Allowing Yourself an Adequate Recovery Period
The first phase is to allow adequate time for recovery and self-reflection. If you had a chance to take some time off after a bout with burnout, gradually return to work responsibilities. In many instances, taking time off is not possible. Cases move, and the need to earn a living is ever-present. But you can slow it all down a little bit by setting your intention each day. Realistically address the importance of taking some time off, seeking professional help if needed, and gradually reintegrating into work responsibilities.
A friend I know kept telling me he did not have time to get some necessary medical work done. It sounded so outlandish to me because I knew he needed the work done, and I realized that he was most likely afraid of the work and was using the heavy workload and an exaggerated notion of how important he was to the office to avoid the process. I wanted to tell him that the office would be just fine without him long enough to get himself taken care of. Then, I realized I sometimes have the same problem. The gym where I strength train is literally next door to me at the office. And there are times when I feel as if I am abandoning my clients by walking 20 steps to train for 30 minutes! It sounds crazy, but our human minds are like that. I tell myself that unless I stay strong and fit, I won’t be able to take care of my clients. Over time, the fears recede, but it is a good idea to really assess whether some of the things we drive ourselves to do are necessary. Is taking a ten-minute break really going to blow the case, or will it energize and enhance your productivity? Our mental and physical health should be our number one priority.
Reassessing Your Priorities
The second task for the post-burnout period is to evaluate your career goals and values and to adjust them so that they align with your new sense of personal well-being. When we truly value ourselves, we can take care of ourselves in new ways. You want to reflect on what is deeply important to you and what practices will keep you from repeating the burnout you just experienced. Having renewed strength and purpose is invigorating and exciting. Begin to make the necessary adjustments required so that your professional pursuits align with your personal well-being.
Continuing Your Mindfulness Practices
Post-burnout, you must commit to developing your daily mindfulness habits further. I know they can get wobbly sometimes, especially when you are feeling good and it seems like things have turned around. I struggle with this, too. Habits are funny things, and we must learn to shake things up rather than abandon our practices. If we get bored with one thing, we can switch to another. Developing the habit of giving yourself a quick pat on the back and acknowledging what you have done right rather than beating yourself up about what you didn’t do is a good start during the day. Your goal is to build resilience for long-term career satisfaction, and deeply ingrained mindfulness practices beyond the recovery period will get you there. You surely have a few minutes each day to do something for yourself, so do it.
Continuing Your Professional Development
Another key to success post-burnout as a lawyer is to continually seek ongoing education and skill development. Programs that embrace a professional and personal growth mindset are helpful, and thank heavens, there are many out there now to choose from.
Staying engaged and having your mind active will help. We are blessed that bar associations are now allowing courses on these subjects to qualify as ethics credit. Our duty of competency encompasses all of this. We only stay competent if we stay healthy.
Focusing on Community Engagement
The last item on your list of post-burnout activities is to contribute to a supportive legal community. Inspiring others by sharing your experiences and the lessons you’ve learned will keep you on the healthy end of the spectrum. At first, my journey of personal growth was mine alone, and I was private about it. No one really knew what I was doing out there in the desert (literally) alone. I had some things I needed to learn and to understand, and I wasn’t ready to share them with anyone. Later, I began to share; I first wrote about mindfulness in the 2015 ABA book How to Capture and Keep Clients: Marketing Strategies for Lawyers (second edition, edited by jennifer j. rose).
Since then, an amazing community has sprung up in this area. I joined the State Bar of Texas Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) Committee and am now starting my second three-year term. Just earlier this month, I attended a conference that is celebrating its 35th year: Texas Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers. It is a group of lawyers in recovery who have supported each other and shared their stories to serve the legal community. The learning never stops. There is value in contributing to a supportive legal community. It’s important for us to actively engage with our peers, share our experiences, and collectively work toward a healthier and more sustainable work environment. And the net effect is to have better lawyers better serve a public in dire need of competent help.
I hear stories every week of clients who can’t get in touch with their lawyers and who are not satisfied with the services rendered. We want to serve them well while also having a fun and enjoyable life. By dedicating ourselves to the practices outlined in this series on burnout, we can get there much faster with less negative impact. Don’t wait until you are forced into rehab or a recovery facility because of exhaustion or substance abuse. Don’t wait until your family is split by divorce. Don’t wait until the grievance committee starts calling. There are resources and help available to you, and you are your best resource.
In the meantime, focus on your breath, take deep breaths in times of intense stress, take a few moments each day to walk around the office or outside if you can, and just know that you have the power to change your life, one step, one breath at a time.