In-House Counsel

Taking A Moment To Breathe: A Break Breakdown

There are two things that many people may not know they need: more breaks and people telling them when to take them.

By  
on

“Oh my goodness, this place has no internet connection,” I observed with terror this weekend as we embarked on our road trip.

“Bummer. Now you MUST enjoy your beautiful family,” said my li’l Natalie.

Matter-of-fact, to-the-point feedback — from a 10-year-old!

And yes, we had an amazing time!

There are two things that many people may not know they need: more breaks and people telling you when to take them.

We are obsessed with productivity, money, and progress, making us think we should be able to fire at 100% all the time. Lawyers are no exception! We try to eke the most work out of every opportunity.

The problem is that we were not designed that way. It is unsustainable to blaze through each day with the utmost ferocity. We must get sleep, break concentration, and look at something other than a screen.

Sponsored

Dr. Joyce Bothers is quoted as saying: “No matter how much pressure you feel at work, if you could find ways to relax for at least five minutes every hour, you’d be more productive.”

And that sentiment is truer than we may realize.

Legal professions are infamous for the demand they place on those who work such jobs — the long hours, the ages spent on research, the nonstop hyperfocus expected of the workers. Yes, it partially depends on where you work, but the stereotypical image of a lawyer is someone who is perpetually overworked and exhausted with little to no capacity for much else.

There are so many problems with that idea. Our brains get worn out! Additionally, creativity is found at the awkward encounter of different ideas, not always possible with hyperfocus. If you are spending too much time on one field or have no time for hobbies, family, or interests, then you are limiting yourself. Furthermore, people who don’t take breaks won’t notice opportunities for creativity. They will run right past ingenuity because they are trapped in a ceaseless rat race.

This is why we all need people who tell us when to stop and who keep us in line. Some of us are good at keeping our deals with ourselves, but most of us need other people to help keep us accountable — even my 10-year-old daughter has called me out!

Sponsored

Sometimes, we don’t even realize how much we are giving to something until someone tells us we need to stop. Let the people around you know that they have the freedom to tell you when you need a break. Burnout is a lot harder to recover from than a quick break, so don’t wait until you fizzle out. Prevention is always better than curing, so remember — breaks break breakdowns.

Olga V. Mack is the CEO of Parley Pro, a next-generation contract management company that has pioneered online negotiation technology. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She founded the Women Serve on Boards movement that advocates for women to participate on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat and Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security. You can follow Olga on Twitter @olgavmack.

Topics

, , ,