When it comes to high pressure jobs, interpreting is not often the first thing that comes to mind. However, this does not mean that interpreter wellness and mindfulness have no place.
For Prestige Network’s fourth Wellness session, we were honoured to have Daciana Indolean, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner and Prestige interpreter, talk about mindfulness and how it can help interpreters.
Common stressful situations for interpreters
One of the best parts of holding wellness sessions is that it offers interpreters a community to share with others in the industry. One of the things that come up a lot during our wellness sessions is the fact that it can be hard for those outside the industry to understand the stress that comes with interpreting.
The burden of knowing but lacking the ability to unload was one of the things that our interpreters said were the hardest parts of the job. This is especially true for those working in the public sector where medical and legal interpreting take the forefront.
Many interpreters commented on the fact that they went from part-time to full-time during the pandemic. This acted as a shock to their system and they had to find a way to adapt to the increase in work.
What helps our interpreters
One common thread among the interpreters present was the importance they placed on taking breaks. They found it very helpful to be able to distance yourself from work when you can to alleviate built up stress. Many also found it useful to physically distance themselves from their “work space”.
Daciana told the group that being in nature can aid in escapism and to help feel less enclosed, both literally and metaphorically.
One important takeaway from this session was the need to breathe.
Although this sounds basic, Daciana suggested this as a vital practice due to both its effectiveness and ease, simply just take a small amount of time to breathe deeply. There is no time requirement. It could be 15 minutes. It could also be for three breaths.
Making a big difference
This was the overwhelming response that interpreters gave us during the session.
They enjoyed being able to get together with peers and share experiences. They found that offloading to those in the industry offered up benefits that they normally struggle to find.
And that is one of the big reasons that Prestige Network will continue to hold wellness sessions. If you are interested in joining, the next one will on Wednesday 21st July with our British Sign Language expert, Wendy White.
There still spaces available so if you are interested, email our Shared Services team to receive a free invite.
