Lawyers are highly hardworking professionals. They ensure that justice is being served to each person, even at the cost of their own mental health and well-being. With the kind of hard work and dedication they put in, they often work under pressure and have relatively higher stress levels.
Let’s talk about lawyer’s stressed work-life amidst the Pandemic
As we confront the COVID-19 global pandemic, stress levels are going up massively due to various changes happening in and around the world. Adapting “The New Normal” has become an everyday struggle. From the ways we communicate to the ways we work and live, changing practices have made life hectic over the past few months.
Even during a pandemic, attorneys and lawyers have been working day in and out as the world may stop for once but justice shouldn’t.
In times when we are experiencing global economic pressure, lawyers are still working diligently. Although meeting deadlines, working long hours, delivering top-notch services, helping clients in getting justice, and dealing with declining societal conditions can be overwhelming when one is encountering a pandemic.
1. Mental Health concerns among Attorney
Coronavirus disease 2019 along with the infection also has brought up Mental Health problems.
For ages, lawyers have been known to be working in a highly stressful and competitive environment. They often carry the load of thousands of cases on their backs to their personal spaces. Long hours of working make it difficult for them to have time for their life away from work. Thanks to the pandemic for rubbing salt in their wounds. Setting humor apart,
According to the study conducted by the ABA Commission on behavioral health concerns of lawyers that examined alcohol use, mental health issues, and help-seeking behaviors of lawyers, Attorneys also experience problematic drinking that is hazardous, harmful, or otherwise consistent with alcohol use disorders at a higher rate than other professional populations.
They also inferred that Mental health distress was significant among lawyers.
2. Take care of your Mental Health
Coping with stress in the right ways can help you, the people around you, and your community build a stronger foundation to fight this pandemic.
But before we talk about the ways in which you can take care of your mental health, let’s first talk about the signs that tell you it’s high time to pay attention to yourself.
Amidst a pandemic, one is more likely to face the following issues:
- Fears and anxiety about health problems of your own or your loved ones, financial conditions, or a job.
- Changes in sleeping and eating patterns.
- Adverse to prevailing chronic health conditions.
- Difficulty in concentrating on one thing.
- Worsening mental health issues.
- Increased use of tobacco, alcohol, or other substances.
- Other symptoms of mild or manic Depression, Anxiety, and Stress.
3. Healthy ways to cope with Anxiety and Stress
If you’re experiencing higher stress levels during the pandemic, following the mentioned tips can help you maintain the calm.
- Take care of your body, Hydrate, and Exercise. – We know that long working hours are always a good excuse to miss a workout but trust me you need to get your body moving, it helps.
- Stay connected – Keep in touch with your friends, family, and close ones. Technology has aced human relations, it’s upon you to use it for the best.
- Get plenty of sleep – Fixing your sleeping pattern helps you concentrate better throughout the day.
- Make time for something you enjoy doing – We are dealing with a global pandemic and during such tough times, allow yourself to take time off work and do something you’ve always wanted to do.
- Define working hours – Plan your day ahead of time, and have a proper schedule with working hours and breaks.
- Take breaks – Working in proper intervals will ensure that you’re not exhausted after a few hours, hence take breaks while working.
- Stay informed – Completely detaching from social media can cause anxiety to some people, therefore we suggest don’t cut off the news and media, staying informed, know what’s happening.
- Seek help – If you feel there’s a lot going on in your head and you need help, talk to your friends, and family, and if that doesn’t work try taking professional help. Nothing’s worth your mental peace so protect it at any cost.
These tips might look very basic but the truth is this is all you need to do to manage your stress levels. Dealing with extreme anxiety and mental health issues can be a tough call and for that, we suggest you seek professional help.
Otherwise, eating right, sleeping on time, practicing meditation, doing things you love, and managing your time efficiently, are the simple keys to seizing the day. And once you are able to track and manage your work and life together, most of your problems are easily solved.