Feel the burn, not the burn out.

Apparently, if a human dives into the deepest parts of the ocean, the pressure would reduce them to the size of a canned drink. Maybe it’s the same with volunteering? A counterpoint would be the English Poet William Blake saying: “Dip him in the river who loves water.” My point? If you love it, immerse yourself in it! If you love volunteering (or water) jump in! Just don’t forget to come up for air once in a while. Don’t swim so deep you start to feel pressure, otherwise, we might have to start marketing a YOU soda. Speaking of which, how much pressure do we feel to volunteer? I’d say that it depends on the person.

Some of us feel like we have to save the world, get straight As, work that part-time (or even full-time) job and still be home smiling for a wholesome family dinner. Really, there’s nothing wrong with that. From my experience, I have learned that the best thing to do is be happy and if doing well in school, working and spending time with your family makes you happy then keep doing what you’re doing! However, if you are feeling burnt out, here is my tip:

YOU (similar to, but different from YOU soda) need to care for yourself. You need friends, and not just friends you volunteer with. You need to pursue hobbies and interests.
Volunteer doing something you love.

Be prudent and combine the two. For example, I love volunteering and non-profit work, but I also love writing. I wanted to see how I could volunteer while pursuing my passion and I found it! No matter what you like or do for a hobby there is a volunteering opportunity for it. (That’s why I love MYVOP.)

Don’t just find volunteer opportunities, find YOUR volunteer opportunities. That way you can feel the burn without feeling the burn out.

‘Vop til you drop,
Sean