How to Prevent Lawyer Burnout
By Next Level Pod on July 6th, 2022 in Uncategorized
Burnout is serious.
It’s also, unfortunately, very common in the legal field.
As lawyers, we’re always running around to client meetings, facing serious and heartbreaking issues, and oftentimes bringing that home with us. There’s an expectation that we’re always working. This is only amplified when we own our own law firms.
This is why it is important to learn tactics to manage stress and prioritize rest. If you’re feeling burnt out, we highly recommend that you take it seriously, talk to a professional about it, and implement any necessary changes.
In this post, we’ll share some more ideas on how to start prioritizing rest and preventing burnout.
Delegation is Key
Many of us who own smaller firms feel like we can only charge a certain amount of money and that our clients won’t pay anything more than that amount. However, this can lead to burnout. We end up feeling like we don’t have enough help because we’re not charging enough to afford to hire team members.
On the other hand, when you are charging more, you can pay more for help. That gives you the ability to delegate to more people. Delegating in this way prevents you from getting overwhelmed by having to do it all.
So, consider raising your rates.
Build a Life You Love
As entrepreneurs, we should be able to decide how we want our days and businesses to look. For example, many people schedule regular vacations.
It is great to take some time away to relax. However, many people feel like they’re living for the next vacation. While vacations are a great opportunity to relax, if you’re living the rest of your days as a very stressed person, what’s the point?
Instead, create a lifestyle where you don’t have to dream about your next vacation just to get through the day. Look at the things you’re doing each day that stress you out and lead to burnout.
You could also consider switching practice areas. If the very area in which you’re working is what’s burning you out (instead of energizing you), start looking for a different practice area or a different type of law.
Finally, pay attention to your daily habits. It’s the little things that add up to major burnout.
For example, stop reading your email all of the time. Just because you can access your email from your bed, house, or vacation doesn’t mean that you should. Try taking the email app off of your phone for just two days and only check emails in the office. The same things that came up last night will still be there in the morning when you get to the office.
If you want to learn more about preventing burnout, check out Episode 049: How Do I Rest/Prevent Burnout?