{"id":11405,"date":"2024-05-21T15:12:48","date_gmt":"2024-05-21T14:12:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/?p=11405"},"modified":"2024-08-15T16:22:49","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T15:22:49","slug":"lawyer-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/lawyer-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Being a Lawyer Is Stressful &amp; 7 Tips to Manage Lawyer Stress"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lawyers are high achievers by necessity. To succeed in the competitive, pressure-filled legal industry, successful solicitors have to have exceptional work ethic and perseverance. But that heightened capacity, unfortunately, also applies to increasing levels of lawyer stress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While any career in legal inevitably comes with some level of stress, an abundance of stress can negatively impact your physical health. Stress can manifest through <\/span><a title=\"ABA resources on lawyer stress\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lawsociety.org.uk\/career-advice\/career-development\/stress-and-mental-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">mental health issues and physical symptoms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> like headaches, muscle pain, and digestive issues. Too much stress can even result in conditions like insomnia, burnout, and <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog on lawyer anxiety\" href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/mental-health-in-the-legal-profession\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">anxiety<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Why is being a lawyer stressful? Every day, solicitors juggle challenging deadlines, long work hours, and complex matters. In addition, lawyers often have to communicate with clients in emotional situations. And, while practising law is demanding no matter where you do it, different types of <a href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/practice-areas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">law practice areas<\/a> like family or criminal hold additional emotional stressors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Being a lawyer doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re doomed to live with high stress. You can\u2019t avoid it entirely, but you can choose a thoughtful approach to stress and take care of yourself. In the following post, we\u2019ll dive deeper into why being a lawyer is so stressful and what impacts stress can have on your physical and mental health. To help you get your stress in check, we\u2019ll provide ways to better cope and manage lawyer stress.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Why is being a lawyer stressful?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"o-image l-image aligncenter wp-image-11348 size-full \"\n\t\tstyle=\"max-width: 46.3125rem;  width: 741px;\"\n\t\t>\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"o-image__wrap l-image__wrap js-lazy-image-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"padding-top:65.7219973009%;\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"solicitor stress levels\"\n\t\t\t\t\talt=\"A&#x20;lawyer&#x20;sitting&#x20;at&#x20;a&#x20;desk&#x20;looking&#x20;at&#x20;a&#x20;laptop&#x20;stressed&#x20;out\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-13-at-14.52.40.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"741\"\n\t\t\t\t\theight=\"487\"\n\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t<\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\ttitle=\"solicitor stress levels\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"A&#x20;lawyer&#x20;sitting&#x20;at&#x20;a&#x20;desk&#x20;looking&#x20;at&#x20;a&#x20;laptop&#x20;stressed&#x20;out\"\n\t\t\t\twidth=\"741\"\n\t\t\t\theight=\"487\"\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-13-at-14.52.40.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"is-lazy js-lazy-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t<\/picture>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lawyers face multiple stressors every day. In addition to the pressure of helping clients through important or difficult legal matters, they also have to stay on top of an ever-changing industry and manage heavy workloads. Here are a few key reasons why being a lawyer is so stressful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Client facing<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Whether you\u2019re <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog post on working remotely as a lawyer\" href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/legal-professional-work-remotely\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">working remotely <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">or interacting face-to-face, it is incredibly difficult to navigate challenging client personalities while shouldering and sharing the emotional burden of your clients\u2019 situations. For example, if your client is going through a divorce, the stress of the situation can impact you as a lawyer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is also not unusual for clients to take their negative feelings and stress from their legal situations out on their lawyers. This can add to the emotional and mental toll lawyers experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Difficult matters<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Practising law is high stakes. Solicitors need to apply their professionalism to emotional or disturbing situations\u2014in practice areas like criminal law, where you might be working on assault or murder cases. Working with clients or being around people who have experienced or are experiencing significant trauma and stress can take a toll on lawyers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Long hours<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s not a stereotype: Lawyers work very long hours. Most lawyers work outside the usual nine-to-five workday preparing court documents, communicating with clients, and catching up on non-billable work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to the <\/span><a title=\"Clio's 2018 Legal Trends Report\" href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/guides\/2018-legal-trends-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2018 Legal Trends Report<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, 75% of lawyers regularly work outside of regular business hours. Additionally, the report tells us that the average full-time lawyer works 49.6 hours each week and logs an extra 140 hours of unplanned work. This equates to about 3.5 weeks of extra, unplanned work a year. Those long days and unplanned hours add up over time and contribute to high lawyer stress.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The law is constantly changing<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A lawyers\u2019s learning isn\u2019t over the day they graduate from law school. In the legal profession, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ongoing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawsociety.org.uk\/career-advice\/career-development\/continuing-competence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">continuing competence<\/a> for solicitors i<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">s important\u2014lawyers need to stay up-to-date with constantly changing rules and regulations in the law and important fields like cybercrime and <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog post on law firm data security\" href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/data-security-law-firms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">data security<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How lawyer stress can affect you<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Just as there are multiple sources of lawyer stress, the consequences of unmanaged stress can impact you in overlapping ways\u2014physically, mentally, and socially:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Physical consequences<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stress is a normal human response to life. But constant stress\u2014the kind that many lawyers deal with\u2014can take a negative toll on your body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Acute bouts of stress and chronic <\/span><a title=\"ABA resources on lawyer assistance\" href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/balance\/stress-management\/stress-symptoms-effects_of-stress-on-the-body\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">stress can manifest into physical symptoms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> like fatigue, trouble sleeping, muscle tension and pain, stomach and digestive issues, headaches, and more. One major reason for this is that stress<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0activates a human \u201cfight-or-flight\u201d response<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in the body and the release of stress hormones. An overabundance of stress hormones in your body can lead to physical symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mental consequences<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"o-image l-image aligncenter wp-image-8464 size-large \"\n\t\tstyle=\"max-width: 46.875rem;  width: 1024px;\"\n\t\t>\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"o-image__wrap l-image__wrap js-lazy-image-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"padding-top:53.8745387454%;\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"Illustration_Blog_Solicitor_Work_Related_Stress_Burnout\"\n\t\t\t\t\talt=\"An&#x20;image&#x20;of&#x20;battery&#x20;that&#x20;is&#x20;&quot;in&#x20;the&#x20;red&quot;&#x20;or&#x20;close&#x20;to&#x20;depleted,&#x20;which&#x20;serves&#x20;as&#x20;a&#x20;visual&#x20;metaphor&#x20;for&#x20;work-related&#x20;stress&#x20;for&#x20;solicitors&#x20;that&#x20;leads&#x20;to&#x20;burnout\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/10\/Illustration_Blog_Lawyer-Burnout-Stopping-it-Before-it-Starts-750x404.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"750\"\n\t\t\t\t\theight=\"404\"\n\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t<\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<source\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-srcset=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/10\/Illustration_Blog_Lawyer-Burnout-Stopping-it-Before-it-Starts-750x404.webp 1x, https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/10\/Illustration_Blog_Lawyer-Burnout-Stopping-it-Before-it-Starts-1500x808.webp 2x\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"image\/webp\"\n\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\ttitle=\"Illustration_Blog_Solicitor_Work_Related_Stress_Burnout\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"An&#x20;image&#x20;of&#x20;battery&#x20;that&#x20;is&#x20;&quot;in&#x20;the&#x20;red&quot;&#x20;or&#x20;close&#x20;to&#x20;depleted,&#x20;which&#x20;serves&#x20;as&#x20;a&#x20;visual&#x20;metaphor&#x20;for&#x20;work-related&#x20;stress&#x20;for&#x20;solicitors&#x20;that&#x20;leads&#x20;to&#x20;burnout\"\n\t\t\t\twidth=\"750\"\n\t\t\t\theight=\"404\"\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/10\/Illustration_Blog_Lawyer-Burnout-Stopping-it-Before-it-Starts-750x404.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"is-lazy js-lazy-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-srcset=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/10\/Illustration_Blog_Lawyer-Burnout-Stopping-it-Before-it-Starts-750x404.png 1x, https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/10\/Illustration_Blog_Lawyer-Burnout-Stopping-it-Before-it-Starts-1500x808.png 2x\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t<\/picture>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An abundance of stress is an enemy to the <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog post on lawyer wellness and mental health\" href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/mental-health-in-the-legal-profession\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">mental wellness of lawyers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Unchecked, excessive stress can contribute to long-term mental health issues. This includes issues like depression, anxiety, and substance-addiction problems\u2014all of which are <\/span><a title=\"article on lawyers revealing the truth depth of their mental health struggles\" href=\"https:\/\/www.law.com\/2020\/02\/19\/lawyers-reveal-true-depth-of-the-mental-health-struggles\/?slreturn=20200401185307\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">prevalent in the legal profession<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Social consequences<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When you\u2019re stressed, your relationships with friends, family, and even yourself suffer. Stressed-out lawyers get into a cycle of working and having work on their minds constantly\u2014even on the weekends or when spending time with loved ones. If stress leads to overwork that tips the scale of your <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog post on lawyer work-life balance\" href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/is-work-life-balance-in-uk-law-achievable\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">work-life balance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in a negative way, that means less time\u2014or less quality time\u2014with the people you care about.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">7 tips to cope<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Encountering stress is inevitable in the legal profession. But the way you handle it can make a big difference in how stress impacts your career, health, and emotional well-being.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As health psychologist and 2018 <\/span><a title=\"Clio Cloud Conference\" href=\"https:\/\/cliocloudconference.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Clio Cloud Conference<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> speaker Kelly McGonigal told us, there are active things that lawyers can do to counteract the effects of stress:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cOften, coping better with stress means looking for activities that increase joy or meaning or connection\u2014activities that strengthen you\u2014rather than choosing the mindset that you\u2019re just looking for something that will let you fall asleep at night.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here are six strategies to mitigate lawyer stress:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1. Go to therapy<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Talking to someone like a trusted counsellor or therapist that you feel comfortable with can be a powerful step for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">lawyers <\/span>to improve their mental wellness proactively<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. In addition to helping you develop good coping mechanisms so you can manage stressful situations better, therapists can act as a non-judgmental sounding board.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2. Exercise<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Moving your body with physical activity is time well spent for busy lawyers. Regular exercise is good for helping to keep your body healthy. Exercise also helps you relax and <\/span><a title=\"Haravard Health on staying healthy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/staying-healthy\/exercising-to-relax\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">combat stress by stimulating endorphins and reducing levels of stress hormones<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">3. Know your limits and draw boundaries<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As lawyer coach Terry Demeo discusses on <\/span><a title=\"Clio podcast with Terry Demeo\" href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/podcast\/terry-demeo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Clio\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Daily Matters<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> podcast<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a lack of firm boundaries is a major source of lawyer stress. This means feeling like you need to be on call and responsive to work 24\/7.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To help manage stress, it\u2019s important to set and express your workload limits and boundaries. For example, if you\u2019re a solo lawyer, set a realistic limit for how many clients and how much work you can take on. Then, make sure you stick to it. If you work at a law firm, if possible, tell your boss when too much is too much. While this may seem uncomfortable, knowing your limits can help keep <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog post on lawyer burnout\" href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/work-related-stress-solicitor-burnout\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the detrimental effects of lawyer burnout<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> at bay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You should also set clear expectations with your clients about how much of your time is available to them. Set these expectations at the start of their client journey. Then, have a system in place to maintain it. Instead of dropping everything on the weekend to respond to an email in detail, you could send a one-line response (or set up an automated reply) to confirm receipt. This lets the sender know you have gotten their message and you\u2019ll respond in full at a later time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4. Keep up your hobbies<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"o-image l-image aligncenter wp-image-11346 size-full \"\n\t\tstyle=\"max-width: 46.625rem;  width: 746px;\"\n\t\t>\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"o-image__wrap l-image__wrap js-lazy-image-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"padding-top:56.0321715818%;\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"solicitor stress level\"\n\t\t\t\t\talt=\"solicitor&#x20;stress&#x20;level\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-13-at-14.49.26.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"746\"\n\t\t\t\t\theight=\"418\"\n\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t<\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\ttitle=\"solicitor stress level\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"solicitor&#x20;stress&#x20;level\"\n\t\t\t\twidth=\"746\"\n\t\t\t\theight=\"418\"\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-13-at-14.49.26.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"is-lazy js-lazy-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t<\/picture>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s important to recharge your batteries regularly. This means making time for non-work activities that bring you joy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This could mean returning to a pastime that you once loved but have neglected because of work pressure. This could be the time to pull out your old sewing machine or juggling clubs, for example. Or, it could mean making an effort to explore new hobbies. To help counter stress, Kelly suggests activities that let you immerse yourself in something you find pleasurable\u2014or challenging. Additionally, the area of law you practice in might dictate how much free time you have to dedicate to hobbies. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5. Make time for loved ones<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Another lawyer stress solution could be sitting in your home or at the other end of a phone call. Connecting with your loved ones can be a wonderful way to manage stress. If you\u2019ve had a long, stressful workday, try unplugging from your devices and spending time with the people in your life who make you feel happy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Don\u2019t stress about making elaborate plans all of the time, either: A simple video-call catch-up with a family member, playing a game with your kids, or watching a movie on the couch with your spouse can be an effective way to relax and recharge.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">6. Practice mindfulness\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can\u2019t eliminate stress, but you can change how you respond to it. This is why mindfulness is so powerful. Mindfulness\u2014or learning to pay attention and stay present in a moment\u2014may seem simple, but it can be challenging to slow down and focus your stressed mind. You can <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog post on mindfulness for lawyers\" href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/blog\/understanding-mindfulness-a-primer-for-lawyers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">learn more about mindfulness for lawyers here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Just as you <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog post on legal technology for law firms\" href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/tools-for-solicitors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">use tech tools<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to help your law firm run more smoothly, you can also use technology to adjust to a mindfulness practice easier. Meditation apps like <\/span><a title=\"Headspace\" href=\"https:\/\/www.headspace.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Headspace<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> can help guide you through a mindfulness practice when you feel disconnected or zoned out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">7. Set goals<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"o-image l-image aligncenter wp-image-10965 size-full o-image__wide \"\n\t\tstyle=\"max-width: 46.375rem;  width: 742px;\"\n\t\t>\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"o-image__wrap l-image__wrap js-lazy-image-wrapper\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"padding-top:49.5956873315%;\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"lawyer goals for marketing\"\n\t\t\t\t\talt=\"lawyer&#x20;goals&#x20;for&#x20;marketing\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/Screenshot-2024-03-13-at-16.23.51.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"742\"\n\t\t\t\t\theight=\"368\"\n\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t<\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\ttitle=\"lawyer goals for marketing\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"lawyer&#x20;goals&#x20;for&#x20;marketing\"\n\t\t\t\twidth=\"742\"\n\t\t\t\theight=\"368\"\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/Screenshot-2024-03-13-at-16.23.51.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"is-lazy js-lazy-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t<\/picture>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Similarly, <\/span><a title=\"Clio blog post on lawyer goals\" href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/lawyer-goals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">setting lawyer goals<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> can be a powerful way to leverage focus for reduced stress. Think about it: It\u2019s much easier (and less stressful) to run with a finish line in mind than it is to run aimlessly. That\u2019s why setting and working towards goals can give you a stronger feeling of control. And, as Kelly notes, \u201cAs soon as you introduce any element of control or autonomy, people become more resilient, even if the situation hasn\u2019t changed.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Set goals that turn your attention to the bigger picture in your life and career. You can ask yourself, for example, where you want to be in a year, two years, and five years down the road.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Keep stress in check<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s no surprise that being a lawyer means that you\u2019ll encounter stressful situations. But that doesn\u2019t mean that you have to be in a constant state of stress. Whether it\u2019s due to your workload, the emotional toll of legal work, or the pressure to keep up in a competitive industry, stress can have serious impacts on our physical, mental, and social health. While these stressors won\u2019t go away, you can react to them and manage your stress more positively. The key is knowing how to handle stress and having strategies to smooth the peaks. From exercise to talking to experts to practising mindfulness, the way that we respond to stress is within our power, with some practice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Read more:<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/guides\/lawyer-mental-health\/\">Lawyer Mental Health: How to Practice Mindfulness and Avoid Burnout in Law<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Being a lawyer is a very stressful job. The hours are long and the work is demanding. Here are 7 tips to help manage lawyer stress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":178,"featured_media":11406,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"coauthors":[58],"class_list":["post-11405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","content_category-professional-development","content_category-wellness-and-mental-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.7 (Yoast SEO v24.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Why Being a Lawyer Is Stressful &amp; 7 Tips to Manage Lawyer Stress | Clio UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Being a lawyer is a very stressful job. The hours are long and the work is demanding. 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Here are 7 tips to help manage lawyer stress.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/lawyer-stress\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Clio UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-05-21T14:12:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-08-15T15:22:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/Screenshot-2024-05-21-at-14.54.11.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"742\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"416\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sharon Miki\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sharon Miki\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Why Being a Lawyer Is Stressful &amp; 7 Tips to Manage Lawyer Stress | Clio UK","description":"Being a lawyer is a very stressful job. 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