[Massplanners] Planner Burnout

[Andrea Adams]

Good Morning, Mariah:

First, congratulations on choosing to become a Planner.  Remember always
that you are a public professional, not a "public servant."  Servants,
in my view, stand dumbly in a room, with their thumbs off the serving tray,
waiting for a command.  You and your team are definitely not  "servants."
You and your team are professionals,  You were hired by Erving because of
your skills, knowledge, and abilities.

Second, remember that you are required to do your best, but you are not
required to care so much that you are emotionally and mentally drained.  You
are (justifiably so) in a crappy emotional space right now.  Doing your
best and working to remain emotionally detached (to a certain extent) is
very hard because professionals, such as yourself and your team, are the
type of people who chose to work in the public sector, and Land Use in
particular, because you care.

Third, you are not alone.  You have the support of your colleagues in
Erving, people like me who are on the ListServe, and every other Land Use
Planner working in the field.

Fourth, you have key support in Erving.  You said that Erving's *"**Select
Board...and some kind-hearted, informed residents have been supportive of
us..." *  The Select Board is the policy-setting body, so having
their support is critical to moving the Planning Department's agenda
forward.  And, you also have public support  -  the informed residents.

Fifth, continue to focus on your achievements, and not just at work.  Think
about all of the "good things" in your life.  It sounds so incredibly
trite, but it does help to put the crappy stuff in perspective.  Along with
this, absolutely take time for yourself, and it can also help to do things
with your team:  Take a walk, go out to lunch, whatever.

Finally, know that things will get better.  Not just with the passage of
time, or those beloved "anxiety meds" (I use them too), but because the
struggle you are in right now is not a reflection on you.  Land Use
planning, and zoning, and all the other related fields are the strongest
"police power" that any governmental agency has (other than an actual
Police Department).  To the general public (both the uniformed and
informed), it represents change; change close to "home," and brought in
ways they may not fully understand.  Change is always seen as worrisome,
even when carefully planned, explained, and implemented slowly.

I hope this may help.

So, do your best, which I know (and you already know) you will.

Feel free to reach out in person, as my contact information is in my
electronic signature.

I am happy to help in any way I can, from actual project help, to a
sympathetic ear willing to listen.

-*Andrea Adams*
Land Use Planner
118 Green Street
Woburn, MA 01801
508-332-8070
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