5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Volunteer

It’s true; volunteering isn’t for everyone. Some people honestly don’t have the time (although more often than not, that’s just an excuse) and others are just diametrically opposed to it. Does that sound like you? Well, if you can relate to any of the following, there’s no reason to feel guilty about not volunteering. It’s just not your cup of tea, man.

1. You generally despise other people. If you take online classes so you can avoid seeing people -- ever, then volunteering might not be right for you. Actually, leaving your house is even a little iffy.

2. You like feeling down and depressed. Studies have shown that volunteering lifts people’s spirits and makes them feel better about themselves. If that sounds reprehensible, stay away from the local soup kitchen (unless you also happen to be homeless and hungry).

3. You don’t want to sound too interesting. If you’re happy being boring and not having any interesting stories to tell, you probably shouldn’t volunteer. People love to hear about others’ philanthropic endeavors, so they would just be asking you all sorts of questions that might annoy you.

4. You don’t want to get ahead in your career. If the thought of getting promoted or recommended for a high-paying career sounds like the worst possible fate, then you definitely shouldn’t volunteer your time. If you did, you might meet influential people who would want to help you get ahead in your career – or worse, your boss might be impressed with your level of responsibility and want to give you a promotion. Egads!

5. You don’t want to live longer. Studies also show that those who volunteer some of their free time live a longer and healthier life on average than those who don’t. It’s not a guarantee by any means, but if you can relate to number one on this list, this probably isn’t appealing to you either.