What should I volunteer for?

It sometimes seems obvious that something needs to be done and you're the right person to do it. Other times, it is less clear what the priority is or what fits you best. At that point, it makes sense to take a step back and explore what options you have to address your current dilemma.

Step in the meta-problem	Illustrative Example
Dilemma The high-level issue you are trying to address	What should I volunteer for?
Goal The change you have decided to make to address the dilemma. There are usually many choices. Selecting the best set is also a meta-problem.	Supporting Goals Most positive impact on the world. Lowest effort compared to the value. Learnings that will be useful in the future. Most fun to do.
Problem Space Consider the cluster of adjacent problems that you could solve to deliver the goal.	Options Creating something tangible (writing, building, etc). Organizing a group for a task / project. Planning and project managing. Recruiting new volunteers. Asking for and collecting donations. Attending meetings and sharing ideas / insights. Et cetera.
Meta-Problem Which of the many possible options is the best set of problems to solve in order to achieve the goal	Decision Criteria Which problem will best support the goal? Which problem will deliver the best outcome for the least amount of time, effort and money? Which problem will motivate you to keep contributing?
Implement, Learn and Adapt	Observe and learn as you go. New information may reveal itself as you implement your chosen solution, so check continuously that you’re still solving the right problem