Working Through Guilt by Volunteering

We all have those commercials that we just won’t watch. It might be the starving children in Africa or the poor little pooches and kitties locked behind bars at the animal shelter, but we avert our eyes for the same reason. We feel guilt and sadness. We feel guilty that this is going on and we’re not doing anything about it. We feel sad because we know it doesn’t have to be this way. One person can’t solve all the world’s problems, but she can certainly change one life for the better.

That’s why I’m a big fan of volunteering instead of donating money. Whether you volunteer to foster an animal, become a Big Brother or Sister or get on a plane and go to Africa to help the children, you know exactly where your efforts are going. When you donate, you usually don’t. When you work hard for your money (as most of us do), you want to know that it's going to good use. Whether you're an entry level administrative assistant or a hot shot lawyer, money is probably something you place a large value on. Time is also valuable, and that's exactly why it's so great to see the benefits of your work with your own eyes.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t donate. I’m just saying that volunteering is what works better for me. It makes me feel like I’m pitching in to make a difference.

There are some charitable organizations that obviously welcome volunteers (animal shelters, Meals on Wheels, Big Brothers Big Sisters, etc.), but really almost any organization relies on volunteers at one point or another. You can volunteer to help run one of the many local events for the American Cancer Society or you can collect donations at an MS Walk. I would suggest choosing an organization first, and then contacting them to see how you can use some of your free time to help the cause. If that isn’t an option for you or if you can’t think of an organization that means something to you, you can always do a basic search on Volunteer Match’s website. Here you can browse through the available opportunities and find one that matches your interests and values.

A Volunteer's First Day

In this blog, I usually focus on you. But today, I’m going to steal the spotlight and talk about my first day at a new volunteering “job.” It’s a good cause, and it was actually pretty fun. Let me tell you a little about it.

The organization I spent my time at last week (and will be working at again this week) is a thrift store. Sounds like an odd place to volunteer, right? Well, the store is in business to fund an animal shelter in our area, so it’s actually a non-profit. I chose this particular volunteer opportunity as opposed to volunteering at a shelter because I don’t know if I’m tough enough to handle time at an animal shelter. In fact, I know I’m not. I’d come home with 12 dogs on the first day – but no cats; I don’t like cats.

So, this seemed perfect for me. It offers a way for me to help the animals without having to see any sad puppies sitting in small cages just waiting for someone to take them home. It makes me sad just thinking about it. The woman who runs the thrift store (and will eventually run the shelter) is a local animal warden (kind of like an animal's parole officer) who saw the need for a shelter in town. Surprisingly, there are two or three small, privately owned places around, but the closest major shelter is about 40 minutes away.

The reason I wanted to volunteer in the first place (aside from all the benefits I usually tout on this blog) is because I really (really) needed to get myself out of the house. I work from home and I don’t really have enough of a tie to the community. So again, this is perfect. I get to meet local shoppers and help a good cause. It’s a win-win.

Take a Hike: Volunteer Vacation

If you’re anything like me, you’ve got vacation on your mind pretty much all the time. You’ve barely come back from spring break and you’re already thinking about your next vacation. That’s because vacations are just about the only times when we can do whatever it is we want to do. Some people choose to relax (myself included); others go on thrill-seeking adventures; and others enjoy a culinary feast to delight the senses. Vacation is all about your idea of fun. Actually, you can tell an awful lot about a person by finding out where they vacation.

If you’re the type of person who enjoys being outdoors, camping and hiking, you might actually enjoy a volunteer vacation on the trails. There are many non-profit organizations that are responsible for keeping the country’s trails neat, safe and well-maintained, and they are able to do this because of volunteers like you. As a volunteer, you might help build a dam, blaze a new trail, or remove debris from a powerful storm, but you should expect to be active.

If you want to kick back and relax on your vacation, this one isn’t for you. That’s quite alright; like I said, vacation is all about your idea of fun. If you’re going to consider a volunteer vacation spent maintaining hiking trails, you should want to do it; you should look forward to doing it. Otherwise, just let someone else do it.

Having said that, there are a few benefits to this type of vacation. For one, it’s usually quite a bit cheaper than your standard trip. Meals and accommodations are usually included for a fixed, discounted rate. Another benefit to taking a hiking volunteer vacation is that you’ll get to meet a bunch of other people who share your interests. You'll encounter people from all walks of life (all who love to hike); environmentalists; police officers; you might even rub elbows with a paralegal up on the mountain. You’ll be working alongside them the whole time, laughing and joking as you help make nature a little easier for the rest of us to navigate.

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.

Fun Volunteer Opportunities

You might already know that volunteering is a good thing to do – Okay, everyone knows that, right? So, let me tell you something you might not know. Volunteering can actually be fun. Yes, it’s true. There are some pretty fun activities out there that are just waiting for you. It’s almost criminal. You’ll get to use it on resume or on your applications for scholarships and grants, you’ll get all the warm and fuzzy feelings that come along with helping others – and you’ll have fun doing it? Amazing.

So, here are just a few ideas for things you might be able to do and have a little fun at the same time:

1. Charity event planning – If that’s your sort of thing, you should be able to find a ton of opportunities out there. Some might be local, but you’d be surprised at how much you can do from a distance.

2. Restoring hiking trails – Ever wonder how those hiking trails always stay in good working order? It never looks like a lot of work has been done, but trust me, it has. Volunteer with a hiking association and you can get some great exercise, meet like-minded people and give back to the hiking community.

3. Big brother or sister – You mean you can get volunteer credit for playtime? Yes, indeed. If you signup to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, you can change the life of a child while playing and having fun. You can do whatever you and your little sibling like: basketball, shopping, tennis, hiking.

4. Foster a pet – Pets end up in shelters all the time because good owners find themselves in bad situations. It’s very sad, but it happens. If you volunteer to foster, you could end up providing a loving home for one of those pets, so it never has to see the inside of a shelter cage.

Health Benefits of Volunteering

There’s no doubt about it; volunteering is good for your health. There are many studies to back this up, and it just makes good sense, so why aren’t you volunteering yet? C’mon… it’ll be fun.

There have been a lot of studies to support the fact that volunteering not only helps the charity, but it also helps you. In one study, people who suffer from chronic pain and volunteered as peer counselors found that not only did their disability decrease, but so did their depression. Another study followed more than 7,500 U.S. seniors and found that those who volunteer have a much lower death rate than those who don’t. That may be because it gives seniors a sense of purpose after retirement, which is something so many people struggle with. When you volunteer, not only are you needed, but you can usually see the results of your labor.

But, volunteering doesn’t just help the elderly. On college campuses, one survey found that those students who volunteer regularly had a 26 percent less risk of binge drinking.

Volunteering can also help you be more physically active, depending on which type of opportunity you choose. If, let’s say, you choose to help build or restore a house, you not only get all the benefits mentioned above, but you also get to be active and get in some exercise – and you can’t argue that exercise is beneficial to your health. But, building houses isn’t the only active form of volunteerism. You can volunteer to help clean up trash on the beach, maintain a hiking trail or clean up a park. You can even volunteer as a Big Brother or Big Sister to a child in need and get exercise by playing basketball, riding bikes or even just going for a walk with your little sibling.

Why Do You Volunteer?

People often ask me why I volunteer. I’ve always wondered why people even ask that question. There are so many great reasons to volunteer; I think the real question is why don’t you volunteer? But with that aside, I have to admit that I wasn’t always honest about my answer. Whenever I was faced with that question in the past, I’d always respond with the “helping others” reply. But, that was never really true. Not entirely. Sure, I wanted to help other people who really needed help, but why did I want to do that? Because it made me feel good about myself. Volunteering makes me feel like a better person.

Regardless of my question about why you don’t volunteer, I actually don’t judge non-volunteerers. I’ve lived long enough to know that you never truly know someone else’s situation unless you walk a mile in their shoes. Although most people just make excuses, it’s true that not everyone has the time or money to donate to a cause. But, I think if everyone knew how good it could make them feel, more people would stop making excuses and start making time.

And, you know what? It’s not just me who feels this way. A recent poll showed that 89 percent of volunteers said that the act of volunteering actually improved their sense of well-being. And 73 percent believed that volunteering lowered their stress levels. You see, it’s not so much about other people at all. It’s more about how we feel after helping someone. Personally, when I volunteer, I feel more of a sense of purpose than the times when I don’t. Even if I’m selfishly volunteering for the great feeling I get from it, the fact that I’m actually contributing to society makes me feel more like I have a reason to be here on this earth; or I’m at least making an impact on the world while I’m here. I’ve learned it’s okay to volunteer for selfish reasons, and I’ve since changed my answer to the question of “why.” I can now honestly admit that I hang up my administrative assistant hat and volunteer at the soup kitchen simply because it makes me feel good.