Getting Inspired to Serve
Volunteering is proven to increase your happiness, but how can you get the internal drive to finally jump in? With so much going on with ourselves and the world around us, getting motivated to take on something new may seem almost impossible. Still, you surely offer something to your organization that no one else can.
We all have unique qualities that can make us excellent volunteers. In this post, we will go through a few tips to help you get started.
- Find your why. Volunteering can add value and meaning to your life once you find what connects with you. While volunteering is meant to be selfless, it helps when you can see how it will benefit you personally. Motivation Magazine explains that this could be a variety of things such as meeting new people in the industry, adding to a résumé, or just wanting to learn.
- Find a community. Volunteering is much more fulfilling when there is frequent communication between you, your leaders, and fellow volunteers. Volunteer Match suggests that leaders communicate frequently with their volunteers because it shows that they care. However, this should go both ways. Build a trusting relationship with your peers in your volunteer position. This will make volunteering much more gratifying and energizing.
- Consider the challenge. We are so often stuck in our routines that any addition can seem daunting — but getting out of your patterns will challenge you. Motivation Magazine explains that this gets you out into your community and connects you with others.
- Think of what you’ll learn. Volunteering is a great way to gain new skills without committing to a new position. Energize Inc. includes learning and gaining new skills as part of their list of reasons people volunteer. You will likely gain as much as you give.
Volunteering is a rewarding way to give back to your organization. Not only do you help others, but you are gaining skills that you may not have otherwise.
