Volunteering: How To Avoid Burnout

by Tina Ann Forkner

Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.  ~Erma Bombeck

Have you ever volunteered to help out in the community or in your church, only to end up feeling as if you are working a couple of full-time jobs? That on-fire feeling you once had for volunteering begins to fizzle until you either quit, or you continue with an attitude that makes you feel guilty, over-extended, and resentful. I get it. I know that feeling all too well.

Several years ago, I found myself burnt out on volunteering all together. After awhile, I just felt used and frustrated, but I didn’t feel like I could scale back without leaving my church in a bind. After confiding to a friend that I was completely empty, but that I couldn’t quit, she set me straight with a few words I’ve never forgotten.

She said, “If you don’t step down, how will anyone else have the opportunity to step up and fulfill their purpose?”

The words of my friend gave me pause. Could I really scale back? And what about my purpose when it comes to serving? Could there be more to this volunteer thing than running myself into the ground and treating volunteer service like it’s just another chore? It ends up that the answer is yes!

Volunteering might not always be easy and there are certainly times when we are called on to serve  outside our comfort zones, but you don’t have to be stuck in a volunteer position that leaves you feeling empty. Here are a few tips that might save you from burnout and inspire you to step up:

1) Family Comes First: Take a good look at your calendar and the schedules of your family members. Nothing is more important than time with your family and loved ones. If your kids have after school activities on most days of the week, then don’t volunteer to lead a Bible study at 4:00. Feeling conflicted about the time you give to your family versus the time you give to volunteering will suck you dry. It is pretty hard to focus on volunteer service when all you can think about is the ballet recital you are missing.

2) Don’t Spread Yourself Thin: It is Okay to pick a volunteer opportunity, or maybe two, and no more. Churches and organizations are often desperate for people to fill volunteer positions and will let volunteers take on multiple roles, but you won’t do them any good if you are so over-extended  that you constantly miss meetings or show up exhausted. This is where the words, “no thank you,” come in handy. Families and jobs come first, and as desperate as your busy volunteer coordinator might seem, she will probably appreciate your honesty when you tell her you can’t take on an extra role at this time.

3) Get Your Family Involved: As I mentioned earlier, one obstacle in volunteering is family time, but getting them involved in volunteering can be a way to spend time together. Look for opportunities in which kids can be involved with other children or where you can volunteer as a group doing the same task. The opportunity will help your kids understand the importance of volunteering and help them to see why you do it in the first place. Teaching them how to give of themselves will create a sense of compassion in their hearts that will help them throughout their lives.

4) Choose Short-Term Volunteer Projects: If you really cannot find enough free time for a long-term commitment, or if you want to volunteer more, but can’t add more positions to what you are already filling, choose a short-term project. Churches often have rotating schedules for positions related to hospitality, etc. You could volunteer for one short program at your library or as a one-time story reader at a local elementary school. Knowing the project will be short and that it has a definite end to it might better fit your schedule and inspire you to devote more energy to it.

5) Match Your Interests to Your Volunteer Time: Five years ago, I was just transitioning from full-time work to working at home, and I felt ready to volunteer again. My husband, who knows me well, suggested that I dive back into volunteering by choosing something that would complement my interests and work-at-home career, not just my flexible schedule. I chose my local library. It gave me an opportunity to give back to my community and to be involved with literacy, something near and dear to my heart. While I understand that  stepping out of our comfort zones can be  hugely rewarding, there is also a lot to be said about volunteering in an area that we are passionate about.

 

Tina Ann Forkner

Tina Ann Forkner is the author of two novels, Ruby Among Us and Rose House, and has written on a freelance-basis for Homecoming Magazine. Tina lives in Wyoming with her family. www.tinaannforkner.com

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2 comments

  1. Thank you, Carla. I love volunteering, but it is so easy to get side-tracked with the whole purpose of it. I hope my experience might help others to focus on what they love and what comes first. Of course, there is always that other side of volunteering. I love the people who are called to give it all and serve repeatedly in Africa and other places, but that’s another topic. 🙂

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