New Year’s Resolution: Volunteer

If your New Year’s resolutions included volunteering, congratulations - the world needs more people like you.

If you’re reading this chances are you’re better off than 98% of the rest of world. Sure, you can have a better job, bigger house, and nicer car. But even having a job, house or car puts you way ahead of the pack. And I don’t just mean the less fortunate in Third World countries; right here, in every state of in the Union, there are those who don’t have the food, shelter or help they need to have better lives. Men, women, and children; old and young. They need our help.

That’s the bad news. The good news? You want to do something about that. Don’t worry, you don’t have to endow a foundation or give millions to help. There are plenty of things you can do right now that won’t require donating money. And, if you’re clever about it, and we know you are, volunteering is something that will give back to you as well.

Before choosing a charity or activity to devote your time and efforts to, do a little planning and ask yourself a couple of questions and answer them honestly. Doing so will guarantee that your genorousity doesn’t become a New Year’s fad like the Bowflex exercise machine in your basement–sorry to bring that up, but seriously, you haven’t touched that thing in years.

1. What are you passionate about?

Finding a charity that taps into your interests, will satisfy you far more than one that doesn’t involve something that gets you going. If you love reading to your children, think about volunteering for a library story hour. Like home improvement, play Extreme Makeover with Habitat for Humanity. Interested in art? I bet your local art museum has a need for docents. You get the picture.

2. What are you good at?

Crackerjack accountant, financial wizard? You can make an immediate impact at a charity that needs bookkeeping help. Likewise, if you know your way around a framing nailer, Habitat needs you.

3. What skills do you want to learn?

Volunteering is a great, often overlooked, way to pickup new skills or brush off rusty ones. Interested in learning or perfecting your foreign language skills? Look for a charity that works with non-English speakers.

4. Double or triple dip.

Don’t settle for just one goal (volunteering), when you can knock off several. Join a Team in Training like program and reach your fitness goals while raising money for a good cause. Resolved to get outside more? Help build trails for the Sierra Club or a local hiking society. Better yet, think up a double dipping opportunity, then plan a way to tackle it as a family so you can hit your “Spend more time with the family” goals as well.

5. Go Huge.

You’re clever, don’t settle for the run of the mill. Go Huge. Tackle the all time combo: Start your own non-profit. Pick a cause your crazy about, set goals for helping, then devise a way to raise money, awareness, and recruit help to achieve those goals. When you succeed it’ll beat every other New Year’s Resolution you’ve ever had.