MANAGING STRESS … YOU CAN DO IT!

Stress. Reports show that 20 – 25% of lawyers suffer from stress so severe that it impairs their practice. As a professional, you MUST learn to manage your stress. Managing your stress involves identifying the source, reflecting on why this stress is present and invoking a game plan on how to deal with it.

Stress can have an external or internal source. If you are, and have always been, a worrier, now is the time to get a grip on this habit. Why? Because to the people you work with, your level of stress often appears disproportionate. This may cause your supervisor to worry, thinking you are unable to cope with the stress of practice/work, resulting in him/her giving the better projects to others, keeping you from client contact and passing you over for bonuses and promotions. This habit can be unlearned with attention and perseverance.

Another example of an internal stress source is the Type A, hypercompetitive, perfectionist. If this is you, you most likely set high standards, don’t like making mistakes and are accustomed to outperforming your peers. When starting a new job, this attitude will cause stress. Your new supervisor doesn’t expect you to be perfect; he/she understands there is a learning curve. Take advantage of your time as a newbie – see it as a learning opportunity to ask questions of the seasoned attorneys and learn from them.

If your stress source is external, stemming from working on a case you personally find disagreeable, disliking your client, or the human drama associated with your practice or a particular case, remember to keep breathing and to keep an emotional distance from the client/case. Don’t hang on to negativity.

Talk to others to get ideas about how they deal with stress and try those on for size. Realize, however, that we all manage stress differently, so if those ideas don’t work for you, investigate other alternatives. Finally, if your stress level is consistently high for a prolonged period of time, please consider seeking the perspective of a trained mental health professional.