07 How Black-and-White Thinking Fuels Burnout in Women Lawyers

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The Lawyer Burnout Solution

Heather Mills

27 episodes

4 days ago

You might think burnout is just part of the deal in law, but it’s really about what we’ve been socialized to believe we “should” be doing to prove ourselves, especially as women. The good news is that you can change those thought patterns and create a career that doesn’t burn you out. Hosted by Heather Mills, a coach and former class action attorney, this show offers practical tools to help you escape burnout culture without sacrificing your career or income. You’ll learn how to restore your energy, build a sustainable legal career, and stay in control of your success. Press play and take the first step toward feeling good in your career again. Heather understands the unique pressures for women in law – the urge to prove yourself, the drive to overwork and be perfect, the expectation to put in endless hours, and all the ways we’re taught to measure our worth by how much we achieve and do for others. That's why she's on a mission to end burnout culture for women in law. This show is all about giving you the concrete tools, strategies, and mindset shifts you need to reclaim your energy, confidence, and career. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by long hours, wondering how long you can go on like this, or questioning if success has to come at such a high personal cost, this podcast provides the support you need. Tune in every week to break free from burnout and discover how to create a legal career that actually feels good to live in, not just impressive on paper.

All content for The Lawyer Burnout Solution is the property of Heather Mills and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

07 How Black-and-White Thinking Fuels Burnout in Women Lawyers

The Lawyer Burnout Solution

16 minutes

4 months ago

07 How Black-and-White Thinking Fuels Burnout in Women Lawyers

You miss one deadline and suddenly wonder if you should even be a lawyer. You pull back from one volunteer role and spiral into guilt.

You either have it together—or you’re falling apart. That’s not just pressure. That’s black-and-white thinking—and it’s one of the most common burnout drivers I see in women attorneys.

In this episode, we break down how all-or-nothing thinking shows up in legal culture—and why it’s so exhausting, even when you’re “doing everything right.” If you’ve ever felt like there’s no middle ground, no grace, and no room to be human in your legal career, this one’s for you.

You’ll learn:

Why law trains us to think in extremes—and how it affects your nervous system
How black-and-white thinking drives overwork, resentment, and burnout
Real-world examples across different roles: from solo firms to BigLaw to in-house
The subtle ways this mindset impacts your confidence, boundaries, and rest
Six ways to shift out of all-or-nothing mode—without lowering your standards

We’ll also explore:

The link between binary thinking and internalized shame
Why women lawyers, especially those from marginalized identities, are even more vulnerable to this pattern
How to start loosening the grip of perfectionism, even when the culture hasn’t changed yet

This episode is part of a larger conversation about mindset, burnout recovery, and rewriting the rules of what it means to be “enough” in law. If you’re caught in the swing between “I’ve got this” and “I’m a fraud,” this episode will help you name the pattern—and begin to break it.

Want more support?

Access Your Burnout Recovery AI Assistant: https://www.heathermillscoaching.com/AIAssistant
Book a free 20-minute call to talk about your burnout challenges. www.heathermillscoaching.com
Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for regular tips and support

Full Show Notes, Episode Transcript, Plus More Resources for Women in Law:

07 How Black-and-White Thinking Fuels Burnout in Women Lawyers
https://www.heathermillscoaching.com/blog/07-how-black-and-white-thinking-fuels-burnout-in-women-lawyers