5 ways to beat year-end burnout

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If you’ve ever thought, “I cannot possibly write one more fundraising appeal,” you’re not alone.

I’ve been there too — staring at a blank screen with weeks to go until Giving Tuesday. The email copy needs to get done, but it feels like every sentence comes out flat.

The truth is, year-end email writing can burn out even the most seasoned copywriters and fundraisers. Between match campaigns, urgent reminders, and those “last chance” messages, it’s a lot.

Over the years, I’ve discovered a few techniques that help me stay motivated and keep my writing fresh when it matters most.

1. Steal from yourself
One of the easiest ways I fight burnout is by recycling what already works.

I go back to the best-performing emails from earlier in the year and see what I can borrow. Sometimes that’s a subject line that grabbed attention, other times it’s an opening sentence that pulled readers in.

2. Keep it short
When I’m tired, my writing tends to sprawl. I’ll try to cover every detail at once, and the email ends up sounding weighed down.

What helps is forcing myself to strip it back: a short, three-sentence note with a clear call to action.

Donors don’t need everything at once — sometimes they just need a simple reason to give.

3. Change the voice
It’s easy to fall into a rut when every email comes from the same sender.

One way I break out of it is by handing the mic to someone else: a program staffer with a quick update, a volunteer sharing their perspective, or even a donor explaining why they give.

Writing in another voice frees me up creatively and helps supporters feel more connected to the work.

4. Work in bursts
Another lifesaver: timed writing sprints.

I’ll set a timer for 20 minutes, draft as much as I can without editing, then walk away. When I come back, I see the draft with fresh eyes.

This keeps me from endlessly polishing one paragraph and burning out before the email is even done.

5. Remember your reader
The last thing I remind myself: donors aren’t reading every single email. They dip in and out.

That means I can repeat key themes, vary the framing a little, and still sound fresh. What feels like overkill to me often feels like clarity to them.

The bottom line
Year-end will always be intense, and writer’s block is real.

But I’ve found that leaning on past successes, writing shorter, switching up voices, working in bursts, and keeping the reader’s perspective in mind makes the load lighter — and the emails stronger.

'Til next time!
Sara