How to build your resilience during a planning campaign

Taking action for nature through the planning system can be an emotional rollercoaster that often requires deep persistence and resilience. It is important to ensure, as best you can, that you are mentally and emotionally prepared for the journey ahead, and able to get support and support those around you. 

Here are some tips for taking care of yourself and building resilience: 

Make sure that you’re taking care of yourself both physically and emotionally. Take breaks and get outdoors when you can. Spending time in nature has been proven to improve wellbeing while exercise, even just a gentle walk, can help with managing stress, boosting mood and improving sleep. 

Campaigning can be demanding, and it might feel like the work you’re doing is taking over. It’s important to prioritise your hobbies and make time for different activities that help you to step away. Whether it’s reading a book, playing sports or meeting friends, take regular time out to do things you enjoy.  

The day-to-day running of a campaign can be stressful, and so it’s important to keep reminding yourself of what you set out to achieve. Break down your overall goal into smaller, more manageable steps and make sure you regularly celebrate the effort you’ve put in for nature. 

While protecting the nature you love might feel very personal, it’s important to share how the experience is impacting you. Reach out to people who can offer support and advice, such as family members, friends or others in your campaign group.  

When you care about nature, it’s easy to feel that you could ‘always be doing more.’ However, in order to sustain your energy and motivation throughout the entirety of the campaign, you need to know where your limits are and when it’s time to say ‘no’. 

Remember that, as we try to tackle the joint nature and climate crises, every single action adds up. Your efforts will be making a positive impact on your community and the wildlife in your local area. Even if your campaign experiences setbacks, it’s useful to remind yourself of the wider benefits your work can have.  

When you’re in the midst of a campaign, it can feel like time is speeding by while there’s lots to do. Mindfulness can help you to connect with the ‘here and now’.  Taking a few deep breaths while concentrating on the sounds around you is one easy way to incorporate the techniques into your day-to-day. Alternatively, heading outside on a walk and purposefully listening out for birdsong could be an easy and fun way to practice mindfulness. 

It can be hard, but wherever possible try to take a positive perspective on situations. View challenges as learning opportunities and focus on the things you can control instead of dwelling on what you can’t change. 

When it comes to protecting nature, it can be easy to feel helpless or overwhelmed – especially as just one person, opposing a large development in a complicated system. It’s important to keep reminding yourself that success is achievable. Find confidence in other campaigners who’ve taken a stand for nature, and don’t assume that professional experts must know more than those with local knowledge. 

In the planning success stories below, you’ll hear from nature lovers who’ve used their voice to speak up for wildlife. You can find their top tips, the ways they stayed resilient, and the successes they celebrated. Remember – everyone’s journey looks different. Every action, no matter how big or small, can make a difference. 

How to set up your own campaign to protect nature from a development threat

How to get the best results from campaigning to protect nature in planning

How to work together as a campaign group to protect nature in planning