Date published: 16th May 2023

The legal profession often faces overwhelming demands and challenges which can frequently lead to workplace anxiety. To help people navigate their feelings, this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (May 15 to 21) is focusing on how anxiety can impact people's lives both personally and professionally.

Anxiety in the workplace can arise due to heavy workloads, working long hours and pressure to perform well – something that many solicitors and lawyers may experience. A study by LawCare found that anxiety was among one of the top three reasons legal professionals reached out for support last year. It also found that 61% of survey respondents said they experienced anxiety “often to all of the time”.

Sometimes workplace anxiety can spill over, outside working hours, and start to have a negative impact on your personal life too. Some employees find it hard to switch off and find themselves worrying about targets and deadlines, meaning it has an impact on their overall health and well-being.

Signs and symptoms of workplace anxiety

We all feel stress and anxiety in our daily lives, so it is totally normal to feel anxious about your job from time to time. However, if you find the symptoms of stress and anxiety are starting to take a toll on your life then you should seek help.

Some symptoms may include:

  • A persistent sense of worry, apprehension, dread or hopelessness
  • Feeling trapped and unable to find a ‘way out’
  • Feeling fearful, paranoid and tense
  • Anger and impatience
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Panic attacks
  • Muscle tension
  • Fatigue

How to manage anxiety in the workplace

There are many things you can try to try and ease your anxiety while in work. What works for one person may not always work for someone else though so if you are really struggling it is important that you seek professional advice from a mental health expert. Samaritans and Anxiety UK both run helplines that you can call to talk to someone.

Here are some things that may help:

  • Be organised and set realistic deadlines

Take time to properly plan out your weeks and days. Having a well-structured plan can help you to feel organised and in more control of your life – both in and out of work – helping to ease any anxiety about your day-to-day role. It will also help to manage deadlines meaning that you may be able to manage your workload better.

  • Split work into manageable chunks

Taking on a new task or project can seem daunting when looking at it as a whole. Checklists can help to break tasks down into manageable chunks. This can not only give you a confidence boost when you check each smaller task off your list, but it can also help to prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.

  • Take time for yourself

If you feel overly inundated with your workload, remember to always take some time for yourself. Whether it’s a few minutes to enjoy a cup of tea or just to switch off for a moment, ensure to always have regular breaks. Outside of work, you should make sure you are getting adequate sleep, eating healthily, exercising, and taking part in social activities.