As we enter the New Year, many of us set new goals and intentions, particularly with regard to our physical health and well-being. While taking care of our bodies is incredibly important, in the legal industry, our mental and emotional health and well-being is also crucial.
Just because we are “post-pandemic,” doesn’t mean our lives are stress free. To the contrary, in the last year, as part of consulting engagements, I interviewed too many lawyers and law firm executives who were overwhelmed, burned out and truly struggling to deal with the stress in their professional lives.
Focusing on our mental and emotional well-being ensures not only that we are happier and better coping with the inevitable stress of lawyering, it helps us to improve our performance and get to the next level in our professional growth and development. The most successful leaders and lawyers I have worked with are devoted to their work, AND they are confident enough to prioritize family, health and taking time for self-care.
So, as you set your goals for 2024, I encourage you to ask yourself: what will I do to take care of my physical, mental and emotional well-being this year? What daily practices can I put into place to ensure that normal stress doesn’t turn into unhealthy strain and burnout? It’s not too late to start using resources like Calm, Headspace, my personal favorite Insight Timer, or a tool that works best for you that will support your mental and emotional well-being this year.