Earning More Than a Paycheck

New Year’s resolutions that we hear people discuss in January every year revolve around such common themes as losing weight, finding a new job, setting new financial goals and planning to take more time for friends and family. How many people actually set the important resolution of taking time to volunteer more? So many professionals think that they do not have the time or energy to commit to another organization, but today’s volunteering opportunities make it easy for even the Trump’s of the world to tailor a community involvement activity to seamlessly integrate into their current schedule.

First utilize such Web sites as VolunteerMatch.org and SmartVolunteer.org to find an opportunity based on location, type of organization or level of commitment necessary. These sites make it a quick and easy process to identify an organization that easily fits your lifestyle. After you commit to a cause be sure to treat your role as a job even though you are not being paid. You are still obligated to attend events when you say you will and to behave professionally. Also, be sure to commit at least three weeks to the organization before deciding it is not a fit for you. Just like a new workout regimen, it takes some time to get into the swing of the activity before being able to determine the benefits.

If long term commitments are not your style, make a vacation out of your community involvement and signup for a great vacation that allows you to give back to others while giving back to yourself. Study animals in South Africa or Costa Rica through EarthWatch.org and VolunteerAbroad.com, or help to restore the environment in the Caribbean, Key West or Tuscany through SierraClub.org, ReefRelief.org and WWOOF.org. Most of these organizations even give you a discount, if not free, lodging and meals.

The rewards for volunteering significantly out way the simple dollar amount of a paycheck. You can expect to make friends, establish business contacts, reduce stress and boost your overall physical and mental well-being, all while helping others. The important thing to remember is that volunteering, whether a lot of time or a little bit of time, is greatly beneficial and empowering to the community we live in and without it so many things would suffer. Take time as the New Year takes off to identify the ways in which you can schedule volunteering into your schedule, the benefits will seriously surprise you.

Posted by: Monica Kenney, monica@boltpr.com