Adjusting to your new service site-made EASY!

Choosing a service site can be exhausting, so, congratulations for selecting the perfect next step in your journey! You’ve given yourself another opportunity to shine, but considering things like location, area of interest, culture, possibilities for creative or professional development, & health and possibly childcare can be a challenge.

You took a leap of faith and have finally arrived at your newest service site. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteered or affiliate, serving in a new place can be as nerve wracking as it is exciting; let’s smooth out some wrinkles and dive into 3 insanely easy ways to adjust to your new service site.

1. Get yourself into a routine.

Everything’s different and there are so many new faces & things to learn. When do you start feeling more like yourself again? One great way to start is to get yourself into a routine. Any regular steps toward feeling normal is the best way to adapt to a new space. This could look like a morning or evening walk, daily journaling, or even a prayer practice. Consider adding a personal item to your living space to bring a sense of ease and comfort as well.

2. Involve yourself with the people & culture in your service area.

You’re feeling more like yourself. Now, it’s time to start involving yourself with the people and culture in your area. With a volunteer or work-trade salary, finding safe, cost-effective or even FREE activities to enjoy are key! Instead of high-risk tasks and all-day emails, trade your time getting to know the community. Depending on the time of year and climate of your new service site, things like public transit or a bicycle lets you cover a lot of ground, and fast! Plus, public buildings like libraries, markets, or cafe’s often have bulletin’s that share what’s happening in your area. Local museums and town hall buildings usually offer great ways to learn about local history & at a great price!

3. Listen twice & speak once.

Now that you’ve met some folks, and you’re finding the balance between blending in & standing out in the community, it’s time know how to use your new-found wisdom. Accepting where you’ve come from and where you’d like to go is a great place to be. Asking questions, saying what you mean, and knowing it’s okay to change your mind shows your peers you have an open and curious heart; it proves you’re willing to learn from people that have more (and sometimes less!) experience than you. This third tip is all about knowing to listen twice & speak once. Not only can this build great connections for future goals, but this can also build your confidence and self-esteem. Win-win!

BONUS: Give yourself room to breathe! Ok, sure, you’ve made some mistakes getting your footing but look how far you’ve come. Enjoy the view of where you are and the present moment. The best way to enjoy what’s happening for you now is to be here, now. Thinking to the future or past can bring worry and grief and bring more missteps. Work as hard at relaxing as you do at your service site and give yourself the gift of the present and live your life right now!

Whether you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert, are serving in a forest or a city, selfless service is a heart-aligned attitude and lifestyle. Now that you know the 3 easiest ways to adjust to your new service site, what choices are you making, and what questions are you asking yourself and others, that bring more joy and clarity to your new role?

Until next time,

Angela

P.S. Think you know which simple yet life-changing habit that I had to learn to make this process even easier? Send a comment with your guess.