The topic of this post first came to mind when I realized that I feel like I am running low on battery all, of, the, time.
When I look at my billable hours, sometimes I’ve only billed 160 hours in a month. So I can’t figure out why I’m so tired. Then, I look at my non-billable hours which include things like client development, catching up on legal periodicals, and participating in firm events. Once I add on those hours, I realize that I’ve been pulling at least 60 hours a week. This is on top of all being a lawyer-mom activities. And this can be on top of the fact that I billed 200+ hour months for several months earlier this year. So upon reflection, it’s actually no wonder why I’m exhausted.
I seem to be in a funk, and can’t, get, re-charged. I think about putting the house for sale and quitting. For some reason, those thoughts don’t bother me as much as they used to. Is this what official exhaustion feels like? I tell the partners I have too much work on my plate but somehow I get more.
I’m not sure what the solution is. I love the diversity of work and the job satisfaction I get in a firm, and I truly think I’m at the best law firm there is. But I can’t keep feeling like there are mountains ahead of me that I can’t climb, and I think I’m getting closer to giving up. Sure I could ask to be on a reduced schedule, but I’m stressed even thinking about that process. Also, it bothers me to my core that I’d have to ask for a reduced schedule just to work normal-people hours.
Have you felt how I feel? Any tips or solutions?