BURNOUT PROOF The VRS interpreters guide to a long and happy career - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

BURNOUT PROOF

The VRS interpreter’s guide to a long and happy career

Breana Cross Hall B.S., CI/CT CTA Certified Coach

To identify areas of self care, internal controls & self awareness that help prevent burnout in VRS.

Burnout: “a psychological syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment that can occur among individuals who work with other people in some capacity.” (Maslach, Jackson, & Leiter, 1997)

Safe BRAVE & Supportive Space

It's All About You

It's All About You

What do you hope to get out

• f this

workshop?

1

Contributing factors (McCartney 2006)

• role conflict
• role overload
• poor working conditions
• unrealistic expectations
• f the interpreter
• unrealistic expectations
• f the interpreter by
• thers
• stress associated with pay

level

• interpreters’ perceptions of

job demands/controls

• cumulative trauma

disorders (including carpal tunnel syndrome)

• misconceptions on the

interpreter’s and consumer’s parts

More VRS burnout Factors

• Multiple energy exchanges

(hundreds per day!)

• Historically independent

contractors in corporate setting

• Quantitative measurement of
• ur work

Effects of burnout

• Alienation, cynicism, lack of empathy and

emotions, or aggression (The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, n.d.)

• One study showed that VRS interpreters

experience greater psychological distress than interpreters in the other three work

• settings. (Dean, Pollard, & Somar, 2010)

Costs of burnout Maslach, 1982

• health problems
• psychological impairment
• loss of self-esteem
• A growing dissatisfaction with the job
• Negative impacts on the Deaf caller
• Negative impacts on the VRS industry
• Negative impacts on the employee’s family
• Negative impacts on society in general

What are the costs?

1

Why did you start working at VRS? Or as an interpreter in general? Why do you continue doing it? Get very honest about your reasons.

Why do we do it?

Why Make a Change?

2

Levels of change

VI: What is within my control? VRS Users Employer/VRS Companies FCC Regulation

Burnout Proof Self Care

Cultivate Healthy Boundaries

Energy budget

IN Energized Centered Confident Respected Clarity In choice Vibrant OUT Resentment Ailments Crisis Obligation Anxiety Depression Exhaustion

What activities?

IN Energized Centered Confident Respected Clarity In choice Vibrant OUT Resentment Ailments Crisis Obligation Anxiety Depression Exhaustion

3 Keys to Better boundaries for VRS Interpreting

• Set clear intentions
• Listen for your “Heck, YES!”
• Treat yourself the way you want to

be treated

Set Clear Intentions

• What’s in my control?
• What’s my goal?
• Do I choose this work fully?
• What do I contribute?
• What are my non-negotiables?

Listen for the “Heck, Yes!” When making decisions

• Get quiet & pay attention
• Does my body feel light or heavy?
• Am I doing this out of obligation?
• Do I feel drawn toward this, or do I

feel a clenching in my core?

Treat yourself the way you want to be treated

• You teach people

how to treat you

• Care for & respect

yourself first

3 Keys to Better boundaries for VRS Interpreting

• Set clear intentions
• Listen for your “Heck, YES!”
• Treat yourself the way you want to

be treated 5

Address Stress Improve Mindset

3 Ways to Address Stress for VRS Interpreters

• Practice mindfulness
• Ask “Whose business is it?”
• Try Tapping

Practice Mindfulness

• Just Breathe.
• Name your emotions & sensations
• Grounding

Whose business is it? 3 Kinds of business:

• Mine
• Yours
• God’s (nature, the universe, reality…)

Do Not Announce

Do Not Announce “This would go more smoothly if I could just announce myself as the interpreter.”

Try EFT Tapping

• Emotional Freedom Technique
• Tapping near end points of energy

meridians

• Address stress, pain, energy levels,

focus, & sleep

Try Tapping

1. Rate your discomfort 1-10 2. Set-up: “Even though I’m mad that the hearing caller said that, I still love and accept myself completely.” 3. Reminder phrases: “I’m mad.” “The HC shouldn’t say that.” “I hate feeling like this.” “I wonder what it would be like not to feel like this.” “I’m ready to not feel so mad.” 4. Deep breath & rate again 1-10

3 Ways to Address Stress for VRS Interpreters

• Practice mindfulness
• Ask “Whose business is it?”
• Try Tapping

6

Never Stop Growing

3 Ways to Build Skills

• Have a goal
• Find a mentor or workshop
• Team with intention

Personal Skill-Building Ideas

• Clear fingerspelling
• Address bias
• Consistent use of space
• Smoother turn-taking
• Modulate volume

7

Use Your Resources

Benefits of using resources

• Connection with others = Feeling less alone
• Gives others permission to ask for help
• We all grow!
• Learn something new
• Reduce stress

Who/What are my Resources

• Mentors
• Colleagues
• RID chapter
• Conferences
• Social Media

8

Get ongoing encouragement and Burnout Proofing tips. Connect with your colleagues. Be part of the self-care revolution.

Work for Change Service as Self-Care

3 Ways to Work for Change

• Host a TerpTalk, IPAHH, or

Burnout Proof group

• Share your gifts: Teach/Mentor
• Volunteer at your local school for the

Deaf 9

Burnout Proof

• Boundaries
• Mindset
• Skills
• Resources
• Service

The Whole Me

The Whole Me

• 1. Big Rocks
• Mother
• Interpreter
• Wellness

Coach

• Activist
• Friend

• 2. Why is each important?
• Interpreter: I value equity in communication
• access. I care about the rights and needs of

the Deaf community.

• Wellness Coach: I feel such joy supporting

women in taking better care of themselves. This lights me up inside! It’s what I was born to do.

• 3. How do you want to feel?
• Interpreter: Competent & Kind
• Wellness Coach: Centered, Open,

Curious, Compassionate

• Mom: Joyful, Peaceful &

Connected

• 4. What do you need?
• Interpreter: In order to feel

Competent & Kind, I need regular skill development & personal

• growth. My cup needs to be full. I

need a work environment that challenges me.

• 5. What Else?
• Daily exercise
• 8 hours of sleep
• Food that feels good in my body
• Hour lunch break to get outside
• Calming bedtime routine

• 6. What Gets in the way?

Look at your list of what puts you

• utside your energy budget
• Overscheduling
• “Emergencies”
• Too tired
• Financial constraints

• 7. One thing

I designate Sundays as family days & prep for the upcoming week.

Make it yours

What am I taking away?

Make healthy self-care habits stick in 6 weeks.

Begin Now

1.5 GS CEUs

bit.ly/BurnoutProofBootcamp

Book your free coaching session

brighterfocus.com

Reclaim Your Life