ALT-24 Nonprofit Service Sector
Helping others is good for you. The "helper's high" phenomenon is being studied atThe Institute for Research on Unlimited Love. The ABC news story, "Doing Good, and Feeling Better", first aired on December 1, 2006, chronicles the health benefits of generosity.
MRI functional brain scans confirm that doing good is its own reward. The brain structures that are activated when subjects get a reward are the same that are activated when they give.
Giving is a buzz. So get out there and volunteer!
Just a minute. It may not be as simple as that. Everyone has met grumpy volunteers with aches and pains and a major case of chronic Merry Martyr Syndrome. How can you avoid becoming one of them?
The #1 Tip for volunteering is: Do what you enjoy. This may seem obvious, but many volunteers get carried away with guilt and feelings of indispensability, get sucked into doing things they don't like doing, and end up making themselves and everyone else miserable. Everyone, including you, benefits when you are doing what you really want to do. Instead of having to fake the Happy Helper glow, you will actually feel great.
Tip #2. Start slow. Commit for an hour or two a week for two or three months, try it out, and see if the activity enhances your life. It doesn't have to be an official thing with an organization. It could be something simple like walking a senior's dog, or taking someone else's child out for lunch once a week. When you have finished your trial period, evaluate your experience. If you like it, ask if it would be okay for you to continue for another three months. If it's not working for you, or you're feeling restless or bored, move on to something else. You may want to settle into one activity, or move around. If, after six months, you discover that you are having fun, you can consider adding hours to your commitment.
Tip #3. Do not let yourself get blackmailed. If you do a good job, chances are that you will be pressured to do more. Just say "No," or "Not now," or "Talk to me in three months, when I've had the chance to check this out." If you do too much, you will burn out and feel lousy about the whole experience.
Tip #4. Defend your boundaries. If you have agreed to work from 6 to 8 on Thursday evenings because that fits into your schedule, don't let anyone throw a change at you. Say calmly and firmly, "That's the only time I am available." If someone tries to micromanage you, smile, say "Thank you for your input," and carry on. You are donating your valuable time and energy. You have the right to stipulate the conditions under which you are prepared to work.
Tip #5. Be reliable and expect others to be reliable. Show up on time and well prepared. Give adequate notice if you are unable to come. If others do not do likewise, hold them accountable. Make it clear that you will not cover for an irresponsible team. You always have the final option of voting with your feet.
Tip #6. Respect the work you do. Never put it down, or let anyone else put it down. Not getting paid makes you more effective, not less. When I was doing a music program with psych patients, they often asked me how much I was getting paid. When I explained that I was a volunteer, they would tell me that I was crazier than they were. But they were more inclined to trust me, because they knew I wanted to be with them. They were not a means to my livelihood, but an end in themselves.
Now that you have all the facts, what's holding you back? Ready, set volunteer!
