“I don’t know how you do it all!”

These words from the parent of a teenager in my youth ministry should’ve caught my attention. They meant it as a compliment, and that’s how I received it. They stroked my ego, so I worked even harder to make sure games were exciting and Bible studies landed so teenagers would want to bring their friends.

I didn’t know enough in my early ministry years to see the compliment as a warning sign. The truth is, I was doing too much. And I was trying to do everything on my own. I was a “Lone Ranger.”

FYI’s Youth Leader Burnout & Wellbeing report discovered that burnout is reported most by youth ministry leaders with 6–10 years in the same ministry. That makes the first five years a runway for what comes next. The habits, boundaries, and support systems a leader builds early on are what determine whether they’re still standing—and healthy—when they reach that critical stretch.

Four habits that help youth leaders avoid burnout in their first five years

So, what are the habits, boundaries, and support systems that need to be developed early in ministry? Glad you asked. Here are four healthy habits you want to build early in your ministry so you can last for years to come. 

1. Develop a rhythm of life outside of ministry.

I know it sounds strange to start this list with something outside your job, but it’s the right place to start. If you don’t want your identity to become what you do in ministry, you need a rhythm of life that doesn’t revolve around it.

In our research, only 23% of youth ministry leaders who prevent or recover from burnout say working less is part of how they do it. The top three practices are actually spending time with family and friends, engaging in a hobby, and prayer. Invest in a life and rhythms outside of ministry now. They matter more than simply clocking fewer hours.

2. Build a support system around you.

Thirty-nine percent of youth leaders in the report regularly feel alone in ministry, and only 37% meet with a mentor regularly, even though most wish they did. Isolation is one of the clearest predictors of burnout.

Remember that ministry is not an individual sport. Find a peer network or seek out groups like the National Network of Youth Ministries in your area. If there isn’t an already established group, initiate one by sending out a few emails. Other youth ministry leaders hunger for a community of peers.

Also, don’t forget about your supervisor. Youth leaders in the report described a real disconnect between how they experienced their workload and how supervisors perceived it. Invest in building a genuine relationship with your pastor or whoever your direct supervisor is. They should be your greatest advocate and your loudest cheerleader—but you may need to cultivate that relationship. Bring the conversation to your supervisor early and often. Talk about pace, expectations, and what's sustainable, rather than letting resentment or exhaustion build silently.

3. Be careful with your “yes.”

Heavy workload was the single largest contributor to burnout, cited by 61% of youth leaders in the research. Early in ministry, most leaders don’t know where their hours actually go. Start tracking now, before "I have too much to do" becomes a permanent condition instead of a fixable one.

Also, don’t chase every open door. The heavy workload often doesn’t usually begin on day one. Job responsibilities can often get added without anything being taken off the list. This is known as “job bloat”: responsibilities are added because the church either sees more ways your gifts and skills can be used or leaders around you are desperate to get all the work done. Either way, you end up with more responsibilities and competing commitments.

Advocate for yourself. Be sure you count the cost before saying yes. When you agree to something, have a conversation with your supervisor about what you will be saying “no” to.

4. Tell stories after stories after stories.

Lack of appreciation was the second-highest contributor to burnout (44%), but youth leaders in the report also said it's fixable. This isn’t about making yourself feel better or blowing your own trumpet. It’s about telling stories of transformation and giving God the rightful credit.

Rather than letting youth ministry stay siloed in the youth room, share what God is doing in your ministry with parents, your supervisor, and the larger congregation. Narrate stories of how God is moving in the teenagers and how they’re responding. These stories will be a reminder to you and the church of why ministry with teenagers is so important. They will help you guard against the perceived lack of impact, which is the third-largest burnout factor in our research.

Storytelling will also help you recruit volunteers to relationally invest in your young people. When they hear transformation stories, people will be drawn to the ministry. They will want to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of young people. 

Don’t just survive your first years—thrive in your ministry for the long-haul

Surprisingly, the youth ministry leaders least likely to burn out are those with 20+ years in ministry, alongside those in their first five. The middle years are where it gets hardest. Remember that the goal isn’t to simply survive your first years; it’s to thrive in your calling to serve God and the teens under your care. Build now for the leader you'll be in a decade. Develop the healthy habits.

Looking back, I wish someone had told me that the parent’s well-meaning "I don't know how you do it all" praise wasn’t praise at all. I wish someone had told me it was actually a warning. I wish someone had told me to build the healthy habits when I was early in ministry.

I hope I am that person for you.

Fresh insights on burnout from today’s youth ministry leaders

The FYI Report on Youth Leader Burnout & Wellbeing sheds light on common contributors to burnout among youth leaders, as well as top practices youth leaders recommend to prevent burnout and promote their wellbeing. You’ll find the latest insights, encouragement from leaders like you, and practical tips for longevity in your ministry.