You may not think of fundraising as fun, but there are small things you can do to make your fundraising responsibilities (and everyday life) more fun. And having fun really is important.
Did you know…? Medical professionals universally agree — having fun provides some of the best stress relief you can get.
In our American culture, where having a strong work ethic reigns supreme, the notion of “having fun” is almost frowned upon. In fact, the opposite is true — fun can actually help you be more productive at your job.
In other words, do not underestimate the power of FUN. 😀
8 Ways to Put the FUN Back in FUNdraising
So with an eye on stress reduction and boosting your productivity, here are eight of my own favorite ways to destress and put the FUN back into fundraising. Hopefully at least a few of these ideas will resonate with you and you’ll add them into your daily mix.
1. Turn on some music!
Whether mellow and relaxing or loud and happy, music can change your mood. Although cliché, I often put on Happy by Pharrell Williams when I need an attitude adjustment or to lift my spirits. I also enjoy Enya’s Orinco Flow when I need to relax.
2. Get up and move!
Sometimes you simply need to get up and move. If you’ve been at your desk for more than an hour, schedule a 5-minute dance break. If dancing isn’t your thing, keep a hula hoop or jump rope by your desk. If you’re not into jumping or dancing, try modified jumping jacks to get your blood flowing.
3. Take time off!
Fundraisers and nonprofit leaders are notoriously bad at taking time off. If you must work over the weekend or late into the evening, come in late the next day, or better yet, take the next day off entirely and make sure to have some fun during your off-time.
Similarly, be sure to use your vacation time — even for a staycation. That’s a great way recharge your battery and return with a new perspective.
4. Try something new!
Shake things up by getting out of your routine and your comfort zone. This can be stressful, but you could shift your perspective to make it exciting and exhilarating. Get creative — try a new technology or fundraising strategy or technique that you’ve always wanted to try.
5. Think BIG!
What would you do if you could not fail? This may put your fundraising efforts in perspective. What risks would you take? What rewards are possible?
6. Laugh out loud!
Sometimes you simply need to laugh. Laughter is possibly the best stress reliever. I just re-watched Something’s Gotta Give with Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson for the 100th time. Why? Because it makes me laugh out loud… every time!
7. Ring the bell!
Whenever you get a gift — large or small — ring a bell so the entire office can come out and celebrate with you. For even more fun, whenever anyone rings the bell, turn on some music and have a 3-minute impromptu dance party in the hallway. Get the blood (and laughs) flowing!
8. Treat yourself!
Take a walk, make a homemade meal, have lunch with a friend, go for a manicure, or visit your favorite bakery. Take time to do something you don’t do every day, but truly enjoy. Fundraising is tough work — you deserve to treat yourself on occasion.
A Bonus Way to Destress
Here’s an important bonus way to destress: give yourself permission to fail.
If you’re not failing, you’re not learning or growing. It also means you’re not asking enough. So have some fun with failure. Challenge yourself to get some no’s. Make a game out of it and give yourself a prize for every “no” you get.
Remember — if you aren’t getting any no’s in fundraising, you’re not asking enough.
Of course, getting too many no’s isn’t good either. Aim for a ratio of about 2:1. For every two gifts you get, you should expect a no. And sometimes the no’s all seem to come at once. That just means a flurry of yes’s are inevitable when your cold streak ends. So don’t let those no’s get you down.
Even More Ways to Destress and Have Fun!
Click below to get a super-helpful downloadable checklist with a grand total of 31 tips to improve the way you feel and your fundraising. These are small, incremental changes you can make each day.
31 Rules for Better Fundraising and a Better You »
What are some other ways you can put the FUN back in fundraising? Please share your ideas with other readers in the comments below.
Whenever someone is joining our Fundraising Team, we have a welcome sign for them on their monitor saying “Welcome to the Fun-raising Team”. FUN is so incredibly important! We kind of do all of the above. It makes our team the Dream Team we are. It makes being in the office together very productive, as we bounce ideas of each other.
Really fun article – thank you for pointing out that we have to celebrate our successes and destress by giving ourselves permission to fail ! Well done!