Being able to balance your personal and work life is crucial. But the long working days and the hyper-efficiency requirements of a job in the legal sector make this a tad difficult. In the past two decades, the schedule has not changed that much with a typical day for an attorney starting from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you account for the 45-minute commute and the hour you spend getting ready in the morning, you only have about ten hours left to allocate to sleep and personal life. If you’re able to maintain the recommended sleeping schedule of 7- 8 hours, this leaves you with just three hours for personal time.
A career in the legal sector is highly rewarding. But, it’s also incredibly stressful. Luckily, there are a couple of things you can do to make this life less stressful. Read on to learn the top tips to make your life less stressful.
Exercise
Who can ever find time to exercise, right? Even if you have a busy schedule, you can always sneak a couple of minutes during lunch to engage in a physical activity. The perks that come with this brief exercising are innumerable. Exercising helps to boost mood and renew your energy. If you can’t find time during the day, try walking to your workplace if it is not too far from your home.
Sleep
It is a no brainer that getting adequate sleep is imperative for everyone. However, the rampant presence of eye bags among young associates is high and it’s a problem that’s not likely to go away any time soon. Being a malpractice defense lawyer, you work up to late hours in the night, trying to make up for some hours before you can restart the daily cycle. Unfortunately, failing to sleep enough will just be counterproductive to your work. In fact, getting less sleep makes you more susceptible to making mistakes, which could cost you in the long-run.
Transition your day
Attorneys often rush through their daily routines so fast that by the end of the day, they feel like they’ve completed a marathon. However, you should always take a minute or two to breathe and reflect about the events of the day. Not only does this help to unburden your mind, but it also enables you to stay organized; hence, reduce your stress levels. Meditating is one way of relieving your mind of the massive amounts of information that it’s forced to retain.
Keep work at work
If you usually take lunch with your associates, avoid talking about cases every day. That brief period you allocate for lunch is your chance to recharge your batteries so that you can complete the remaining leg of the day. This also applies to when you go home. A home should be the one place where you’re able to relax after a long day’s work.
The Bottom Line
A new Canadian research study reveals that lawyers are at a higher risk of developing mental problems, especially depression. Although a career in the legal field is gratifying, it can also take a toll on your physical and mental health. To prevent this, ensure that you exercise enough, sleep enough, meditate and take breaks.