Small shifts, big impact: micro self-care tips for the busy lawyer

In fact, in the article: What Does Work-Life Balance Even Mean?, author Maura Thomas says:

"It’s true that leaders can’t give their employees work-life balance. Each person has to decide for themselves whether they will take it. But a major consideration in their decision is how their work-life balance will affect their career and how they are perceived in the organization. And that means that leaders have a lot of influence over the decisions that employees make."

She makes a valid point about perception. Especially in rigid industries like law firms where the expected norm is to work through lunch breaks, arrive to work early, leave a good while after 5pm, and be contactable at weekends and during holidays. And this is the case, even when work-life balance – at least in print form – is encouraged by the law firm.

While many workplaces now provide external offerings to support mental health, such as mindfulness programmes, access to therapy or even mental health days, it doesn’t necessarily translate into practice. Lawyers often feel they can’t take advantage of these services due to the ongoing pressure to meet expectations. Examples like free gym memberships or wellbeing apps are great in theory, but when the culture still encourages 12-hour days and answering emails at all hours, people may feel like they’re failing their duties by engaging in those self-care activities.

The challenge becomes: “How do we shift both the mindset and the culture to actually allow lawyers to use these benefits?”.

The importance of incremental changes and personal responsibility

It’s vital to understand that whilst law firms and corporate legal teams may have their flaws, significant changes to your work-life balance often start with small, personal adjustments. While it’s tempting to think that the only solution is to quit and find a better environment, that’s not always realistic for many people, particularly those who are sole breadwinners or feel tied to their current role.

Taking personal responsibility for creating healthier habits within the boundaries you control - whether it’s setting time limits for work, taking small breaks or managing expectations - can create a ripple effect, gradually shifting how you experience your workday.

Creating an environment for self-care in the legal environment

It’s important to recognise that while we can’t change everything about the legal world, we can change our mindset and approach to our own health and wellness. Small changes in our behaviour and boundaries can have a profound effect on our wellbeing, helping us to thrive even within imperfect systems. Over time, these personal shifts will likely contribute to bigger changes in both our work-life balance and potentially in the culture of the workplace itself.

The bottom line here is…

Put your self-care at the top of your priority list. Like it or not, you are replaceable at work. You are not replaceable at home. Sure, it may seem easier said than done. Finding time and space in an environment that simply doesn’t whole-heartedly support self-care is hard, especially when there is the expectation to put work first. But you can make space for yourself in small ways. And those small ways can make big waves if you let them.