CBA Record February_March 2016

YLS Special Issue l THE COMPLETE LAWYER

an in-person conversation for urgent needs as opposed to email. If you make a habit of immediately responding to emails, those who send them will be trained to expect immediate responses. Another suggestion is to eliminate voluntarily induced distraction in your life. An example is wearing headphones during commuting periods. I am a life- long music fan, but the distraction related to constantly muffling the outside world is detrimental to the maintenance and development of our senses. It is healthy for our bodies to experience the stimuli around us. If we constantly distract ourselves from using our observational capabilities, they will quickly become dull. With sharp attention comes deep confidence in our own sensory abilities, ultimately making us better lawyers. Stress With work-related stress and busy sched- ules, it is easy to lose sight of what it actu- ally means to be stressed (or to be happy). A lawyer’s complaint about having to finish a dispositive motion or purchase agreement within 36 hours sounds terrifying. From someone else’s point of view, though, a quiet, air-conditioned, clean, and comfort- able work environment sounds appealing. A good way to remind yourself about perspective is to routinely challenge your physical and mental comfort levels. Regu- larly do something you would not normally do, even seemingly inconsequential activi- ties. Take a cold shower. Find your way to

the bathroom in the dark. Try a new exercise at the gym. Strike up a conversation with a stranger. Whatever it is, force yourself to struggle through discomfort and overcome it. All these tasks will add up over time. As you become comfortable with discomfort, your tolerance for what you consider to be uncomfortable will vastly increase. Consequences of Lacking Fitness The risks of lacking fitness are tremendous. According to the Centers for Disease Con- trol and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Major contributors to heart disease are poor diet, insufficient exercise, and exces- sive stress. The fight-or-flight response is an instinctual ability of the human body to power itself in the event it is faced with a situation in which it must physically fight or flee in order to survive. In this situa- tion, the brain orders the body to flood the bloodstream with powerful chemicals, such as cortisol and adrenaline, to facilitate extraordinary speed, strength, and focus while at the same time shutting down other systems that are situationally unnecessary (e.g., digestion). Our bodies react the same way to a tiger emerging from the bushes as when facing an impending deadline or serious obliga- tion, such as an overdue bill or a public speaking event. The problem is, if we do not burn off these fight-or-flight chemicals with strenuous physical exercise, they build up in the body and directly contribute to heart disease and other metabolic disorders.

CBA YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION Chair

Matthew A. Passen Passen Law Group First Vice-Chair Kathryn Carso Liss Law Offices of Jean Conde

Second Vice-Chair Jonathan Amarilio

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Member Service Manager Trisha Rich Holland & Knight Public Service Manager Octavio Duran Jr. Bekkerman Law Offices

Project Officer Shawna Boothe Schiff Hardin LLP Project Officer Brandon E. Peck Peck Ritchey LLC

Secretary/Treasurer Paraisia Winston Gray YLS Journal Co-Editors in Chief Geoffrey Burkhart American Bar Association Oliver Khan Arnstein & Lehr LLP

RAISE YOUR PROFILE & ENHANCE YOUR RESUME Looking for ways to stand out from the crowd? Check out these unique opportunities available through your CBA membership: –Speak at committee meetings, seminars and community events –Become a legislative liaison –Chair committees and special projects –Gain training and hands on experience through pro bono projects –Help evaluate judges –Work on cable TV productions –Publish an article in the CBA Record Call 312/554-2131 or email kstanton@chicagobar.org for details.

Assistant Co-Editor Nicholas Standiford Schain Banks Kenny & Schwartz LTD

YLS Director Jennifer Byrne

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