Attorney presents ‘stress busters’

American Bar Association

The stress of law practice can be difficult to manage, said Erin Clifford, health and wellness coach and partner at Clifford Law Offices in Chicago. Clifford offered “Real Solutions for Lawyers to Thrive Even During Stressful Times’ on Aug. 1 during the ABA Annual Meeting session, Clifford offered these tips for maintaining work-life harmony:

• Maintain flexible boundaries. Creating boundaries allows you to put your well-being first.

• Know your limits. Not just with your career but in your personal life. Saying yes to everything takes up physical and mental space.

• Listen to your emotions. Is the situation making you feel anxious, overwhelmed, depressed, excited? Ask yourself, if you had to take on something new tomorrow, would you do it?

• Listen to your body. If you feel exhausted, use the “no” button.

• Know your values. Does the decision align with your top five values?

• Assess the adequacy of your boundaries. Are they porous, rigid or flexible? If too porous, the boundaries might need to be reinforced; if too rigid, you might be isolating yourself.

Prioritizing sleep during trials also is a key self-care strategy,

Using your vacation time also is essential to lessening work-related anxieties.Use the following strategies:

• Communicate with colleagues and clients about your absence. Share plans and instructions with anyone covering your work.

• Establish clear boundaries about your availability and what type of urgency will constitute an “emergency” call or email.

• Commit to unplugging by turning off work email notifications and texts. If you feel it is necessary to regularly check, choose a one- to two-hour period each day.

• Give yourself permission to relax. Use this time to enjoy the moment, the place where you are and the company you are with. Life is short and you cannot get these experiences back.

• If your schedule does not allow for a formal vacation, take a staycation and use your paid time off to relax at home.

• Plan a reset week to get back into your routine. Make self-care a top priority, revisit your routines and re-engage.

(https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/ aba-news-archives/ 2024/08/stress-busters-to-achieve-harmony/)

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