HSF lawyers battle burnout

Strenuous exercise can exacerbate the stress levels of lawyers in high-pressure roles and lead to burnout, the banking & finance group at Herbert Smith Freehills has discovered.

Leanne Mezrani • 30 July 2013 • SME Law

HSF banking practice head Erin Wakelin (pictured) invited a health expert to the firm yesterday (29 July) to advise her team on how to manage the stresses of legal practice by setting achievable exercise and nutrition goals.

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In a talk entitled Debunking myths and making healthier choices, Nathan Hauville, a trainer with Better Being Executive, told the HSF lawyers that exercise is a stressor that has the same effect on the body as work-related stress.

“Exercise is a stress response [and] the body doesn’t differentiate between stresses,” he said. “If we’re skipping meals, not getting enough sleep, [then] each time we add stress through exercise ... stress is going to continue us down the path to burnout.”

Hauville was not discouraging exercise but, rather, urging lawyers to be aware that strenuous exercise can compound existing stresses, such as poor nutrition. He outlined the numerous health benefits of regular exercise and recommended lawyers do what they enjoy.

The HSF lawyers on billable hours were delighted to hear Hauville’s claim that just one hour of exercise each week is all that is required to achieve health benefits, as long as the heart is beating at around 80 percent of the individual’s maximum heart rate.

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After that welcome tidbit, Hauville asked the lawyers to stand up and perform a series of “desk exercises”, including one called the Merv Hughes, which mimics the famed cricketer’s warm-up stretches.

Another of Hauville’s well-received pieces of advice was: “Don’t be afraid of the fats.”

A HSF lawyer queried the nutritional value of pork belly, but Hauville gave the natural fat the green light, along with various oils, fish and meat products.

“Natural foods won’t have that stress response on the body that man-made foods do,” he added.

Rick Thursday, 05 September 2013

I'll keep listening to my actual doctors thanks.

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Absurdiness Brown Friday, 30 August 2013

So, in summary, with sufficient wiggle room in their battery pen, and a jolt now and then to get them moving, an HSF associate can bill at least 14 hours a day with little need to move except to ask for more pellets or perhaps visit the conveniences. Brilliant!

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Nathan Hauville Friday, 02 August 2013

High intensity exercise is a stress on the body, especially when considering one's lifestyle factors. Lower intensity activities will help to decrease stress so try and limit your sitting and sleeping to 23 1/2 hours per day. One hour of high intensity exercise per week is proven to maximize results in a shorter amount of time.

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Nathan Hauville Friday, 02 August 2013

100% agree with you. It was actually the basis of my presentation that by engaging in things you enjoy on a regular basis you will perform better mentally.

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Nathan Hauville Friday, 02 August 2013

Thanks for the comment. I'm glad someone asked for the peer-reviewed research as no I am not a doctor or cardiologist and this information does go against conventional wisdom. I am an exercise professional with a BA in Sport and Exercise Management. I have been lucky enough to work with and learn from some of the leaders in the industry and I can tell you that there is a big shift happening at the moment when it comes to nutritional recommendations. There are a growing number of studies backing this trend and I am happy to point you in the right direction. I have summarised the presentation and offered some references here:<a href="www.betterbeing.com.au/debunking-the-myths/" rel="nofollow">www.betterbeing.com.au/...</a>

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BS Thursday, 01 August 2013

How about some consideration to the many mental health benefits offered by exercise?

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JC Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Is this a joke? Exercise will increase stress? One hour a week is an acceptable amount of exercise for health benefits?

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Budget Tuesday, 30 July 2013

Enough play, back to billing kids.

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Glenno Tuesday, 30 July 2013

Interesting views - and completely contrary to those put forward by a range of highly reputable sources, including my cardiologist. Before I decide to reject the prevailing wisdom and adopt Mr Hauville's regimen, I would like a bit more information. For a start, what are this man's qualifications? Can he point to the peer-reviewed research published in reputable scientific journals that forms the basis of the views he put before HSF? Until he can provide that information, I will stick with the advice that my cardiologist, the Heart Foundation and the various other established sources of credible information provide on both diet and exercise. 

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