Home About Mission & Manifesto Myths About Burnout

 

Turns out, what you've been taught your whole life about success is risky, toxic--and totally untrue.

 

The problem? You were too good a student.    

What that means is that you believed what you were told—and never once questioned it: What it takes to be a good girl, a good worker, a good lawyer.

But what you didn’t learn (because no one ever said a damn thing about it) was that trying to comply with an impossible set of rules could, and likely would, take its toll. 

You set out to prove to yourself, and everyone, that you were better, stronger, smarter, and impervious to the stress. 

How’s that working out? 

 

Type A women, I see you. 

 

I know you. I am you!

I’m Heather Mills and I spent many successful years as a class action attorney. And then, I hit a wall. 

If you’d asked me seven years in as an attorney if I was burned out, I would have said, “No,” and then said “What’s burnout?” 

As lawyers, we’re trained in the art of pinpointing flaws and weaknesses. It’s part of the job. And anything that “reads” as weakness will be thrown out. 

So you pushed harder. You’ve never failed, at anything—and you’re not about to start now. 

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7 Reasons You're Not Burned Out and Are Totally Fine, You Swear

 

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You’ve come to assume that stress and overwork are what you signed up for. 

 

And so you put up with it. For months, years. More. 

 

Why? That’s how it is.

 

Also: There’s the fear that if you look this issue in the face, you’ll have to admit to some lack on your part. 

 

So you push harder. 

 

This can go on for years. And it never ends well.

 

Addressing, or even acknowledging, the issue of burnout can feel that you’re revealing a weakness, or an inability, and knowing you, that is the very last thing you want to do. 

 

You haven’t failed you—the system has failed you. Hard. 

Does this sound like you?  

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And our attempts to keep up with or outrun the very thinking that causes burnout only gets us closer to it. 

 

If you’re a woman and a lawyer, there is a high statistical probability that you have or will experience burnout. 

 

A few statistics to consider: 

  • Female lawyers reported feeling burned out in their jobs 56% of the time, compared to 41% for male lawyers.12 

  • Only 10% of female lawyers reported experiencing none of the work-related issues; i.e., sleep disruption, anxiety, and physical health issues—compared to 21% of male lawyers.2

  • 24% of women lawyers consider leaving the profession due to mental health issues, stress or burnout."3 

The only thing harder on women than the legal profession . . .  is women themselves.

What Burnout (Actually) Looks Like

 

While I wouldn’t have used the term “burnout” back in my 7th year (even though that’s precisely what it was), I would have agreed with these statements–and maybe you do too: 

 

  • “I feel like I have little value beyond what I can produce.” 

 

  • “I can’t ask for help because either that person won’t do as good a job as I would — or worse, they’ll do it better.” 

 

  • “I’ll ease up after this week. This case. This year.”

 

  • “I feel guilty or selfish the moment I’m not doing the work.” 

 

  • “Productivity doesn’t yield the same satisfaction that it used to.”

 

  • “I used to think I cared too much about the work. But lately, I’m caring less and less.”

 

  • “I cannot even decide what I want for lunch.” 

 

  • “I cannot decide what I want, period.” 

 

Lawyers, women especially, also tend to excel at hiding symptoms and issues surrounding burnout from themselves and others.

Why? 
 

Burnout is the result and symptom of conditioned thinking, how we are taught to see and think about the world and ourselves that leads us to feel threatened and unsafe. 

 

The root of burnout is internal—and that doesn’t mean it’s your fault; it does mean you have the power to reverse it for good.

Burnout won't magically fix itself. But don't worry, you've already got everything you need to bounce back. You hold the key to your own recovery.

Is your burnout your best kept secret?

 

I won't tell anyone. 

 

Get on the list to be considered for a free 30-minute consult with me.

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Hi there.

 

I'm Heather, and I'm on a mission to end burnout culture for women in law.

As a former lawyer who experienced burnout firsthand, I can appreciate the unique challenges you face. 

It makes sense that your goal has always been to achieve great things. But, you've been conditioned to believe that relentless effort is the sole path to get there.

I guide my clients through a paradigm shift, helping them uncover and challenge the internalized beliefs that fuel burnout. Together, we'll cultivate resilience and rekindle your sense of purpose.

You can heal burnout without quitting your career or compromising your earning potential. It's about adjusting how you think about and perform your work. 

Let's connect and start your journey from burnout to thriving. 

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Sources:

1. Bloomberg Law. "Analysis: Female Lawyers Report More Stress, Burnout Than Males." Bloomberg Law, August 2023, https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberg-law-analysis/analysis-female-lawyers-report-more-stress-burnout-than-males. 

2.  American Bar Association. "Self-care gap expands as female lawyers spend less time on themselves, report more burnout." ABA Journal,October 2023, https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/self-care-gap-expands-as-female-lawyers-spend-less-time-on-themselves-report-more-burnout.   

3. WealthChoice. "Burnout and Bias: Why Financial Planning is Critical for Women Lawyers." WealthChoice, July 2023, https://wealthchoice.com/burnout-and-bias-why-financial-planning-is-critical-for-women-lawyers/.