The stress some legal professionals go through as part of the demands of their work, the impact it has on them, and ways of mitigating this impact, was the topic of discussion at one of the breakout sessions at the 64th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos.
NEWSWIRE Law Events Magazine’s correspondent at the Tafawa Balewa Square venue of the breakout sessions reports that the panel assembled to examine this topic was made up of seasoned health and wellness experts, and moderated by *Sam-Dele Ogunti* , a lawyer with vast experience in legal research, dispute resolution, journalism, data analysis, customer verification, and finance. The panel comprised of *Dr. Ife Bamidele* , an associate professor of law (with special focus on health law) as well as a mental health enthusiast and campaigner; *Isibor Aigbe Oaikhinan* , Legal Officer at the Central Bank of Nigeria and a commissioner with the International Bar Association’s Professional Wellbeing Commission; as well as *Sylvester Eze* , a health and wellness expert.
In the course of their discourse, the panelists touched on virtually all aspects of the issue, such as work-induced stress; burnout arising from overwork, and their cumulative impact on physical, psychological and mental health, and proffered a number of far-reaching remedies to what is fast becoming an epidemic in many law firms.
A summary of their respective submissions was as follows:
– Work stress refers to the physical, emotional, and mental reactions that occur when an individual perceives that their work demands exceed their ability to cope, as a result of long working hours; heavy workload; lack of control or autonomy; poor work-life balance; unclear expectations; conflicting values or ethics; an unsupportive work environment; limited resources or tools; and frequent changes resulting in job insecurity.
– the effects of work stress are physical (such as headaches, fatigue and digestive challenges); emotional (such as anxiety, depression and mood swings); mental (such as a decrease in focus, memory, and productivity) and behavioural (such as absenteeism and burnout).
– managing work stress requires the victim to identify and communicate their limits; prioritize tasks and delegate when possible; take regular breaks and practice self-care; seek support from colleagues, mentors, or mental health professionals; set realistic goals and expectations; consider flexible work arrangements or even time off; engage in stress-reducing activities (e.g. exercise or meditation); and disconnect from work-related tasks outside work hours.
The panelists insisted that in cases where mental health was being jeopardized, seeking help is a sign of strength, NOT weakness! It certainly does not mean that one is mad, or going mad! They further recommended the following measures to safeguard mental health and keeping mental health symptoms at bay (such as depression, narcissistic behaviour, panic attacks, schizophrenia, PTSD, eating disorders and addiction, etc):
building and maintaining connections with others; developing resilience to cope with stress, trauma, and adversity; understanding one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviour; achieving goals and pursuing meaningful (and even fun) activities; maintaining a healthy body and immune system.
The panelists also hammered on the critical importance of *Breathing Relaxation Therapy* (or BRT) a technique that focuses on conscious breathing to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being, as well as lower blood pressure; improve sleep quality; increase oxygenation; enhance relaxation and calmness; and improve focus and concentration.
They also recommended what Dr. Bamidele called *’Forgiveness Therapy’,* a process that helps one let go of negative emotions and feelings associated with a past experience or a person, with the goal of promoting healing, self-liberation, and personal growth. It is as important, said Dr. Bamidele, to forgive oneself as to forgive others. Forgiveness Therapy also entails positive reinforcement, which involves acknowledging and rewarding positive actions, which in turn increases the frequency of such positive actions while reinforcing good habits.
Work stress, the panelists also said, leads to a phenomenon known as *’the Law of Marginal Utility’* which states that the additional utility or satisfaction gained from consuming one more unit of a good or service decreases as the quantity consumed increases. In economics, it is also known as the law of diminishing returns. The more hours you put in your work beyond your reasonable limit, the less of desired outcomes you will achieve.
Another technique the panelists recommended to mitigate work stress and its associated symptoms was *Progressive Muscle Relaxation* (PMR) which involves a systematic approach to tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in the body, promoting relaxation and reducing muscle strain.
The panelists concluded their discourse with a stern warning against the evils of what they called *’Hardship (or Suffering) Mentality’* ie the idea, prevalent among certain superiors in workplaces (including law firms) that since they had undergone tremendous difficulties to get to where they are now, their subordinates must also undergo the same hardships to prove their diligence. In these days of technology and the tools, choices and work paradigms it presents to young and upcoming lawyers, the panelists maintained, avoidance of laborious and outdated methods of achieving objectives was no sign of laziness.
The panelists also warned against perfectionism, listing its many negative consequences to include the following: unrealistic expectations; setting unachievable standards – which ultimately leads to disappointment and frustration; excessive self-criticism and self-doubt due to perceived flaws or mistakes; anxiety and stress; over-exertion and exhaustion resulting from trying to maintain an unrealistic level of performance; missed opportunities and avoidance of new experiences; damage to relationships as a result of unrealistic expectations; mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders; lack of creativity and innovation; procrastination; the act of constantly comparing oneself to others, which can foster feelings of inadequacy, and so forth.
To overcome perfectionism, the panelists recommended the following: practice self-compassion; set realistic goals and expectations; embrace imperfection and mistakes as opportunities for growth; focus on progress, not perfection; develop a growth mindset; challenge negative self-talk (tell yourself you’re doing well); prioritize self-care and well-being; and celebrate accomplishments and progress, no matter how small.
NEWSWIRE’s correspondent also reports that the lively panel discourse was followed by an equally robust question-and-answer session, as members of the audience expressed interest, or concern, about a number of health and wellness issues.
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