Article
COVID-19 and a Troubled Economy: How to Maintain Lawyer Wellness
April 17, 2020
“The pandemic and ensuing disruption to routines and stability is unquestionably taking a toll on the mental health and well-being of many in the legal profession, just as it is for individuals in all walks of life . . . fear, uncertainty, stress and worry are widespread.”
Patrick Krill, founder of well-being consulting firm Krill Strategies
Double Trouble
No one dreamt of a simultaneous pandemic and a depressed economy. In a matter of weeks, the legal world was upended as law firms sent their lawyers home to work remotely and scrambled to find new solutions to practice law in “the new normal.” As has been said many times, “to be a good lawyer, you have to be a healthy lawyer.” COVID-19 and the troubled economy have created enormous pressure on lawyers and law firms.
The effects of “the new normal” vary from lawyer to lawyer, but some report increased alcohol usage, sleeping less, feeling anxious/stressed all the time, having headaches, gaining weight as they stay at home, obsessively watching the news or being distracted by everything at home to the point where they can’t focus on their law practice, worrying over whether they will have enough money to retire – or ever being able to retire, being frightened of contracting COVID-19, feeling overwhelmed by trying to learn new technologies to adapt to the current crisis, feeling lonely or depressed, taking tranquilizers/depression medication/sleeping pills and the list goes on.
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