CBA Record July-August 2023

YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION

prospect, if a colleague or a partner doesn’t respect your boundary, it is likely a sign of poor office culture and the need to consider a new opportu nity. 2. Disconnect. The best advice can be the toughest to follow. Given that nearly all attorneys use a smartphone, it is all too easy to check emails through out the evening or early in the morn ing. Make a firm commitment to not check work email on your smartphone after your hard stop. Power down your computer and make the same firm commitment to resist the temptation to turn it back on. 3. Use Your Vacation Time. Attorneys sometimes avoid taking personal time, so they don’t develop an undesirable reputation. While perception doesn’t always match reality, vacations are an important tool. Few things can destress like a week or two in your favorite getaway spot. While an attor ney’s workload may preclude taking an extended vacation, even a 3-day or 4-day weekend trip can provide much needed relief. While on vacation, how ever, it is important to also practice the other tips mentioned. mental health and stress are well-doc umented. Exercise can reduce anxi ety, depression, and negative mood, and improve self-esteem and cogni tive function. Exercise has also been found to alleviate symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal. The form of exercise need not be rig orous — 30 minutes of walking per day can achieve these same benefits. Mindfulness is a type of meditation that focuses on intense awareness of the present without judgment. It can include meditation, body scanning, EFT (emotional freedom technique) tapping, yoga, tai chi, or anything else that promotes a holistic mind-body 4. Exercise or Engage in Mindfulness (or Do Both). The benefits of exercise on

connection. As with exercise, mindful ness can decrease stress, anxiety, and depression, and it can improve mood and cognitive function. 5. Find Hobbies. Few things can de-stress like a hobby that captures your excite ment. Life is about balance, and an attorney’s attention cannot be solely devoted to work or family obligations. Each person needs an opportunity for self-care as indicated in Tip #4. While exercise and mindfulness are typically the first thoughts in the self-care realm, hobbies are healthy outlets, particu larly if they involve another tip, such as exercise. Play a round of golf on a sunny, warm day. Create a piece of art that inspires others based on some thing that inspires you. Volunteer for causes that are important to you. The world is full of opportunities for this version of self-expression. stressful, but it also affords some privi leges to which many other professions are not privy. One such privilege is the ability to make your own schedule (within reason). There are some days when an attorney’s stress or mental health is at its worst. The best option is likely unique to the specific individ ual, but the practice of law does have options. If you are in a position where you’ve been working from home for an extended period and need to connect with other people, use that as a reason to go to the office. Conversely, if you’ve been diligently working in the office and need a break, make a conscious decision to work from home and dis tance yourself from such stressors. 7. Find and/or Develop a Support System. Life is a team sport, and no one truly plays alone. We are surrounded by friends, family, other loved ones, and colleagues. Embrace that support system and rely on those who support you. If you truly cannot find an outlet, 6. Make Full Use of the Flexibility Afforded by Our Profession. The practice of law is

use a professional. Therapists, coun selors, psychologists, and psychiatrists are all trained professionals, and many have experience dealing with attorneys and the issues unique to the practice. Avail yourself of those benefits. The stigma associated with professional assistance is not gone entirely, but it has improved dramatically. If you still cannot or will not pursue such an option, turn to the anonymous source provided in Tip #8 below. 8. Don’t Be Afraid to Contact Lawyer Assistance Programs. Lawyer Assistance Programs provide confidential services and support to judges, lawyers, and law students who are facing substance use disorders or mental health issues. You can visit the American Bar Association’s website for a listing by state of various Lawyer Assistance Programs: www. americanbar.org/groups/lawyer_assis tance/resources/lap_programs_by_ state. Illinois attorneys can contact the Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program at 800-LAP-123 or illinoislap.org. The stressed-out, overworked, and over whelmed attorney used to be aspirational for many young attorneys. The moniker “workaholic” was once a badge of honor, and many firms still reflect this princi ple. But anyone denying a fundamental change in general office culture and a shift in the practice of law is simply not reading the writing on the wall. There is a grow ing acceptance of this change, but many attorneys remain stressed and afflicted by mental health or substance abuse issues that the pandemic made worse. By using the tools discussed above and embracing this shifting dynamic in the legal profes sion, the hope is that any attorney reading this can achieve some relief. Brian M. Bentrup, a Senior Associate at Pluymert, Mac Donald, Hargrove & Lee, Ltd., concentrates his practice on estate planning, guardianship, probate and trust administra tion, and commercial real estate. He is also the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the CBA’s @theBar Blog.

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