6 Self-Care Tips for ASL Interpreters

The sign language interpreter business offers a fair share of benefits and challenges. While rewarding, this experience can also be strenuous for your mental and emotional wellbeing. If you are a part of this industry, try taking time out of your day to practice self-care. Doing so can help you to stay refreshed and engaged in what you do. Additionally, turn to HIS Sign Interpreting for a collection of ASL Interpreter resources.

HIS Sign offers numerous sign language interpreting services throughout the Washington, DC, region. If you require speech-to-text transcription, captioning services, or an interpreter skilled in ASL, HIS Sign can help. We provide superior professional accommodations with unmatched customer service on which you can rely. Additionally, we offer affordable rates for the best service possible. Contact us at (877) 458-7408 or visit our website to learn more about HIS Sign and our ASL, TypeWell, and CART services.

Below, we outline crucial self-care tips for ASL interpreters:

1. Take Breaks

Whether you work with mental health counselors—whose patients may have endured trauma—or at stressful business events, you may experience tough sessions. For instance, you may have vicarious trauma, an empathetic reaction that occurs when someone hears about another’s trauma. 

So, interpreters must take breaks during their work day. If you must work in emotional or triggering situations as an interpreter, use breaks to recover emotional and mental wellbeing. Remaining well-rested will help you deliver consistently positive results.

2. Exercise

Along with taking breaks between sessions, exercise is a great idea. Exercise helps distract one’s mind from work-related stress and boosts heart rate. While interpreters’ minds receive exercise day in and day out, their body muscles need attention too! 

It need not be intense, but consider how to incorporate exercise into your schedule. You might try breaking up workdays with:

• Walking or jogging
• Riding a bike
• Exercising at the gym
• Participating in a yoga session
• Taking a spin or other workout class

3. Set Boundaries

Recognize the kinds of clients who can present problems and try to avoid them. By setting boundaries with clients and yourself, both parties can ensure respect for one another and prevent animosity. Open and direct communication is the best way to handle such difficult situations.

4. Seek Out a Support System

Remote interpreting services can be an isolating and mentally exhausting job. If you do such work, create a support group with whom to vent and share comfort. Search for a local interpreter networking group or an online forum for interpreters.

At HIS Sign, our sign language interpreting team is close-knit and always ready to lend an ear to anyone who needs it. We constantly strive to create strong relationships within our dedicated team of interpreters.

5. Creating a Welcoming Workplace

If you often work in your home office, enhance its appearance to inspire productivity and keep yourself motivated throughout the day. When you step into your office,  you should feel energized and prepared.

Try adding decorations or photos to your office to make it as unique and “you” as possible. An organized and welcoming workspace enables you to perform your best while doing what you love.

6. Nourish Your Mind and Body

It seems obvious to fuel your mind and body when working, but it is easy to forget when other life stressors become too overwhelming. Taking care of your basic human needs helps to prevent stress from building up and taking over your day. 

Sign language interpreting is always fulfilling yet sometimes challenging. Still, taking care of yourself—eating a healthy diet, setting boundaries, exercising often—helps ensure that you perform at your best.

Services from Certified Sign Language Interpreters Available in Washington, DC

If you need registered sign language interpreters for educational, governmental, medical, private, or community events, turn to HIS Sign Interpreting. We offer both onsite and virtual ASL interpreting. Since beginning in 2009, we have made it our mission to create strong relationships within the Deaf community and with our clients. Contact us at (877) 458-7408 or visit our website to learn more about HIS Sign and our ASL, TypeWell, and CART services and explore our careers.