Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community but it can be quite challenging to keep up your motivation over a long time. There can be changing interests, new demands on your life and sometimes you can even experience burnout.
You need to have clear achievable goals
When you are looking into volunteering opportunities such as being a volunteer in Tanzania. These goals can be selected based on the skills you want to develop through your time there, the impact you want to make on the local community or the personal growth you want to achieve. You have to set specific and measurable goals that are attainable and time bound. This will give you some direction and a sense of purpose. You have to choose the right volunteer opportunity as well. There will be some things that you are interested in more than others. For example, you have to think about what you are passionate about and what your skills are so that you can stay engaged with regard to your volunteer opportunity. You can choose something that you care about deeply so that you will be motivated even during the most challenging times. You have to make sure that the opportunity fits with your schedule and lifestyle so that you don’t end up juggling too many roles or feeling overwhelmed.
You have to remind yourself regularly about
The cause you are working towards and its importance. You can read updates on this and attend events. You can also engage with the community you are helping so that you actually see a difference and see how what you do affects others. When you see the direct impact of your efforts, this can be incredibly rewarding and it can reignite your passion and give you the motivation you need to keep going. You have to be informed about the broader context of your volunteer work. Volunteering is about the people you meet as this will have the biggest impact on you. Your experience will be enhanced when you build relationships with fellow staff members, beneficiaries and other volunteers. You can create a support network with social connections and this will make your work more enjoyable. You will be able to share your experiences and support each other through the many challenges that you will experience in your volunteer journey.
By having regular feedback,
You will be able to gain valuable insights into your performance and how you can improve further. You can reflect on your experiences and also ask your peers and volunteer coordinator for feedback so that you can get a better understanding of your progress and identify areas where you can grow. This will boost your confidence and you will be able to stay motivated in contributing the cause. You will also have to step out of your comfort zone and tackle new challenges when volunteering. By embracing these opportunities, you will be able to learn from them and grow. A positive attitude is the first thing you need when approaching new tasks along with a willingness to adapt.
