I’m enjoying the transitions and lessons of this time in my life. This year has brought:
2 kids in high school
1 kid turned 21
A smaller, more connected circle of friends and family
A full time job with benefits (for the first time in 17 years!) as a mental health coach
Retirement from interpreting
So much spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, gender, sexuality exploration, conversation, practice, and clarification
Coming out as non-binary
More contentment than I’ve ever experienced
All of these processes and milestones have led me to a place of more clarity about the role of Burnout Proof Academy in my life. As I’ve immersed myself in my full-time work with Lyra Health, I’ve found that I’m ready to close this chapter.
As of December 31, 2022 Burnout Proof Academy will be closing.
I want to thank you for being a part of this nurturing endeavor – together we have supported each other through some incredible highs and lows, and I cherish every one.
If you’d like to complete a course for CEUs, you have until then, so hop to it! If you’d like to connect with others for group support, check out the buddy completion groups in the featured posts here. Comment on the post for the course you’re working on, and connect with others who comment there too!
If there’s a course offered that you still want to register for, here’s a 50% off coupon – feel free to share it with friends and take the course together! Just use code BPATHANKYOU50 at checkout.
Burnout Proof 101 The first step to taking better care of your precious self | 0.1 GS CEUs
Interpreters are charged with bearing witness to some of life’s greatest beauty and deepest pain, all while maintaining a stance of neutrality and flexibility. Over time, and especially during times of stress, this can take a toll on your body, mind and spirit.
In order to show up for others and do the work that’s ours to do in the world, we must have a foundation of self-care that sustains us.
During this workshop we’ll explore burnout and its effects on your life. We’ll look at how to make time for yourself, what areas of your life need tending to avoid burnout, and simple ways to celebrate your accomplishments and receive support.
Upon registration, you’ll have access to the recorded workshop where you’ll come away with a doable Burnout Proof plan, more peace and clarity, and a community to support you in taking better care of yourself.
This is an on-demand, self-paced course worth 0.1 GS CEUs. If you haven’t yet registered, just click below and you’ll get instant access to everything!
What’s Happening at Burnout Proof Academy This Month?
Burnout Proof Book Club: The Gifts of Imperfection
Recording of the live discussion has been posted!
“Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are.”
Join us as we read and discuss:
The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brené Brown
From the book’s description: “Now more than ever, we all need to cultivate feelings of self-worth, as well as acceptance and love for ourselves. In a world where insults, criticisms, and fears are spread too generously alongside messages of unrealistic beauty, attainment, and expectation, we look for ways to “dig deep” and find truth and gratitude in our lives. A new way forward means we can’t hold on too tightly to our own self-defeating thoughts or the displaced pain in our world. Instead, we can embrace the imperfection.”
Purchase and read or listen to The Gifts of Imperfection
Answer discussion questions for each section of the book
Watch the discussion recording or choose another final reflection project
Receive 0.75 GS RID CEUs!
This is an on-demand, self-paced course worth 0.75 GS CEUs. If you haven’t yet registered, just click below and you’ll get instant access to everything!
This is an on-demand, self-paced course worth 0.2 GS CEUs. If you haven’t yet registered, just click below and you’ll get instant access to everything!
Burnout Proof Book Club: The Gifts of Imperfection
“Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are.“
Join the Burnout Proof Book Club to create community and grow your support system with other wholehearted sign language interpreters as we learn and practice what it means to embrace perfection.
The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brené Brown
From the book’s description: “Now more than ever, we all need to cultivate feelings of self-worth, as well as acceptance and love for ourselves. In a world where insults, criticisms, and fears are spread too generously alongside messages of unrealistic beauty, attainment, and expectation, we look for ways to “dig deep” and find truth and gratitude in our lives. A new way forward means we can’t hold on too tightly to our own self-defeating thoughts or the displaced pain in our world. Instead, we can embrace the imperfection.”
Answer discussion questions for each section of the book
Attend the live Zoom discussion, watch the recording, or choose another final reflection project
Receive 0.75 GS RID CEUs!
Don’t miss the upcoming Live Discussion, happening May 18, 2022 from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm pacific. Put it on your calendar now!
This is an on-demand, self-paced course worth 0.75 GS CEUs. If you haven’t yet registered, just click below and you’ll get instant access to everything!
Burnout Proof Book Club: The Gifts of Imperfection
“Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are.“
Join the Burnout Proof Book Club to create community and grow your support system with other wholehearted sign language interpreters as we learn and practice what it means to embrace perfection.
The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brené Brown
From the book’s description: “Now more than ever, we all need to cultivate feelings of self-worth, as well as acceptance and love for ourselves. In a world where insults, criticisms, and fears are spread too generously alongside messages of unrealistic beauty, attainment, and expectation, we look for ways to “dig deep” and find truth and gratitude in our lives. A new way forward means we can’t hold on too tightly to our own self-defeating thoughts or the displaced pain in our world. Instead, we can embrace the imperfection.”
Answer discussion questions for each section of the book
Attend the live Zoom discussion, watch the recording, or choose another final reflection project
Receive 0.75 GS RID CEUs!
Don’t miss the upcoming Live Discussion, happening May 18, 2022 from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm pacific. Put it on your calendar now!
This is an on-demand, self-paced course worth 0.75 GS CEUs. If you haven’t yet registered, just click below and you’ll get instant access to everything!
Interpreting in times of stress is not business as usual.
Worry and uncertainty make for more charged interpreting situations and personal lives, and can trigger reactions that aren’t always aligned with our values.
This workshop will teach tools from the Learning Zone Model, mindful awareness, and neuroscience to better work with our brains during times of stress.
We’ll create a triage-care practice to provide daily maintenance through stressful times while building empathy, emotional regulation, and resilience.
This is an on-demand, self-paced course worth 0.2 GS CEUs. If you haven’t yet registered, just click below and you’ll get instant access to everything!
Self-Care Spotlight: Neck & Shoulder Relief with Jen Kagan Feb 19th, 2022 10:00 am pacific
Join us in the Burnout Proof Collective to learn from the wise Jen Kagan. Jen’s a sign language interpreter, yoga therapist and yoga teacher who specializes in helping sign language interpreters get out of pain and establish a long healthy career. She’ll be walking us through a quick way to relieve neck pain and improve posture, and answering all our questions live!
Broadcast in English, with English captions to come afterward.
Join the Burnout Proof Collective Facebook group now so you don’t miss it!
We’re dealing with more change and uncertainty today than ever before, and it’s stressing us out. This 7-day self-care reset will help you make meaningful time for yourself so you can start feeling more resourced, less stressed, and more like yourself again. Through this self-paced online course you’ll discover how to build new habits, what’s getting in the way of your self-care, what brings you joy, and how to care for yourself even when things don’t go as planned.
If you’re ready to make time for YOU, join me for a week of support and connection in this self-care reset.
Here’s what you’ll get:
0.3 GS RID CEUs
A daily intentional self-care practice
Connection with other interpreters for support + community
Clarity on what brings you joy and what holds you back from experiencing more of it
Support for coming back to your self-care habit whenever you lose your way
This is an on-demand, self-paced course worth 0.3 GS CEUs. If you haven’t yet registered, just click below and you’ll get instant access to everything!
Do you believe you can have the self-care that you want?
When it comes to self-care, have you thought:
I don’t have the time. I feel guilty for focusing on myself. I don’t even know where to start.
It can be overwhelming to imagine making any big changes. Especially right now, in this transitional phase between the isolation of the pandemic and resuming some in-person activities.
The pandemic and all the emotions that have come with it are still very much with us and yet things are changing.
You’re making new decisions. You’re getting more social invitations. You’re deciding how much energy you have. When do you need to start saying ‘no’ to people again? (We haven’t had to exercise our ‘no’ muscle in a while!)
The one thing you can do right now
Here’s one simple thing to help move you forward a little bit. One thing to do if you feel stuck, not knowing what to do next.
Start where you are.
Ask yourself:
Where am I now?
How am I doing now?
What am I experiencing?
What’s alive in me right now?
Take the quiz
This fun, short quiz helps you take stock of the areas where you may or may not be:
💞 showing up for yourself 💞 giving away your energy
💞 aligning with your life goals and values
…and come away with an idea of where you’re at.
The place to start is always exactly where you’re at.
The next step
Once you’ve gone through the quiz, take a look at your result.
Are you up in flames? Is the check engine light on? 🔥 Are you feeling great? Are your systems and your routines supporting you? 🥳 How do you feel about your result? What does it feel like in your body?
😞 Disappointment 😢 Sadness 😡 Anger 😄 Excitement 🥰 Pride
Take a moment now to check in with where you’re at and how you feel about it. This might be uncomfortable! That’s ok.
Feeling the discomfort, naming what you’re feeling, breathing through it, and doing the next right thing is building your nervous system’s capacity! You’re doing great.
Photo by Diana Simumpande
When you’re done
Head on over to our private Facebook group to share your score with us and let us know how this was for you.
What’s Happening at Burnout Proof Academy
It’s been a fairly quiet summer here at Burnout Proof Academy, but we have an exciting book club going right now that you can still jump in on!
Who were you, before you learned to be good?
Speaking directly to anyone who relates to putting others’ needs and feelings before your own, Untamed, by Glennon Doyle, reconnects us to the wild inside each of us.
Join Burnout Proof Book Club as we read Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Come create community and grow your support system as you learn and practice what it means for you to quit pleasing and start living.
All you need to do:
Enroll in the course
Purchase and read or listen to UNTAMED
Answer discussion questions for each section of the book
Participate in the Live Discussions or watch the recordings
Fall is an exciting time at Burnout Proof Academy!
We’ve been working on a new way to earn CEUs while getting burnout support and building community, and it will be available first exclusively to members of our Facebook group and email list.
Speaking directly to anyone who relates to putting others’ needs and feelings before your own, Untamed, by Glennon Doyle, reconnects us to the wild inside each of us.
Join Burnout Proof Book Club as we read Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Come create community and grow your support system as you learn and practice what it means for you to quit pleasing and start living.
All you need to do:
Enroll in the course
Purchase and read or listen to UNTAMED
Answer discussion questions for each section of the book
Participate in the Live Discussions or watch the recordings
Receive 1.1 GS RID CEUs!
Our first Live Discussion was held in ASL and focused on getting to know each other and discussing the prologue and part 1 of the book.
The hour was packed with poignant honesty and real-time revelations, including real talk about:
Our untamed selves (with pictures!) – who we are when we don’t care what others think
Why the term ‘people-pleasing’ might be just another way to beat ourselves up
The movie Frozen, and how our most powerful gifts can hurt us when we don’t know how to harness them for good
What we lost when we learned to please others over pleasing ourselves
Our own ‘snow globes’ – the ways we make ‘snow flurries’ to keep from acknowledging the dragon at our center
When you register, you’ll get instant access to the recording and all the info to prepare for the second Live Discussion happening September 29th, 2021 from 5 – 6 pm pacific.
This is an on-demand, self-paced course worth 1.1 GS CEUs. If you haven’t yet registered, just click below and you’ll get instant access to everything!
If you are reading along with us but were unable to make the first live discussion, here’s another opportunity!
Join the live discussion to real-talk about:
The ‘yuck’ that’s leftover after handling a problem.
How holding everything in and doing for everybody else keeps us up late at night.
The shame we feel from HAVING emotions.
Taking up a hugging practice.
The struggle of saying what we need or how we feel.
The inbox in our gut where we store our uncompleted stress.
That it’s ok not to be ok.
This is an on-demand, self-paced book club offering worth 1.3 GS CEUs, with a Live Discussion opportunity. Click below to register and get instant access to everything!
Don’t miss the upcoming Live Discussion, happening August 11th 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm pacific. Put it on your calendar now!
Summer is the peak of the harvest – bringing fullness of life and emotions.
If you’re feeling energetic and expansive, this protocol can support you in enjoying your people and expressing yourself.
This season can also bring up grief and sorrow. If you’re feeling it, this protocol can help you to remember you’re not alone, to connect with your body’s wisdom, and to express your emotions.
As you apply these oils, bring your attention to your senses:
Inhale the fragrance of each oil separately, and the combinations
Feel your own touch as you apply them to your body lovingly
See the colors of the bottles and the amber drops of liquid
Set intentions with each oil application, grounding yourself in what you know to be true
Invite the properties of each oil to inspire your intentions:
Cedarwood – You are not alone. Identify the supportive people who love you unconditionally.
Grapefruit – Develop awareness of your body and its important messages.
Spearmint – Express yourself with confidence and clarity.
Safety + Efficacy
Dilute essential oils with a carrier oil for increased efficacy and decreased skin sensitivity.
Citrus oils like Grapefruit can produce photosensitive reactions. Use on skin covered by clothing if you’ll be in the sun.
Some oils are hot or ‘spicy’ to the skin, including cassia, oregano, thyme, peppermint, and spearmint. Dilute to decrease this sensation.
May the energy of this season work in and through you. May you enjoy the fruits of your labor and much needed rest. May you know the love that surrounds you, may you connect to your source and to others who help you remember your worth.
So many cities across the country are already getting intense heat.
Here in Portland temps are in the record-breaking triple digits. We got our pool set up and AC units in the windows (houses in Portland don’t usually come with AC), and we’re eating lots of cold fruit and salad.
I hope you’re finding ways to stay cool and safe!
July 2021 Self-Care at Burnout Proof Academy
Healing Interpreter Burnout: Complete Your Stress Cycle
Image: The Insightful Interpreter
Are you feeling exhausted?
Burnout and emotional exhaustion can have negative impacts on your health, relationships, and work.
It can be hard to know how to rescue yourself, let alone find the energy to take positive steps.
Good news! You don’t have to live like this. A long, fulfilling career is within your grasp. This course can help.
You will explore:
Your stress cycle: what it is, how to complete it, and how it affects you when you don’t
Techniques for self-regulation that you can use during your work day
How to form and integrate new, healthy habits to help heal and prevent burnout
0.35 GS CEUs through The Insightful Interpreter, processed by Interpretek
Healing Burnout Group Study Guide
Get 0.2 additional CEUs for gathering your friends and discussing what you learned in the Healing Interpreter Burnout course.
If you like to learn and grow within community, we have a treat for you! The Group Study option is scheduled to be available for the Healing Interpreter Burnout course through The Insightful Interpreter, the week of July 6th, 2021!
Support for Insecurity and Self-Doubt
Close the Gap in Confidence, Skills, and Self-Analysis for Sign Language Interpreters with a Deaf Mentor
Did you miss the Facebook Live with Shanna Grossinger in our Burnout Proof Collective Facebook group?
If you are reading along with us but were unable to make the live discussion, here’s another opportunity!
Join the live discussion to real-talk about:
The ‘yuck’ that’s leftover after handling a problem.
How holding everything in and doing for everybody else keeps us up late at night.
The shame we feel from HAVING emotions.
Taking up a hugging practice
The struggle of saying what we need or how we feel.
The inbox in our gut where we store our uncompleted stress.
That it’s ok not to be ok.
This is an on-demand, self-paced book club offering worth 1.3 GS CEUs, with a Live Discussion opportunity. Click below to register and get instant access to everything!
Don’t miss the upcoming Live Discussion, happening August 11th 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm pacific. Put it on your calendar now!
Book Club courses will return in the Fall with some great picks. We learned many helpful things from this survey, thanks to all who participated!
A few key takeaways:
Wednesday evenings were a clear winner
Imposter syndrome was requested as a topic for reading, and I’m happy to say just about every one of these books will support us there!
And the winner is…..
UNTAMED, by Glennon Doyle
Live Discussions September 1st & 29th, 2021
We’ll be trying out a new format, meeting once to kick off this new read – getting to know each other and discuss first impressions of the book – and then again at the end of the month to discuss the rest of the book, share takeaways, and connect more deeply with each other.
Thanks to those who suggested this new format! I’m looking forward to meeting with you twice!
Fourth Place Tie
Hope in the Dark
My Grandmother’s Hands
Watch for these book club offerings Fall of 2021 and Winter of 2022!
Recalibrate | July 2021 Oil Protocol
This is a time of taking stock and opening to recalibration. Be with yourself in the discomfort.
Locate the gaps between where you are and where you want to be. This requires getting radically honest with yourself about your current experience.
Can you allow it? Can you name every nuance of it? And even more, can you feel it and stay with it as long as it wants to move in you – without inflating or stoking the flames?
Apply this protocol and then follow your body as it wants to move: dancing, crying, resting, or punching pillows.
Allow what’s alive in you to be honored and expressed, and allow it to subside when it’s over.
As you apply these oils, bring your attention to your senses:
Inhale the fragrance of each oil separately, and the combinations
Feel your own touch as you apply them to your body lovingly
See the colors of the bottles and the amber drops of liquid
Set intentions with each oil application, grounding yourself in what you know to be true
Invite the properties of each oil to inspire your intentions:
Melaleuca – between eyebrows – tune into your energetic boundaries and seal the leaks.
Cypress – rub on belly in a circular motion – encourage movement and flow throughout your core.
Cardamom – inside navel – allow deeper emotions to surface and be attended to.
Tangerine – heart + inside wrist creases – activate creative energy to process and move with your emotions.
Safety + Efficacy
Dilute essential oils with a carrier oil for increased efficacy and decreased skin sensitivity.
Citrus oils can produce photosensitive reactions. Use on skin covered by clothing if you’ll be in the sun.
Some oils are hot or ‘spicy’ to the skin, including cassia, oregano, thyme, and peppermint. Dilute to decrease this sensation.
