A Law Student’s Guide to Burnout
As we begin to finish up the end of this exam season, the same feelings, emotions and actions seem to creep back in. Helplessness, procrastination, withdrawal, fatigue and self doubt. Whilst these might seem normal for a law student who has crammed twelve weeks of content into one, it is important to be aware that these feelings might be more than what meets the eye, and in fact, are often the result of burnout.
But what actually is burnout? Whilst burnout may have many colloquial meanings, and is quite difficult to describe, it is normally referred to as a complete state of mental, emotional and physical exhaustion.
How does it even occur? Burnout can come about for a variety of reasons, Uni, work, or even our own personality traits. However this is normally quite easy to pinpoint. For us at this time of the year, burnout can normally be attributed to the constant high pressure environment we find ourselves in, overly demanding expectations, and consistent lack of sleep.
It’s particularly common for law students to be labelled as high achieving perfectionists, who need to be in control at all times.Whilst these trails aren’t a bad thing, and are often the reason why we succeed, they can be our biggest downfall and ultimately lead to burnout.
It is important to recognise the symptoms of burnout.
Persistent Exhaustion: Despite adequate rest, feeling perpetually drained and fatigued—mentally, physically, or both.
Cynicism and Detachment: Developing a negative, cynical outlook towards academia, classmates, or the legal profession, coupled with a sense of detachment from academic and social activities.
Decreased Performance: Witnessing a decline in academic performance, motivation, and productivity.
Increased Irritability: Becoming disproportionately irritable, impatient, or frustrated, even in situations that typically wouldn’t evoke such reactions.
Physical Symptoms: Experiencing headaches, muscle tension, gastrointestinal disturbances, or other stress-related physical ailments.
Emotional Distress: Feelings of apathy, cynicism, irritability, or emotional numbness may surface as burnout progresses.
Whilst it is all well and good to discuss what is burnout, how does one fix it?
Prioritise self-care:
It is essential to replenish your emotional and physical energy, as well as your capacity to focus, by prioritising social connection, good sleep habits, nutrition and exercise. If you find you are struggling squeezing these activities into your busy schedule, it might be worth assessing how you are spending your time. Going for a one hour walk might be better than spending one hour scrolling through TikTok.
Shift your perspective:
Yes, replenishment and rest can ease exhaustion, but they don’t fully address the root cause of burnout. When you return to Uni next semester you will still be faced with the same impossible caseload, work and extracurricular commitments. It might be worth asking yourself whether it is worth balancing all of these commitments. Deciding to sacrifice one extracurricular will not make you less desirable to firms, but may allow you a couple of extra hours a week to yourself. This might be the difference between being burnt out and effectively managing your commitments.
Manage your time:
Managing your time is key to reducing the risk of burnout, and managing it. Taking breaks daily, making time to rest, relax and switch off (even if that is scrolling through TikTok for one hour). Whilst this may not always seem like it, this is important to maintain your momentum, work efficiently, and productively, and to avoid procrastination (the biggest cause of stress and worry).
Break tasks into manageable steps:
Deconstruct daunting tasks into smaller, more manageable components. Concentrate on incremental progress rather than becoming overwhelmed by the enormity of the endeavour as well as decrease procrastination. Once this is done it is important to set a schedule in which these tasks are to be completed.
Burnout is a prevalent issue in law school, but it is not inevitable. By recognizing the signs of burnout and implementing effective coping strategies, law students can protect their well-being and thrive academically and personally. Remember, seeking help is not a sign of weakness; it is a proactive step towards self-care and resilience. By prioritising self-care, setting boundaries, seeking support, and advocating for systemic change, law students can navigate the challenges of law school with greater balance and fulfilment.
Written by Ben Frewen