Be Happy – Be volunteer

Sometime, we feel tired of professionally doing some thing in routine way – we need something new to do or carry on our hobby for the sake of our mental satisfaction, without any consideration of remuneration in terms of money. Community service or social welfare job like gardening in colony park or service in local temple, mosque or church is also done in this direction. A person who voluntarily offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking, or a person who performs a service willingly and without pay, in military, a person who enters the service voluntarily rather than through conscription or draft, esp. for special or temporary service rather than as a member of the regular or permanent army is called as volunteer. In legal terms, we define that person to be volunteer whose actions are not founded on any legal obligation so to act, or a person who intrudes into a matter that does not concern him or her, as a person who pays the debt of another where he or she is neither legally nor morally bound to do so and has no interest to protect in making the payment.

If you wish to be a volunteer, you may consider why you want to volunteer. Do you want to help the society or your community? Do you want to build your own skills, learn or make new friends by joining their community or group? Do you love what you do? Do you want to share your gifts with others or give something back? There are many opportunities which can lead you to choose the right direction for your volunteer work.

Choose an organization that is meaningful to you. If you feel strongly about self literacy, for instance, volunteer at your local library or find out if there is an organization of volunteer tutors in your area. There are organizations doing all sorts of work, and it is especially important with volunteer work that you choose something that you value like volunteering at a hospital or animal shelter.

Look for an organization or activity in your area or community. Some volunteers do sign up for the Peace Corps or other worldwide organizations and travel to remote parts of the world. You too can do it. To start with, you may do on a smaller scale if you already have commitments at home. If you do plan on venturing abroad in your volunteer work, get lots of information about what to expect there and ask your doctor about getting immunizations appropriate to your destination. Talk to others who have traveled with your intended organization and ask them to share their experiences, too.

Seek out an organization and tasks within it that suit your skills and interests. Of course, you can develop new skills and learn many things by volunteering, but your volunteer work can still be compatible with your interests. If you're an outgoing "people person", you might not have much fun in the back office stuffing envelopes or filing papers. Others, by contrast, might find it uncomfortable to solicit funds door-to-door. Do you love to work with people? With animals? With children? With numbers? Are you handy? Do you love to speak or to write? Organizations need all sorts of skills. If you're not sure what sort of work you like or dislike, a volunteer organization may be a great opportunity to dabble a bit and try different things.

Start small. If you already have a busy schedule, volunteer your time for an hour or two per week or perhaps one day per month. Just about anybody can free up that much time easily. Try turning off the TV! You might be surprised how much you can accomplish in even a little bit of time. Then, if you find you enjoy the work and have more time to pursue it, gradually take on more.

Get to know others in the organization and how the group supports volunteers. Attend a training or orientation session, if one is available; if not, talk to local group leaders and other volunteers in the community about their experiences. You'll learn what to expect of an organization and your work with it, and you'll pick up some good tips to make your work there more productive and more meaningful.

Explain your own background and preferences to those in charge. They can help to match you with meaningful, suitable tasks, but only if they know a bit about who you are.

o Ask, don't demand. The people in charge of organizing, whether or not they are also volunteers, have certain needs to meet and may be quite busy.
o Especially if you're just starting out, consider helping with an immediate need even if it is not the ideal match for your abilities. Work doesn't always neatly match the people available to do it. You will still be helping the organization and you might learn a new skill or discover something about yourself. The favor you earn may also help you into a more suitable or desirable task next time.
o Get started. Ask plenty of questions and do your research, but until you sign up and get your feet wet, you won't know if volunteering for a particular organization is really right for you.
o Get training. If your organization has a formal orientation or training, attend it. If not, or if you still don't know where to begin, ask to work with an experienced volunteer or group. Then, ask lots of questions and give it a shot.
o Try not to give up. Volunteer organizations, too, sometimes have less-pleasant tasks, difficult fellow workers, busy times, slow times, or bad management. If you find your work unpleasant, you have your own choices.
o Work through it, anyway. If you feel it needs doing, but it's dull or heavy work, put the music on, divide it into manageable pieces, take breaks when you need them, and get the job done. Don't forget to look for ways to ease the task or prepare better next time.
o Get help. If you're overwhelmed, confused, or stuck, ask if there is anyone else that could step up and give you a hand, even temporarily to get through some backlog or difficulty. Organizations may also have other resources to draw on, from contacts to sister organizations to libraries and municipalities.
o Fix the problem. If there's something in your way, it's probably in everybody else's way, too. Lead the charge to get more volunteers, more money, better equipment, or skilled help. Clean up messes when you see them. Suggest (gently, please!) how matters could be better handled or organized. Or, simply bring the problem to the attention of the organization or its leaders and ask what can be done.
o Take a break or back off. If you're exhausted, you may not be doing yourself or anyone else any good. Would everybody be better off if you came back with fresh energy later?
o Ask to do something else. If you feel you can better serve the organization by doing something more in line with your talents or skills, say so, and let organization leaders know what sorts of tasks or talents you would rather contribute.
o Look to another organization or branch. If you have tried all your best diplomatic skills and still have difficulty with the tasks or people you encounter, leave graciously and look elsewhere. Mismatches and mismanagement can happen in volunteer organizations, too.
o Start your own organization or volunteer freelance. It is some difficult job because then, you may be on your own to provide the money and talent that an established volunteer organization may already have secured. But once established, you would have name and fame, both together.

In brief, for those who have some spare time and interest to do something, being volunteer is the best way to accomplish the dreams as that provides you flexibility in your working. But make it sure that once you commit for something, you must adhere to the schedules as be required. Otherwise, you may loose your mental peace.

Be Happy – Be Volunteer.