Work, Life, Balance & Volunteering

Life is so busy!  I seem to have a constantly growing list of jobs to do each day in order to keep my family, my business and myself running smoothly!  Not only is there the practical stuff – preparing meals, washing and ironing, cleaning out the guinea pigs, running the kids around, visiting clients… (I could go on!); but there’s also the emotional stuff – encouraging my husband through a difficult situation at work, supporting a friend through a personal crisis, or guiding my son through a disagreement with his best friend.

These days, as well as the every day stuff, there are also numerous voluntary activities that I could give my time to if I wanted to. For example, I could choose to be on the neighbourhood watch committee or be a school governor. I could go to a fitness class, bake a cake for the school fair or help in the local charity shop. This list goes on too!

As someone who used to manage volunteers, I know how vital they are to charitable organisations and their service users. In the UK, volunteering adds more than £21.5 billion ($34.7 billion) to the UK economy[1]. Millions of us undertake some kind of volunteering activity each year.  For the London 2012 Olympics alone, there were 70,000 [2]volunteers involved in making the games happen!

Being a volunteer is tremendously rewarding and satisfying. So with all these life-enhancing opportunities on our doorstep to choose from, how do we know which ones to get involved in and which ones to turn down? Once we have chosen, how do we fit them into our lives?

Here are 5 tips to help volunteering enrich your life, finding work life balance and without overwhelming it:

1.    Before you say yes, learn to say no

It’s not always easy to say no to a worthy and interesting request for help, but try to use your head AND your heart when deciding. First of all, ask yourself whether it’s something you feel passionate about and are genuinely interested in? Check exactly what commitment is required of you and for how long. Think about whether this position is going to add value to your life now – does it make you feel positive and excited? Make a list of all the other things you are already doing on a voluntary basis – will you need to make some changes? Will your expenses be covered and how much notice is needed to step down?

2.    Regularly review your commitments

If you can, involve your family in any decisions you make about taking on more commitments. Review your voluntary roles every year and remember that when you first took a post on, your commitments may have looked very different to how they are now. If you can’t say yes to something now, you may be able to return to it at a later date.

3.    Keep a volunteering file

I keep a foolscap file labeled Volunteering in my home filing system. Inside, I have plastic wallets, each labeled with the particular volunteer job. I also have a plastic wallet for any other documentation related to being a volunteer – for example, in the UK we need a Criminal Records Bureau check, so there’s a wallet labeled CRB. There’s not a great deal of paperwork associated with my volunteering commitments, so this is more than adequate for my needs. You might need something a bit more substantial, but so long as you have a designated place that keeps all your paperwork together, you should be able to keep on top of it.

4.    Use an electronic calendar

There’s just no getting away from it – using an electronic calendar really does help you manage your time better! A few minutes spent each day adding new appointments or tasks, will reap massive rewards for you later on. (You’ll also project that you are super organised!).

My calendar texts me reminders during the day and is in synch with my husband’s so he always knows where I am and what I’ve got on. With all your commitments ready to view, you’ll be able to work out how to fit that new volunteering opportunity into your life.

5.    Be realistic

If it feels like it’s going to be too much to take on, then say no. Ask the organisation to contact you again in a year’s time. If it feels like a fantastic way to serve others or do something you’ve always wanted to, then say yes and schedule away! Most importantly, don’t feel guilty if you can’t say yes to a request – there will most likely be someone else who can. If you can’t decide on the spot, say you need to look at your diary before you make a commitment.

Volunteering is a brilliant way to enrich your life AND the life of someone else. It’s often a chance to learn new skills, pass on your knowledge and put your existing skills to good use. Sometimes it brings you into contact with people that you might not normally interact with. It usually provides a much-needed service in your area and makes you feel good. Your contribution will be valued and appreciated by the organisation and it’s clients. If it’s right for you and your life now, then go for it!

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