Why Judges Need Personal Time to Thrive

As a judge, you carry one of society’s greatest responsibilities. Every decision you make can change a life. Every ruling echoes through courtrooms, communities, and sometimes, legal history. You are expected to be impartial, tireless, composed, and wise. But you’re also human—and no human can pour from an empty cup.

That’s why “me time” isn’t indulgent or optional for you. It’s essential. You need space that’s just yours. Time to exhale, reflect, rest, and simply be—without the pressures of the bench, the demands of the docket, or the weight of the robe.

Taking time for yourself matters—not just for your health, but for your performance, your integrity, and your ability to uphold justice.

It is when you make time for yourself. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. The most effective personal time is often simple and consistent:

• A quiet cup of coffee before the courthouse opens

• An afternoon walk between hearings

• Ten minutes of deep breathing at your desk

• A weekend hike with no phone

• Journaling after a difficult case

• An evening immersed in music or art

The key is that it’s just for you. Not to be productive. Not to process legal arguments. Just to be. Because you’re not a machine—you’re a human being with needs, emotions, and limits.

Why is it important for judges?

Judges face unique pressures. You navigate a world of constant complexity. Your days are filled with high-stakes cases, emotional testimonies, tight deadlines, and public scrutiny. You have to manage not just the law, but also the lives it touches—and do so with absolute objectivity. That means:

• Handling immense caseloads

• Staying neutral in emotionally charged situations

• Absorbing difficult or traumatic content

• Remaining ethically above reproach

• Often working in professional isolation

These challenges can quietly wear you down. Maybe you’ve felt the mental fog after a long trial, or the emotional weight of a custody decision that kept you awake at night. That’s exactly why you need regular personal time—to recharge your mind, reset your emotions, and reconnect with your own identity beyond the bench.

Think more clearly and make better decisions

You make hundreds of decisions—big and small—every week. That kind of constant decision-making takes a toll. Over time, it leads to what psychologists call decision fatigue. You may not realize it, but fatigue can quietly cloud your judgment.

Taking time for yourself allows your brain to rest. Whether it’s a morning walk, reading a novel, or stepping away for a quiet lunch, these moments give your mind the reset it needs. When you return, you think more clearly, listen more deeply, and make better decisions.

You owe that clarity to the people who appear before you—and to yourself.

Prevent burnout and emotional fatigue

Judicial work can be emotionally draining. You encounter grief, trauma, conflict, and injustice daily. While you must remain composed, you're not immune to the emotional toll.

That’s where “me time” comes in. It's not just about rest; it's about emotional restoration. When you take time to decompress, whether through solitude, exercise, hobbies, or time with loved ones, you protect yourself from burnout and build the resilience you need to keep serving at a high level.

Think of it as emotional hygiene—a necessary habit to keep your mind and spirit clear.

Stay grounded in your values

As a judge, your ethical compass must stay sharp. But chronic stress, fatigue, and pressure can subtly erode your ability to reflect, empathize, or pause before reacting.

Regular personal time gives you the space to maintain that moral clarity. It allows you to step back, reflect on your role, and ensure you’re showing up in alignment with your values. You need that space not just to follow the law, but also to honor the spirit of justice itself.

Model leadership through balance

You’re a leader in the legal system. Others—lawyers, clerks, even jurors—watch how you carry yourself. When you prioritize your well-being, you send a powerful message—that strength includes self-awareness, and that resilience comes from rest, not relentless overwork.

By setting boundaries and protecting your personal time, you’re not stepping away from leadership, you’re embodying it. You’re showing that wellness and professionalism are not at odds. In fact, they fuel one another.

Remember who you are beyond the bench

Yes, you’re a judge, but you’re also more than that. You may be a parent, partner, mentor, artist, friend. When the courtroom closes, you still deserve joy, creativity, connection, and peace.

“Me time” helps you stay connected to those other parts of yourself. It reminds you why you pursued justice in the first place. It grounds you in the bigger picture. And it helps ensure that when you return to the courtroom, you do so with renewed energy and deeper perspective.

You deserve this time

The justice system is only as healthy as the people who sustain it. If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or disconnected, it will show—no matter how hard you try to push through. And that’s okay. You don’t have to be superhuman. You just have to be you, at your best.

Taking “me time” isn’t stepping away from your duty. It’s stepping toward it—with more presence, wisdom, and compassion.

So, if no one has told you this lately: You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to have boundaries. You are allowed to take care of yourself.

Because when you do, you don’t just protect your own well-being—you uphold the integrity of the very justice you serve.

If you are a judge or magistrate who needs help, contact the Judicial Advisory Group, a peer-based confidential assistance group that helps judges and magistrates with personal and professional issues. For more information, go to www.ohiolap.org/judges or call (800) 348-4343.