Ping! Constant Digital Interruptions: The Hidden Impact on Lawyer Wellbeing

by Techtimeout | November 12, 2025

Guest Blog by Stephanie Henson, Founder of Techtimeout.

“The tools designed to make work easier are also quietly overwhelming us. Each ping and notification chips away at focus, energy and wellbeing.”

The Challenge of Always Being “On” in Law

In the legal world, responsiveness is a currency of trust. Clients expect answers quickly. Colleagues rely on collaboration. The pressure to remain always available has never been higher. But this hyper-connected culture comes at a cost.

Technology has transformed how law firms operate: enabling hybrid working, instant communication and faster client service. Yet the same digital tools that drive efficiency are also driving distraction, digital fatigue and burnout. Lawyers and their support teams are now operating in an environment where attention is constantly under siege.

The result is a growing crisis of digital burnout – one that affects performance, productivity and mental health across the legal sector.

The Cost of Constant Connectivity

According to Microsoft’s Work Trend Index Special Report (2025), employees receive an average of 117 emails and 153 push notifications per day, equating to around 275 digital interruptions daily.

For lawyers that number is likely higher. Between client correspondence, case-management notifications, internal messages and document alerts, many legal professionals spend large portions of their day reacting rather than reflecting.

Each minor interruption may seem insignificant, but studies from the University of California, Irvine show it takes 23 minutes to regain deep focus after a distraction. For legal professionals who depend on sustained concentration for drafting, analysis and client work, this context-switching quickly adds up.

The implications go beyond lost time:

● Increased stress and anxiety from the expectation of immediate response.

● Cognitive fatigue from juggling multiple digital demands.

● Reduced focus and accuracy, particularly during high-stakes work.

● Burnout from blurred boundaries between work and rest.

Research from Deloitte estimates that poor mental health costs UK employers £51 billion annually, with “presenteeism” – being physically or digitally present but mentally exhausted – representing the largest share. In the legal industry where precision, judgement and empathy are critical, the impact of “digital presenteeism” can be profound.

Why Digital Wellbeing Matters to Law Firms

Legal professionals often pride themselves on their resilience, but resilience alone cannot offset the effects of digital overload. Digital wellbeing is not about rejecting technology. It is about using it intentionally, setting boundaries and creating firm-wide norms that protect focus and mental clarity.

Incorporating digital wellbeing into firm culture can:

● Reduce stress and mental fatigue and support healthier teams.

● Improve focus and accuracy and reduce costly mistakes.

● Enhance client service by promoting quality over quantity in communication.

● Support compliance because calmer, more focused employees make better ethical and risk-related decisions.

Practical Steps for Law Firm Leaders

Forward-thinking firms are beginning to address the impact of digital overload. Small intentional changes can make a big difference:

Define communication expectations
Set clear internal guidelines around response times – not every message needs an immediate reply.
Protect focus time
Encourage lawyers to block uninterrupted time for drafting, research or strategic thinking. Pause notifications during those periods.
Promote non-digital connection
Swap occasional video or chat meetings for in-person or phone discussions to rebuild human connection and reduce screen fatigue.
Set after-hours boundaries
Model leadership behaviour that respects rest – for example scheduling emails rather than sending them late at night.
Encourage digital breaks
Short screen-free moments can help prevent burnout and improve overall mental wellbeing.

A National Moment for Reflection: Techtimeout Tuesday

To help raise awareness and inspire collective action, Techtimeout Tuesday invites workplaces across the UK to take a moment away from screens and reconnect with what truly matters.

This year’s event takes place on Tuesday 2 December 2025, supported by Mental Health First Aid England.

Participation is simple and free:

● Choose an hour to step away from screens.

● Choose an activity – a walk, coffee with colleagues or quiet reflection.

● Reflect on how technology shapes focus, wellbeing and connection in your firm.

Techtimeout Tuesday isn’t just a wellbeing initiative; it is a movement to reshape how we think about technology, focus and mental health at work.

The Way Forward for the Legal Profession

The legal profession has always adapted to societal change – from paper to digital files and now to AI and automation. As technology continues to evolve, so too must our approach to wellbeing.

Embedding digital wellbeing into the culture of law firms is not a luxury. It is a strategic necessity. It protects people, improves performance and reinforces the values of care, trust and professionalism at the heart of every great firm.

Because when we create the space to disconnect, we allow our teams – and our clients – to truly connect again.

Regulatory and Industry Guidance

The SRA now explicitly emphasises wellbeing and workplace culture as regulatory concerns. Their guidance sets out expectations for firms and individuals including:

● Workplace environment: risks of failing to protect and support colleagues – guidance for firms and regulated individuals. Read it here.

● The SRA press release on workplace culture supporting law firms with guidance on healthy working environments. Read the press release. Solicitors Regulation Authority

In short, law firms face not only a wellbeing imperative but a regulatory one. Firms that fail to attend to culture, systems, workload supervision and the mental health of staff may expose themselves to regulatory and professional risk.