I say no all the time- just not as often as I should. Interpreters have a tendency to say yes. We want the work. We want to be flexible. We want to satisfy the consumers' expectations. Sometimes in the midst of it all, we forget to take care of yourselves. Constantly operating in Energizer bunny mode can and will lead to burn out. It's one thing to know the limitations of one's interpreting skills; know the limitations of one's mind and body is a different story.
For me, it's easy to say no to an assignment if I do not feel qualified or if it's not my forte (i.e. medical and legal). Often I say yes too often, momentarily forgetting about my physical and mental limitations. We're often told that the interpreting profession is feast or famine, so we work as much as we can when we can. We must all live a balanced life in order to work more effectively. For me, I try to put my family first, even though I occasionally sacrifice time with my husband to work evenings. Last week, I turned down a job when I was qualified and available and I was proud of myself. I listened to my physical limitations.
I am at a major transitioning moment in my life. Now, I need to get motivated to take care of myself after sacrificing so much of my physical and mental well-being for far too long. On my to list?
1) Eat healthier- more fruits and veggies, less take-out and delievery
2) Get back into shape. I need to exercise more, do pilates for toning and relaxation, and lose the 10(ish) pounds that I gained this past year.
3) Give myself permission to have down time and relax. A vacation would be nice too.
And the irony of all of this? As I was contemplating the importance of self-care, I tweaked my neck on Sunday morning, aggravating a prior injury. Fortunately, for me, Monday was a Federal holiday and my other assignments this week have ended early or canceled with pay. For the moment, as I sit here with my ice pack, I am giving myself permission to relax and enjoy the time off. After all, it's Thursday afternoon and I was supposed to be working.
As a student interpreter, I am saying yes to everything. The experience is great and the contacts are wonderful. Many times, I don't know how to discern whether I can't do it because of limitations I know I have or perceived fear which, in turn,limits me. I have trouble saying no unless I "true-biz" know I can't do it. I feel that if I'm declining, it's because of fear or nervousness. How do you personally discern fear from real limitation in accepting or declining an assignment?
ReplyDeleteHi Ayesha-
ReplyDeleteYou ask a really good question, but I am not sure if there is an easy answer. When in doubt, always go with your gut. Although you'll want to challenge yourself and try new things, sometimes it is safer to say no. If there is a particular setting that you are interested in, I would encourage you to find a mentor who specializes in that situation (ie mental health, medical, etc.). By working with a mentor, you can develop your skills and get a better idea of what is required to work in that situation. Additionally, the mentor can guide you, while ensuring the consumers are receiving quality interpreting services. Team interpreting is another option, however, it can place too much pressure and responsibility on the co-interpreter and can result in an unbalanced team.
Most importantly, view every assignment as a learning experience. Despite your best efforts and intentions, you will make mistakes. The important part is learning from your mistakes (and successes) for the future.
I wish you and everyone else the best of luck in their professional endeavors.