It’s that time of year again where we make a list of New Year’s resolutions and try to stick to it for as long as possible. 

But we all know that times get busy and life can get in the way, causing us to veer off track with our New Year’s resolutions. 

Every year we get people who want to start volunteering and put it on their New Year’s Resolutions list but only make it in a few months before they throw in the towel and decide to try again next year. 

Here are 5 ways to add volunteering to your New Year’s resolutions list and stick to it: 

1. Set a Specific Goal

Define what type of volunteering you want to do and how often you want to contribute. It could be helping at a local shelter, volunteering at a school program or even participating in our collection of remote volunteering opportunities.

2. Allocate a Dedicated Amount of Time 

Allocating how much time you want to dedicate to volunteering each week or even month can help with planning and committing to volunteering in the long run. Before deciding on how much time you have to dedicate, be sure to consider your commitments so you don’t overload yourself.

3. Start Small 

You don’t have to volunteer every week or even every fortnight. Start with a manageable commitment such as a few hours every month. From here you can gradually increase if you.

4. Make it a Habit 

Incorporate volunteering into your routine like any other hobby you prioritise. If you are volunteering every week do it on the same day every week to make it easy to track.

5. Celebrate Milestones

Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, whether that’s volunteering for three months in a row or even completing a certain amount of hours. Celebrating these milestones helps you to feel accomplished and increases motivation to continue volunteering.

Always, remember volunteering is about giving your time and skills to make a positive difference. Approach it with an open heart and a willingness to contribute, and you’ll find it to be a fulfilling and enriching experience you want to continue all year round.