From SQE Prep to Big Law: Why Your Health Could Be Your Secret Weapon

This is not your usual blog post. I recently came across a thought-provoking YouTube video by Brian Johnson that dives into the realities of hustle culture and the hidden cost of bad habits. While the video isn’t about law specifically, the ideas resonated so strongly with the realities of legal study and practice that I had to share them.

In law, the pressure to push harder, work longer, and sacrifice health is practically baked into the industry standard. Pulling all-nighters before deadlines, surviving on coffee and takeaways, and treating exercise like a “someday” activity? Far too common.

The irony? In a profession that demands razor-sharp thinking, stamina, and precision, many of us are sabotaging the very things that would help us perform at our peak.

The Core Message: Your Health Is Not Optional

Brian breaks his philosophy down into three pillars: sleep, nutrition, and exercise. Neglecting these isn’t just bad for your body, it’s a slow-burn threat to your performance, productivity, and career longevity.

The legal profession is intense. So is preparing for the SQE. So is navigating the competitive job market. If you’re running on fumes, you’re not playing the long game, you’re burning out early.

Let’s explore how these principles can apply at every stage of your legal journey.

1. Studying for the SQE: Building Stamina for the Marathon

Anyone who’s looked at the SQE syllabus knows the sheer volume of content is daunting. You’re not just learning for an exam; you’re learning for a professional qualification that’s testing the entire foundation of your legal knowledge.

The temptation to cut into sleep to cram “just one more unit” is strong. But science is clear: poor sleep impairs memory retention and your ability to process complex information. Skipping workouts to “save time” feels logical in the short term, but exercise actually boosts cognitive function, energy levels, and stress resilience – the very things you need to survive intense prep.

💡 Practical shift: Create a non-negotiable daily routine that includes a set bedtime, a short burst of physical activity, and regular meals that aren’t just caffeine and sugar. Even a 15-minute walk between revision blocks counts. Small habits compound into big results.

2. Your Job Search: Resilience in the Face of Rejection

Applying for paralegal roles, training contracts, or vacation schemes is mentally exhausting. You’re navigating anxiety, competition, and the unpredictability of recruitment cycles.

If you’re operating from a place of constant fatigue and poor nutrition, your ability to show up confident, energised, and sharp in applications or interviews, drops dramatically.

💡 Practical shift: Treat your job search like a performance sport. That means fuelling for it: proper meals, breaks between application sprints, and enough rest to process feedback. Even if you don’t land every role, you’ll have the energy to keep going without sliding into burnout.

3. In the Job: Thriving in High-Pressure Environments

Once you’re in the profession, whether as a paralegal, trainee, or qualified solicitor, the stakes get even higher:

• Long hours that blur work and life

• High-pressure deadlines

• Client demands that can spike stress at any moment

It’s easy to think “I’ll fix my habits once this deal/case/project is over,” but in law, there’s always another project. Poor health routines are harder to break once they’re embedded.

💡 Practical shift: Anchor small, repeatable wellness habits into your workday. A lunchtime walk. A healthy snack at your desk. Five minutes of mindful breathing before logging back into your inbox. They’re tiny investments with huge returns in focus, stress management, and long-term performance.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

If you’re ambitious in law, whether aiming to pass the SQE, land a competitive role, or excel in a top firm – you already know you’ll need hard work, resilience, and skill.

But without a healthy foundation, those strengths have an expiry date. You can’t sustain excellence if you’re running on minimal sleep, erratic meals, and no physical movement.

The good news? You don’t have to transform everything overnight. Small, consistent upgrades to your health routines will compound over time, making you more alert in study, more composed in interviews, and more effective in high-stakes work.

Your Challenge This Week

Pick one habit from each pillar to improve:

• Sleep – Set a “no screens” cut-off 30 minutes before bed

• Nutrition – Swap one processed snack for something fresh and protein-rich

• Exercise – Commit to a 10-minute walk or stretch break daily

Do it for a week. Notice the difference in your energy, focus, and mood. Then build from there.

If you’re looking to combine smart health habits with structured legal preparation, our SQE1 Notion Template is designed to organise your study, track your progress, and keep your schedule realistic – so you can succeed without sacrificing your well-being.

Because in law, your mind is your most important asset. And your body is what carries it to the finish line!!