My daughter recently commented—complained a bit—that I am never at home these days. She’s right! Since becoming involved in the Showcase [charity event], I am at meetings, reviewing venues, recruiting, and training other volunteers, among other things. I have not worked this hard for a while, but I am having a blast.

—Vince F., former human resources practitioner

Many retirees will tell you the thing they miss the most from their working lives is the structure. They miss the need to be at work for a certain time, attending meetings, solving problems, being with people, and working toward goals. If you crave any of these things but don’t wish to find a money job, then volunteering might be for you.

Volunteering has many other valuable benefits besides providing you with structure. As human beings, we have a strong need to help others. Volunteering makes us feel needed and useful, and it provides us with a sense of purpose. Helping others develop and succeed gratifies us.

When I visited my new great-grandson in the hospital, I noticed several people about my age holding and rocking infants in the nursery. When I learned that this simple act helps at-risk babies have a good chance at a healthy life, I volunteered. Does me good as well!

—Yvonne F., former businesswoman

Volunteering also gives us a tremendous sense of pride from earning the respect of others. We enjoy being appreciated and recognized for our efforts. Volunteering can also help us develop new skills and open doors to opportunities!

I love gardening and volunteered on the weekends at our local botanical centre. When I retired and was there more often, people began to ask if they could hire me to design their garden. I now offer services in small garden design, especially using native plants.

—Gail B., former sr. nurse

The options for volunteering are limitless, but here are some examples:

• Teaching English or other languages, or teaching adults to read
• Assisting children with math and other school subjects
• Delivering meals to shut-ins
• Counselling young mothers, new business owners, or disadvantaged youth
• Participating in programs such as Habitat for Humanity
• Being a starter and/or marshal at a golf course (usually earns free rounds)

For myself, I volunteer with CESO (Canadian Executive Service Organization) and for over ten years I’ve regularly travelled to Nunavut, one of Canada’s Arctic Territories.  I have been involved in mentoring Inuit and non-Inuit supervisors and managers in all aspects of human resources, my area of expertise.

When considering volunteering, ask yourself? “How much time do I want to commit?” Is the answer three hours a day, one morning a week, or two days a week? Once you decide what makes sense for you, stick to your time allocation until you’re sure you can and want to handle more.

You also need to learn to say no because volunteer organizations are constantly looking for additional help. It’s easy to find yourself bombarded with requests, and you can quickly become overwhelmed. If requests for your time and talent grow to be too much, don’t be afraid to say, “Thanks but no thanks.” Learn how to disengage yourself completely if the hours become too much or if the organization is not to your satisfaction.

You’ll Need More Than Work, Paid or Unpaid

The most significant hazard of working or volunteering is being lulled into thinking that it will be enough to generate a successful retirement. It won’t.

Most retirees who work for a pay cheque or volunteer still find their lives have significantly changed, especially because most work or volunteer only part-time. There is, however, still a great need to actively plan and manage your leisure time. In other words, planning and implementing a balanced retired life is still important. As the comment below illustrates, developing such a work/ life balance can be important whether one is retired or not.

My goal in bringing my father to your program was to encourage him to do something besides watch TV. I believe it will help him, but I have to say your comments hit home for me as well. I plan to use the list of “balance” to make some changes.

—Clint B., postal worker