remember, this season won’t last forever. Slow down when you can, breathe deeply, and remind yourself that every ‘mole’ you whack – every problem solved, every person served – moves your mission forward. The world needs what you do, and it’s better because you’re in it.

Learn more…

• This short video walks through the box breathing technique — an easy way to calm your nervous system in just a few minutes.

• The Nonprofit Learning Lab offers ready-to-use templates, guides, and trainings across fundraising, board development, operations, and leadership. Leverage these free tools and resources to free up your bandwidth.

Whack-a-mole Photo by Richard Wilson on Pexels

Scrabble Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash