Caring for your Mental Health as a Trainee Solicitor
It is no secret that the work of a trainee solicitor can be taxing at times. There are deadlines to meet and just as you start to feel comfortable and on top of everything, you are switching seats and starting the whole process again. All this means is that it is especially important to take the time to look after your mental health, you don’t want to burn out before you’ve even begun!
At Machins, we have recently held a Mental Health Awareness week highlighting to me the importance of caring for my mental health and so I’d like to share some tips on how we, as trainees, can make sure our mental health stays in check.
Maintain a work-life balance
As a trainee it can be easy to get caught up in the workload as you try to get everything done as efficiently as possible in order to create the best impression. However, our best work is often done when we are well rested and take time in the evenings and at weekends to do the things we enjoy. I have found that going for a walk during my lunch break helps keep me more focused during the afternoons and so I try to make sure I get out every day, even if it is only to pop to the shops for a croissant! I often go for a walk alone to clear my head, or sometimes with colleagues from across the firm on one of the group walks organised by our Mental Health Committee.
Our Mental Health Committee meets regularly to bring to life firm-wide initiatives which aim to support our mental health. Most recently, to encourage everyone to maintain that critical work-life balance and perhaps pursue a new hobby, they gifted us vegetable growing kits. So now, not only am I out getting fresh air at lunch time, but in the evenings too as I tend to my brand-new tomato plants!
Stay connected with other trainees
The trainees in your cohort are in almost exactly the same position as you and so building and maintaining a strong relationship with them can make the whole trainee experience feel less daunting. Although you may be in different departments, you are all in this together! Here at Machins we have a Social Committee who organise regular events to help make sure we all take the time outside of work to stay in touch. Building this support network that you can turn to when you are feeling unsure will hopefully ease the pressure that comes with being a trainee.
But you don’t have to limit yourself to only the trainees on your doorstep! Networking is a crucial part of being a trainee and so making the most of the days spent on your Professional Skills Course to build connections with trainees from other firms will give you an even wider support network.
To cast the support network net even wider, Machins pairs trainees up with a partner at the firm who functions as their mentor. I meet with my mentor on a monthly basis to have a catch up on how I feel I am progressing. It is always nice to know I have that additional layer of support in case I should ever need it.
Get into a routine
It can be difficult to consistently find the time to do everything in your schedule. I often find the times I am feeling the most stressed are when I am trying to keep a track in my head of everything I need to do. When you have a long list of things that need to get done, it may feel counter intuitive to take a step back and review but taking the time to write everything out and build yourself a comprehensive schedule puts the tasks into perspective and makes the work feel more manageable. Often, I find I’ve made my to-do list feel a lot worse in my head than it is in reality! This also helps with managing expectations as, armed with a proper schedule, you can better communicate with your supervisor what kind of turn around time they can expect from you.