When you start as a volunteer for an NFP you do so with such passion and fervour. You want to make a difference in the world whether on an international or local scale and pour your heart and soul into it.

For most people, it then starts to be a big part of their lives as they take on more and more duties. Eventually though you may be realising that you have given up a lot of other things in your life and that volunteering is starting to feel like a chore.

When you get to that point it is time to consider your role as a volunteer.

Below are 3 reasons why it’s time to quit the volunteer role:

1. Your family life is suffering. Is your partner complaining they never see you anymore? Are your kids missing out because you are too busy? Volunteering is wonderful if you can balance it with your family life. When it starts to take you away from your family more than once or twice a week then you need to rethink your participation.

2. You feel stressed all the time. Volunteering can be stressful as there are always many tasks to be done and not enough hands. However, it shouldn’t be so stressful that you begin to feel sick about it and worry about handling all the tasks. If this is happening, it’s time to give the organisation a reality check and back out of some of the jobs you have been given. Stress impacts your health which impacts your life.

3. Your passions have changed. If you are no longer passionate about the cause you volunteered for then it’s time to step aside. The only way to truly do service is to have a strong belief in the organisation and the cause and when you no longer have that it is time to hang up your apron and move onto another organisation or activity.

Ultimately, volunteering should be as rewarding for you as it is for the organisation to have you. If it isn’t then it’s time to rethink whether this organisation and/or volunteering is for you anymore.