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Pamela DeNeuve

Lawyer & Law Firm Peak Performance Strategist

Burnout: 7 Questions Every Attorney Needs to Ask Themselves

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I am often asked, Pamela how can I determine whether or not I am suffering from burnout? I respond, “Let me define burnout for you. Burnout involves the following: stress, exhaustion, tension, weariness, fatigue, poor health or breakdown. Do you have any of these symptoms? If you do, let’s talk.”

Before we begin, I want to deliver a word of caution. Professional-burn-out can take an enormous toll on lawyers. If you find yourself zoning out at home, withdrawn and unavailable, read these seven signs of burnout. Attorneys, who find themselves weary, trapped in a breakdown cycle, while practicing law wants to take immediate steps to remedy the problem. Ignoring chronic stress and exhaustion, which can include migraine headaches, without seeking outside help will result in depression, despondency, dependency on alcohol or drugs with the consequences of major losses at work and home.

I have provided seven questions to help you assess any warning signals of burnout. If you are experiencing even one of these symptoms, you are at risk or are in the midst of a breakdown. Take actions immediately to get assistance with your problem. Ignoring these symptoms will not make them go away. In fact, over time, your distress will only worsen. Take a few moments to assess yourself by asking these questions:

  1. Arriving at my office in the morning, do I feel so overwhelmed that it seems impossible to do I need to do?
  2. When undertaking tasks or projects do I feel as if I’m lifting a heavy burden?
  3. Am I listless? Is my energy depleted before I even start my day?
  4. Does it seem as if my critical thinking or my memory is compromised?
  5. Do I find myself just going through the motions trying to get through the day?
  6. Am l so depleted when I get home from the office, that all I can do is withdraw by using alcohol, pills or other drugs to escape?
  7. Do I have a constant feeling of anger, depression or apathy?

I repeat my earlier statement, Ignoring these symptoms of burnout without getting help can result in a deep depression, despondency, and you will suffer major losses at work and home. Take immediate steps to rectify your problem. I will make myself available to offer complimentary guidance during a 45-minute strategy session.

Wise attorneys are becoming more proactive in their law practices and avoiding the pitfalls that accompany burnout. They realize that to become successful they need to establish a pace that they can maintain over the years. Building a law practice is like a marathon, not a sprint. Every marathon runner knows that the daily disciplines practiced each day will equal success. So, too attorneys are reaching their goals by maintaining a gait in their practice that they can maintain in the long run. Success depends on emotional, mental and physical health.

Peter found himself drinking more and more each evening at home and it took him longer to unwind. His wife and children gave him a wide berth for fear they might come under his criticism or bitterness. Peter knew that his outbursts or criticism of his wife and teenagers was unfair, “It was the only way I could let off some steam. Pamela, I just couldn’t seem to help myself,” he later confided.

You would be surprised how this scenario plays itself out in many homes. A lawyer arrives home after a grueling day. The first thing he or she does is reach for a drink. After a few drinks, and dinner, the attorney crashes on a nearby sofa and passes out. Waking up in the middle of the night, still in their crumpled clothes, they make their way to the bedroom to get a little more sleep before going into the office. They may repeat this cycle night after night. Relationships at home become strained. Loss of respect from wife and children creates a cycle of personal disdain for themselves, which creates greater discord at home.

There is a saying, “If nothing changes, nothing changes.” Take the first step of admitting that you are suffering from burnout. I will discuss solutions in an upcoming post.

Attorney Life Balance Coach

★ Stress ★ Depression ★ Anger Management ★ Career Revitalization★

One Complimentary Strategy Coaching Session  Click on the link below to access my calendar and set an appointment with me. 

https://calendly.com/pdeneuve

About Pamela

https://vimeo.com/126519950

 

https://calendly.com/pdeneuve

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