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.
