Peer to Peer Magazine

34 The Rising Cost of Mental Fatigue B Y R YA N S T E A D M A N T oday's modern law firms tend to foster a work environment that makes it difficult for lawyers to prioritize client-related work. Lawyers challenged with meeting ambitious billing goals are constantly pulled away from billable work by an incessant stream of interruptions and distractions, and an unending series of unbillable administrative tasks. In isolation, small interruptions and distractions may seem much ado about nothing. Collectively however, the unintended consequences of these interruptions and distractions result in context switching costs, which contributes to attention residue: the by-product of which contributes, substantially, to mental fatigue. Attempting to reconcile these conflicting forces has become a significant contributor to anxiety among lawyers. In fact, law firms today are facing a mental health crisis. According to a recent study conducted by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, 28% struggle with some level of depression, 19% demonstrate symptoms of anxiety, and 23% experience symptoms of stress. Considering that most service-driven professionals spend up to three-quarters of their waking time in the office, it stands to reason that a good working environment is critical for healthy mental and physical well- being. It's also prudent for firms to account for the financial impact of poor mental health in the workplace, which can result in productivity losses and low employee retention rates. Burn-out Syndrome Burn-out syndrome, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is specifically an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress. It's classified by three factors: feelings of exhaustion, mental distance coupled with overall negativity about one's job, and a decrease in professional efficacy. Why Technolo is Both the Cause and the Solution

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