Volunteering is really selfish and here’s why you should do it
Volunteering is selfish. Somewhere at its core, it never really is about other people. It is about you. The fulfillment of serving selflessly. The joy of giving back to society. The feeling of being useful. The really good looking resume. It might sound outrageous, but I believe this is true to a certain extent.
Rational humans do not embark on activities that offer little in terms of return. Volunteering has many perks and that is one of the reasons we do it. It is not a bad thing. We instinctively look out for things that are beneficial to us.
Having established that volunteering is a selfish venture and not one to be ashamed of, let us proceed to how we can do it the right way.
Is that even possible, you might ask. Yes, it is. Even if you are volunteering to benefit yourself, you can still do it the right way.
1. Do things you like
Volunteering for activities you like doing is a good idea because you will be more enthusiastic about each task than when you are doing something you do not want to do. Obinna is a bibliophile, so most likely volunteering to help out at a library or a literary event will be more enjoyable than working at a tech event for him. It does not mean you should not go out of your comfort zone, volunteering is a great way to learn new things, it just means you will be able to serve with all your heart.
2. Do things that are related to a future career
There are tons of things to volunteer for. But you have to consider how relevant they are to your future. Let’s go back to our bibliophile, he has plans to work at a bookstore one day and then own one. He would gain more if he volunteered at book-related events because he is gaining practical experience in handling a bookstore. If he works at a tech event, he will learn new things but they may not be relevant.
This point is also related to the fact that a tech event volunteer stint on his resume will not say a lot about his abilities as a book expert.
3. Go local
Volunteering is about giving back to your community. While we are all citizens of the world, it would be much better if you volunteer within your community. Sure, you could go out and travel far doing good things. But it would not be beneficial if the people closest to you do not enjoy what you have to give.
4. Develop new skills
While volunteering, look out for things that challenge you. Imagine volunteering for the same role over and over again, doing the same thing. It is not a desk job. You can be flexible, why not try doing new things. Working in new and strenuous conditions can make you develop skills you did not know you could.
Remember to enjoy every bit of your volunteering while doing good for others too.
