What was the hardest mental adjustment from law school to actual practice?

The hardest adjustment was realizing that there usually is not a perfectly “right” answer. In law school, you are rewarded for spotting every issue and crafting the best legal argument. In practice, especially in transactional work, clients need practical advice, quick turnaround times, and business oriented solutions. I also underestimated how mentally exhausting it can be to always be “on” and responsive. The pace is just very different from school.

What surprised you most about how the job affected your mental health — was there anything you genuinely didn’t see coming?

 I did not expect how hard it would be to fully disconnect mentally. Even during downtime, there is often a small part of your brain tracking emails, deadlines, comments outstanding, or what could come in next. I also think I underestimated how much uncertainty can create stress. You can have a completely normal afternoon and suddenly be working until midnight because a deal changes direction.

Are there small daily habits or routines that have made a bigger difference than you expected?

Movement helps me more than anything. Pilates and yoga are huge for me because they force me to stop thinking about work for an hour and reconnect with my body a little bit. Walking my dog also ends up being surprisingly grounding because no matter how busy things are, I still have to go outside, get fresh air, and stick to some kind of routine. I also try hard to keep small social plans during the week, even if it is just grabbing dinner with friends or calling someone while walking home.

How do you decompress after a really hard day — what actually works versus what you thought would work? What actually works is usually something simple and low pressure.

Taking my dog for a long walk, doing yoga, watching a comfort show, ordering dinner with friends, or just being around people who are not lawyers helps a lot. What I thought would work was trying to “power through” stress by staying productive all the time, but that usually just made me more anxious and burnt out.

How do you manage the mental load of always having work in the back of your head, even when you’re technically off?

I do not think anyone fully masters this, but boundaries in small ways help. I try not to check my email constantly if I am out with friends unless I know something is active. I also keep very detailed to do lists because if I write something down, I can stop mentally rehearsing it over and over. Exercise helps too because it is one of the few things that fully interrupts the constant mental chatter.

Who do you lean on when things get hard — inside or outside the firm — and how did you build that?

Definitely both. Inside the firm, having a few people slightly more senior who are honest about the job and willing to answer questions without judgment makes a huge difference. Outside the firm, my friends, family, and even other friends in demanding careers help because they understand the lifestyle. A lot of building that support system just came from being intentional about maintaining relationships even when work gets busy.

What do you know now about taking care of yourself in this job that you really wish you’d known earlier?

 You cannot wait until things calm down to take care of yourself because sometimes they never fully do. I used to think self-care had to be something elaborate, but honestly consistency matters more. Sleeping enough, moving your body, eating real meals, maintaining friendships, and having things in your life that are not tied to work are what make the biggest difference long term. Also, asking for help or admitting you are overwhelmed is much more normal than people think.

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