Uplifting Preservation was an email newsletter of ideas on how to improve historic preservation professional practice informed by research from experts in psychology, business, and management. I hoped to start conversations about how we can grow our professional practice by improving our personal mindset around preservation work. The last issue of Uplifting Preservation was sent in January 2024. This serves as the archive of all issues.

The opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the organizations of which I am employed, volunteer, or represent in any official capacity. 

Issue Index

January 2024 | The end of Uplifting Preservation | In what we’re striving toward together

July 2023 | Introducing: Stress in Preservation Journal

January 2023 | Disrupting the dream job myth in preservation

October 2022 | Can preservation professionals practice quiet quitting?

April 2022 | Grief in historic preservation

February 2022 | Flexible Work in Historic Preservation | Out of Office

December 2021 | Developing great managers to prevent burnout

September 2021 | Onboarding in the Great Resignation

July 2021 | Toxic Positivity in Historic Preservation

May 2021 | Mental health awareness in historic preservation

April 2021 | Creating work-life balance in historic preservation

February 2021 | Imposter Syndrome | Own Your Greatness

January 2021 | Self-Care in Historic Preservation

November 2020 | Using human connection and rest to combat burnout in historic preservation | Burnout

October 2020 | Check in with your feelings + do things in chunks | How to Be Fine

August 2020 | Creating purpose in our preservation gatherings | The Art of Gathering

July 2020 | Signs of a Mentally Healthy Workplace | Burnout vs Depression

June 2020 | Reshaping our thought process in our historic preservation practice | Everyday Stress Relief

May 2020 | The time-based patterns of historic preservation professionals | When

April 2020 | Letting go of expectations during a pandemic | Off the Clock

March 2020 | Preserving Places from a Distance | My Age of Anxiety

February 2020 | Becoming mindful preservationists | How We Work

January 2020 | Bringing empathy to our historic preservation practice | The Empathy Effect 

December 2019 | Preservationist resiliency in the midst of enduring failure | Brave, Not Perfect

November 2019 | On a quest for self-improvement | Daring Greatly

Additional Writings

The Burnout Crisis in Historic Preservation, Preservation Leadership Forum, September 2021

Building the Mental Resilience of Preservation Professionals, Preservation Leadership Forum, June 2020

Speaking Engagements

I am open to speaking engagements on topics related to mental health, burnout, and overall mental wellbeing in historic preservation to a variety of audiences. Please contact me at raina.regan [at] gmail [dot] com to discuss your opportunity. Previous speaking engagements include audiences at Saving Places Conference (Boulder, CO, 2023), National Council on Public History Government Historians Committee (Virtual, 2022), Great Lakes Main Street Conference (Virtual, 2021), New York State Preservation Conference (Virtual, 2021), Dismantle Preservation Unconference (Virtual, 2020), and TICCO (Virtual, 2020).