You’ve chosen one of the most honorable, intense, and pressure-filled professions in existence. Lawyers don’t typically just “fall into” their profession because they don’t know what else to do with their lives. Instead, lawyers are often attracted to the profession because they are highly competitive, intelligent, and ambitious. In short, you probably became a lawyer because you strive to be the best – at whatever you put your mind to.
However, the constant drive to excel can take an emotional toll. Stress at some point becomes an issue for even the savviest of lawyers. This should come at little surprise – lawyers experience the constant collision of external and internal pressures. External pressures include long hours, pressure and intensity of the job. Meanwhile internal pressures are typically spearheaded by your perfectionism and ambition. On top of all this, the struggle with stress is not commonly addressed in a meaningful or helpful way. It may even be the case that lawyers fear to be open about their everyday stress levels because they are afraid of being seen as weak or incapable. If not addressed, stress can have drastic impacts on your practice, your clients, your relationships with colleagues, and your family life. If not addressed, stress becomes chronic stress.
For attorneys, the consequences of chronic stress can be dire. Recent studies show:
- Out of 104 occupational groups, lawyers rank the highest in depression.
- Lawyers exhibit high levels of substance abuse problems – almost 10% more than the general population.
You may be so consumed with the fast paced, non-stop manner of your work that you don’t notice the impact of stress. In order to manage stress healthfully, you must be aware of it. How do you know whether you are at risk for chronic stress? Start by taking inventory of your current functioning, and note any of the following symptoms which may indicate chronic stress:
- Thoughts – Do you regularly feel your thoughts are fast paced or rabbit slow?
- Sleep – Do you have difficulty sleeping? Do you wake-up too soon – feeling unsatisfied and restless but still tired?
- Appetite – Do you worry that you are eating too much, or do you have substantially less appetite than usual?
- Emotions – Do your moods frequently shift? Do you feel angry, overwhelmed, or irritable?
If you are experiencing some or all of the above symptoms as a result of stress, try the following to get your stress under control:
Be realistic
One of the most important ways to manage stress is to cut out unrealistic goals. For attorneys this is both crucial and likely the most difficult change. Try setting small goals and accomplishing each one at a time. Mark down each completed task as you finish. Allow yourself time enjoy your feeling of accomplishment. You’ll soon begin to defeat insipid feelings of failure which may haunt you when you led your life by less reasonable expectations. It is not unreasonable to not complete an unreasonable amount of work in a day.
Seek balance
Due to the demanding nature of the work, lawyers often place their personal lives on the back burner. A life that revolves solely around work will inevitably be stressful. Each day, take time to reconnect at home.
Even if it’s only for 30 minutes, turn off the Blackberry or iPhone, and wipe your mind of the thoughts of any case you are working on. Use those 30 minutes to be both physically and mentally present and enjoying your friends or family. Through this simple step, you will protect the bonds you care about the most as well as rejuvenate your mind for the tasks that remain. You can return to your work with a calm heart and fresh eyes.
Take time for you
Attorneys can also reduce stress by placing more emphasis on “Me time.” Lawyers so often work to fulfill the obligations of others that they may begin to feel like a drone –and this can lead to less passion for the work you do. Incorporate time in your daily routine to explore your hobbies and interests. Whether this personal time is used for exercise, a massage, or reading the sports pages, make sure its something you do for YOU. Once you invest time into yourself – you will feel more excited to help others.