The impact on mental health is a leading reason for lawyer’s stress and with a lack of work/life balance it isn’t hard to understand why the profession is noted as one of the most stressful.
It is important to create ways you can deal with stress and you learn how to maintain your mental health even when the workplace makes it difficult.
Here are 5 ways that you can learn to reduce your stress.
Set Boundaries and set aside time for yourself
It can be difficult to set boundaries at work where people are constantly asking you for answers and reminding you of deadlines. Setting boundaries gives you the space to take care of your mental health, which can, in turn, boost job satisfaction, morale, and a sense of unity with colleagues.
Setting boundaries can help improve your work-life balance, which is a major contributor to workplace stress.
Boundaries can include no messages or calls to your private number or after a certain time. This will tell your colleagues that you are prioritising your home life and this can easily restore a sense of freedom once you leave the office.
Another could be carving out time for a proper lunch break during the day, even if that is just 15 minutes. Having a quick break can rejuvenate you for the afternoon and allow you time to clear your head, leave the office if necessary.
Continue with your hobbies or start a new one
Assigning time to your hobbies can help your mental health as they give you a feeling of who you are when you try new things and improve. Whether you enjoy athletic hobbies or creative ones there will be something out there that you will enjoy and want to work on outside of work to take your mind off of the stress. Learning new skills can challenge your brain and keep you stimulated, which has great long-term benefits.
Starting a hobby could also be a great way to meet new people, join a class or a group who are trying the same thing allows you to build new relationships. Having people outside of work is vital to your mental health so you can enjoy the company whilst doing something that you enjoy and which relaxes you.
Set personal goals
Your personal life might be taking a hit when you work in the legal industry but it is important to take time to reflect on what else you want. Remember that you are more than your job and there is more you can do. Setting goals that are not about your career can recentre you and help you find a balanced life.
Goals can be big or small so you feel like you are doing more than going to the office and returning home. Set a goal to see your friends and family more often, to start that club you’ve been talking about, and to stop drinking coffee every day. The goal should be all about you, not a client or a boss in sight.
Exercise
This is an obvious one but definitely deserves a mention as we all know the advantages. Exercise stimulates the production of endorphins and reduces stress hormones which then make us feel more relaxed. Exercise can also improve our sleep at night and therefore allowing you to feel rested and restored for the day ahead. Whether it’s going to the gym, playing a sport, or going for a walk, exercise can be instrumental in reducing stress.
There are ways to squeeze exercise into a busy schedule. Try out a standing desk and put a foldable treadmill below so you can get a walk in without leaving your desk on busy days. Walking instead of driving where you can so you can get fresh air. If you can, try to fit in a quick workout like yoga into your morning routine so you start your day relaxed and with a sense of achievement before stepping into the office.
Utilise the legal tech or aid offered to you.
The rise of technology not only improves client satisfaction, but it can also help cut down the workload for lawyers and, therefore, diminish the stress of a long to-do list. Technology is being implemented more and taking over administration jobs, which in the past had taken up a lot of time for lawyers.
Not only can technology reduce stress by taking on tasks, but training programmes and workplace development can also become more accessible. With training comes a sense of improvement for the individual and this can decrease anxiety at work, especially for anyone joining a new team or career. Technology can help to reassure people that they have options to improve and make sure they are absolutely confident in their position too. By taking advantage of all the aids you have around you, work life can become much less stressful and you could have a stronger sense of control over your tasks.
Keep updated with Lawyer Monthly to find out what gadgets you can use for stress relief.
