September 2, 2025


Transform Your Career with Just Five Minutes a Day: Overcoming Burnout Through Gratitude

Burnout has become a pervasive issue, particularly in high-stress careers like the legal profession. According to recent studies by Deloitte and Gallup, a significant majority of employees suffer from burnout and disengagement. Samorn Selim, a former Biglaw lawyer and founder of Career Unicorns, has firsthand experience with the debilitating effects of burnout. After multiple personal encounters with burnout, Selim has dedicated her career to helping others find sustainable joy in their professional lives.

Selim's recovery journey led her to develop a 90-day career gratitude journal that promises relief from burnout with just five minutes of daily practice. This approach combines several therapeutic practices, including deep breathing, gratitude, journaling, and positive affirmations, designed specifically for busy professionals.

In an insightful discussion, Selim shared her own struggles with burnout, describing long hours that led to chronic health issues. The turning point came when she realized that her work habits were not only unsustainable but were actively harming her well-being. This realization spurred her to explore various wellness strategies, ultimately leading to the creation of her gratitude journal.

The journal aims to make self-care accessible and manageable. Selim emphasizes that "consistency over intensity" is key, explaining that short daily sessions can be more beneficial than sporadic longer breaks. The journal is structured to encourage mindfulness and positive thinking, incorporating inspirational quotes and self-care tips to enhance the user's journey towards recovery.

Selim's strategies have proven effective not only in her life but also among the professionals she coaches. By focusing on gratitude and positive affirmations, her clients have achieved significant career milestones, such as landing dream jobs and advancing to leadership positions. This positive shift is supported by research indicating that gratitude practices at work can dramatically reduce stress and improve mental health.

For legal professionals skeptical about finding time for such practices, Selim advises that these five minutes are an investment in one’s health and career longevity. She argues that taking this brief time for oneself can lead to greater productivity and clarity in professional tasks.

Selim hopes that users of her journal will experience a fundamental transformation after the 90 days, shifting from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance, and ultimately finding renewed joy and sustainability in their careers. She believes that small daily acknowledgments of gratitude can spark significant change, helping professionals not only to survive but thrive in their chosen paths.