Guide to Navigating Burnout

Many legal professionals such as paralegals and, especially, lawyers experience mental health difficulties such as heaving to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression to name a few. Much of these negative experiences can be attributed to the demands of the profession.

Why is it important to focus specifically on stress? A study done by the Canadian Bar Association showed that stress/burnout was the most prevalent issue plaguing legal professionals, with a whopping 94% of professionals facing this issue on some level.

The demands of the profession include long hours, tight deadlines, and major responsibilities. These constant demands alone can easily wear someone out, not to mention out-of-job demands that everyone has in their personal life. All these things can culminate into a person feeling overwhelmed and fatigued both mentally and physically.

So how can you combat stress and burnout? Here a few helpful tips:

Disconnecting from Technology
- The mark of the 21^st century has been incredible innovation in technology which has had a dramatic impact on life today. We can think of many ways technology has improved life, but on the flip side there is a constant barrage of texts, emails, and calls that makes it difficult to disconnect from work. The result is an overstimulated brain. Turning off all screens for a few hours a day can be very helpful in calming the mind. Taking a walk or having a coffee in a park are good ways to disconnect and reconnect with nature.
You are what you eat
- A healthy and balanced diet has major impact on mental health and energy levels. It is not always easy to eat healthy as the demands of the profession often puts legal professionals on a time crunch which causes them to look for the fastest option. The fastest options are usually the unhealthy ones especially if not planned ahead. Having grilled chicken instead of fried chicken from your favourite sandwich spot can be a great way to begin a healthy life free of cholesterol and stress.
An hour a day keeps the doctor away
- The demands of the profession and life are constant and never ending. Taking an hour out of the day to partake in an activity of your choice such as meditation, running, or drawing is a great way to ground yourself and center your focus. Think of it as a way to recharge your mental battery. This hour can be whatever you choose it to be as it will be a gift from you to you.