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High-level lawyers are experiencing unprecedented work burnout, and the struggle to maintain a work-life balance is a major factor behind it. Unfortunately, achieving a work-life balance as a lawyer is easier said than done, especially in a profession that constantly demands your time, attention, and skill. You might have trouble prioritizing yourself or setting boundaries, or you may not even realize you’re burnt out, as symptoms can manifest in other areas of your life.
Knowing the signs of burnout can help you preserve your quality of life.1 If you’re experiencing lawyer burnout, you may:
Read on as we discuss how lawyers can maintain a healthy balance between work and the rest of life.
It’s hard to put your foot down and establish boundaries at a job for which you feel a high level of personal responsibility. Despite the difficulty, this is one of the most crucial points of creating a sustainable attorney work-life balance.
You can set your boundaries in different ways, but some of the skills you may need include:
This is a good start on your path to setting up a clearer divide between your personal and work life.2
For many people in the legal industry, it’s second nature to say yes when someone asks you to take on a task, regardless of how busy you are on other high-priority projects.
If someone asks you to take on another task and you already feel stretched too thin, learn how to say no. This isn’t a sign that you aren’t a team player or that you don’t respect your colleagues. It’s a sign that you know your limits and won’t stress yourself to the point of causing your work quality to drop.
It is important to take the time to assess which projects and tasks are your highest priority at any moment. Once you’ve prioritized all of your active projects and assignments, it will be easier for you to devote the majority of your time and effort toward those matters that are highest on your list of priorities. Setting these priorities may involve having some honest conversations with colleagues and supervisors about your workload, but with practice you will see the benefits of this more proactive and practical approach.
Your physical and mental health can tie directly into how you perform professionally. In short, the more tired and worn out you are, the more the quality of your work may suffer.3 This may cause your reputation to suffer, too.
To keep your mental wellness and physical health at its best, prioritize self-care wherever possible. Self-care can look different for everyone, but can include:
By putting your all into relaxing, winding down, and taking care of yourself, you can also put your all into your work when you’re on the clock.
Cultivating good time management skills can help you identify the areas of your work habits that are lacking and implement new strategies to combat these issues. When you’re first building newer and more effective time management skills, you can focus on a few tricks:
Learning where and when to implement these tools can save you time and trouble, reducing burnout risks.
Of course, if you find yourself especially struggling, you can always call in the professionals. Career coaching services and counselors exist to help you get things straightened out, and law firm mentoring can set you on the right track.
Have you ever wondered if your job provides the right attorney work-life balance? Do you struggle to maintain a healthy divide between work and free time? If you find yourself questioning whether or not you should remain in your current role, consider legal recruitment services to ensure you can find the perfect fit.
When contemplating your legal career path, it's essential to understand in-house vs. law firm roles. Both roles offer their unique advantages, and it’s entirely subjective for you to discover which role may be better suited long-term to your career growth and goals.
As an in-house lawyer, you may find yourself more equipped with:
Alternatively, if you pursue a role at a law firm, you’ll be provided with:
After all of the schooling, drive, and hard work that it takes to become a lawyer at a firm or company, you want to love what you do! Keeping a burning passion for work allows employees to find easy work-life integration rather than worrying about striking a hard-to-define balance.
Of course, the aforementioned tips still apply even in the event that you love your job. After all, love alone can’t sustain your energy indefinitely.
You can also find new ways within your work to love what you do. This can include:
If you find new, refreshing ways to keep your love and passion for your work alive, then you’ll be able to sustain yourself as you move forward through the years.
To achieve true long-term success and satisfaction in your work, strike a good lawyer work-life balance. Take vacations and holidays where possible, and disconnect entirely from your work during them. Set hours and stick with them unless absolutely necessary. Don’t let your work consume your life. Accept help when you need it, and seek professional guidance where necessary. Consider your options carefully, and above all, maintain the same love for your work that guided you to your career path.
E.P. Dine is committed to supporting lawyers like you on your journey to strike this careful balance between your personal life and your law careers. We can help you maintain that separation, giving you the time and space to reclaim your life and set your boundaries.
After you start changing to keep a healthy work-life balance, you’ll find that legal work goes by much more smoothly. You won’t have to worry about the stress of heading into burnout and can instead focus on giving your clients your fullest each and every day.
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At E.P. Dine, we are committed to delivering content that is not only relevant and insightful but also rooted in professional integrity and expertise. To achieve this, every article published on the E.P. Dine blog undergoes a meticulous review process by qualified professionals with deep knowledge and experience in the legal field and legal recruitment.
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