In last week’s column, I wrote about how my battle with COVID-19 taught me it’s okay to take those sick days. I received a multitude of emails and messages about my article — from get-well wishes to messages from other professionals and entrepreneurs, in and out of law, who are navigating the struggles of taking off from work while in COVID recovery.
It got me thinking about the “work hard” or “hustle” mentality I’ve held onto for two decades. As lawyers, we’re trained to live and die by deadlines. If we don’t file a pleading or a motion on time, we risk losing our client’s case. We have an uncanny ability to multitask like no other, and we are ruthless when it comes to tackling a daily to-do list that’s longer than the Chick-fil-A drive-thru line. We also have a tendency to work ourselves to the bone just to “earn our keep.” We’re conditioned to churn out as much work as we can, pushing ourselves harder on that hamster wheel.
Lawyer burnout is one of the most talked about (but rarely tackled) struggles within our profession, leading to high levels of drinking, anxiety, and depression. There is the overwhelming pressure of the billable hours, the pressure to make partner, the pressure to be the first one in and the last one out so we shine, and the pressure to make more money to pay off our law school loans and save for the future. Yet, no one tells us how to stop working so hard, so we don’t reach burnout.
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When I got sick with COVID-19, many of the messages I received from family and friends included statements such as: “No work. You need to rest.” I also got one that said, “Don’t even think about work right now. You need to take care of yourself and not risk getting worse.” They all had a common theme.
As I’m now heading into week four of my recovery (and still fighting that lingering cough), those messages have stayed with me. The reality is that in the months and weeks leading up to my COVID-19 diagnosis, I spread myself very thin. I worked more weekends than I took off. I said “yes” more than I said “no.” I produced and overproduced projects on shorter timelines with extended work hours (many peaking at 14 hours a day) to my own detriment (lack of sleep, exercise, and rest) just to shine. I took on extra client consults and overbooked my calendar because I thrive on appeasing others, and I love serving my clients. You can say I was probably at or very close to burnout. You wouldn’t have noticed it from the outside, but I felt its impact growing on me monthly, weekly, and daily.
Here’s the kicker: I’ve been operating at this level for as long as I can remember. Part of this has been a side effect of running a solo business and being deeply committed to my craft, but a larger part of this is because of a Type A personality and work ethic fueled by requiring office facetime on Saturdays, exceeding 2,400 annual billable hours so you can be the “top billing associate,” and ingrained fear of being admonished by the managing partner for not responding to that client email fast enough. I’ve been conditioned to work this hard since entering the practice of law and even law school, continuing through entrepreneurship. While my work ethic, drive, and commitment have been a catalyst to my success, at what point do I give myself permission to establish boundaries and take on less? As a client recently said to me, “I make a lot of money, but how much money is enough after all of these years? I’m willing to take a pay cut to leave Biglaw and go in-house so I can have a better quality of life.”
Like you, I’ve heard the “work smarter, not harder” statements. Yes, you can work smart and be wildly successful, but still overwork yourself to the point of burnout. So, here’s how I’m redefining what “work hard” also means in 2021:
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I’m looking inwardly and introspectively at my own quality of life and making myself a true priority. Whether it’s a quick ride on my Peloton bike or walk around the neighborhood, I’m blocking off time in the early mornings to put my health first before I answer those emails that came in overnight. I’m acknowledging and abiding by the principle that I’m just one person and there is only so much I can humanly do in a single day. Not everything is urgent and requires an immediate response or action. I’m sticking to several nonnegotiables and not trying to tackle everything on my to-do list in one day. I’m giving myself permission to rest more and live more. That means putting less on my plate, being even more selective with my time, releasing things that do not fuel me or bring me positive inertia, and creating hard stops each day so I don’t spread myself too thin and have time to rest and recover.
If COVID-19 has taught me anything, it’s that your health (physical and mental) and quality of life do matter. We all have the ability to establish boundaries that elevate our mind and body. I hope you’ll join me on Instagram as I document my renewed commitment to myself.
Wendi Weiner is an attorney, career expert, and founder of The Writing Guru, an award-winning executive resume writing services company. Wendi creates powerful career and personal brands for attorneys, executives, and C-suite/Board leaders for their job search and digital footprint. She also writes for major publications about alternative careers for lawyers, personal branding, LinkedIn storytelling, career strategy, and the job search process. You can reach her by email at [email protected], connect with her on LinkedIn, and follow her on Twitter @thewritingguru.