If you have been volunteering for a while, you no doubt enjoy the comradery of working with others in your community for a cause you find important. But even the most dedicated volunteer might find him- or herself feeling burnt out after volunteering for a few years. How can you fight burn out and find the passion for volunteering once again?
It’s all about the balance
If you find yourself volunteering so much that other areas of your life suffer – your social life, your “me” time, or even time to run errands – you are going to find yourself burnt out on volunteering sooner rather than later. Volunteering may be very important to you, but sacrificing other parts of your life will end up hurting you in the end.
Take a break
If there comes a point when you are starting to dread the thought of your volunteer time, that’s a sign that it may be time to back away from volunteering for a break. There’s no shame in taking some time away for yourself – in the end, it will make you a better volunteer and a happier person.
Are you sure it’s burn out?
“Burn out” happens when you are tired of giving your time and your energy and when you need some time to recharge. But what if it’s not burn out? What if you genuinely hate where you are volunteering, or your personality just clashes too much with other people there? Maybe you don’t feel appreciated or respected, or maybe you just don’t feel like you are making a difference and your time would be better spent somewhere else. If you take a break from volunteering but just can’t imagine going back, it may not be burn out – it may be that it is just time to move on.
Volunteering to a cause you believe in should make you satisfied and help to complete your life. If it is not giving you the satisfaction it used to, it may be time to take a break, or move on completely. Wasatch Crest Treatment believes in the importance of giving back, but they also believe you should find what makes you happy. Call Wasatch Crest in Heber, Utah, at (800) 385-3507.
