“The law is a jealous mistress and requires long and constant courtship. It is not won by trifling favors, but by lavish homage.”
~ United States Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story
Staying healthy – both physically and mentally – is crucial yet not easy when the demands of practicing law beckon for your attention like a 24/7 siren song. After all, none of us would stay in practice if we weren’t constantly attracted to it and rewarded by it, but as lawyers, shouldn't we seek ways to enhance our health and mental wellness?
We polled lawyers from all seasons of their careers, and share their proven strategies to not merely survive but thrive as they practice the law they love.
“Exercising six days a week, if at all possible, with a combination of cardio, strength training, and stretching (yoga and pilates), plus some good, old-fashioned dog-walking while listening to a book on Audible and a cold shower every day.”
“It used to be drinking. But now it’s going to the lake with my family.”
“My favorite ways to relieve stress: daily walking or hiking, meditation, weekly yoga, having lunch or a coffee break with a dear friend, and cooking dinner while listening to music.”
“Morning workouts to start my day, evening walks to unwind (usually with a podcast).”
“Turning my day ‘off’ by not responding to emails or phone calls once I’m back home during the week and especially over the weekends. Establishing boundaries is the most effective method I’ve found. It allows me to separate myself from my role as a lawyer and just be a wife and a mom.”
“I’m pretty terrible at actively relieving stress, but music is soul nourishing.”
“Having and respecting boundaries is important. People will take and take from you unless you stand up for yourself and set those boundaries. Mine have generally been understood and well-respected.”
“Whenever I have a deposition or a hearing in a town that I don’t get to visit often, I plan on something fun to do afterward. I want to see that area while I’m there – even if for a few minutes. For example, recently I stopped by the Helen Keller birthplace in Tuscumbia. And I’ve run the trails of Monte Santo Park in Huntsville.”
Whether you are a new lawyer, glowing from recently passing your state bar exam; a mid-career lawyer, juggling the trifecta of clients, family, and personal health; or a well-seasoned lawyer considering retirement or hanging on to your license “just in case” – you pay the tax for choosing an arduous yet gratifying career. Like everyone, lawyers must choose to be healthy by employing habits that contribute to physical and mental wellness.