Ways Lawyers Can Reduce Stress Levels

Practicing law can be one of the most stressful professions out there. If you want to avoid burnout, you must have strategies in place to manage your stress levels.

To say that practicing law is stressful is an understatement. Clients and organizations rely on lawyers to protect them and their finances, families, and livelihoods. Attorneys work within an adversarial system and due to overwhelming workloads, tight deadlines, and general day-to-day anxieties, they are at risk for extremely elevated stress levels according to the ABA.

A study conducted by the ABA and Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation found that practicing attorneys and others in the legal profession experience higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress than those in other occupations. And unless these conditions are properly managed, consequences inevitably follow such as depersonalization, emotional and physical exhaustion, and a decreased sense of accomplishment.

In today’s world, there are countless resources, blogs, and personal recommendations for managing and coping with stress. But how do you know what really works?

Here are seven ways that lawyers can cope with and effectively manage the stress that coincides with practicing law:

1.       Step away

As counter-intuitive as it sounds when you feel yourself getting overly stressed about a looming deadline or assignment, stop what you’re doing and take a quick break away from your desk. Step outside and take a short walk—just breathing in a little bit of fresh air can make a big difference during highly stressful times throughout your day. Grab a coffee and take five minutes to yourself to enjoy it. Little breaks here and there can reenergize you and boost your productivity, but it’s important to remain mindful and keep these breaks short. You don’t want them to turn into procrastination opportunities.

2.       Get organized

The simple act of maintaining an organized desk or workspace can significantly reduce stress and boost productivity. A desk cluttered with papers and documents can translate to a cluttered and disorganized frame of mind. So, remain cognizant about the state of your workspace and focus on keeping it organized and tidy. For some, the act of cleaning and organizing can be a stress reliever, in and of itself.

3.       Try to adhere to a reasonable set of hours

Most attorneys are accustomed to overworking themselves. Eighty-hour work weeks can be the norm for some. To reduce stress and preserve your sanity, attempt to keep your workweek to 40-50 hours per week. While the sheer notion of cutting your hours may induce panic and raise questions regarding how and when you’ll get all of your work done—and it may be impossible in some settings—take heart. The quality of your work, along with your overall productivity, will all be greatly enhanced if you find ways to become more efficient—and you’re well-rested and focused as a result.

4.       Block out time

To keep your day structured and to help avoid taking work home, designate uninterrupted blocks of time during the day to work on specific projects—and stick to them. Your personal time is important, so do your best to adhere to your self-made schedule and try to refrain from lugging your physical and mental workload home with you.

5.       Prioritize your vacations and PTO

The simple act of planning and anticipating a vacation or time off can be a huge stress reliever. As a best practice, always keep events on your calendar that you can look forward to. Sometimes that’s all you need to get you through the most stressful points during your workweek.

6.       Get moving

There is no secret here—physical activity helps you to cope with and lessen stress levels. Exercising doesn’t mean you have to block out hours at the gym. Sometimes, just 15 minutes of cardio or strength training is all you need to get your mind in order before your workday or a hearing. Regardless of how you choose to get your fitness on, just remember that exercise matters and it needs to be prioritized.

7.       Be assertive

If there are times that you legitimately feel underwater and that you're losing your mental grip because of your workload, talk to someone who can throw you a lifeline.  Whether you get some assistance or an extension on a tight deadline, the byproduct of your conversation should help you let go of some of your undue stress.

When all else fails, try to shift your focus. Hopefully, you got into law because you love it. So, try to focus on the parts of your job that you sincerely enjoy and ease up on yourself when it comes to the rest.

Carrington Legal Search is devoted to finding the ideal candidates for our clients’ recruitment needs. We have particular expertise in the Financial Services (banking, insurance, investment management, etc.) and Technology verticals. To make our nationwide network work for you, get in touch at 512-627-7467 or email carringtonlegal.com