Montana Lawyer October/November 2024

5. How will this task impact my well-being? Here, figure out whether you’re talking about a task that’s going to bring on eustress or distress. Eustress is good in the right doses and is what keeps you growing as a person. Distress is just stress. It feels harmful in the moment and the feelings of stress remain even after the stimulus is gone. Eustress is the kind of stress that we take on because it causes us to grow but is difficult in the moment. Like signing up for a race with a hill climb that gives you regrets, or taking on a client who’s personally difficult but who might have a landmark case you’re passionate about. But, even distress has a solution! Sometimes to reduce distress you’ll need to focus on the stressful event itself. For example, if cross-examination causes you distress you can reduce that stress by practicing or taking CLE to beef up your skills. Other times to reduce distress you’ll want to focus on de-stressing. Here, you may perform well at trial but you still feel distressed about it, so to alleviate the stressed feelings you can exercise or take your family to the movies to veg and feel better. Long story short here, a task that negatively affects your well-being is not necessarily a bad thing. If it’s eustress, or even manageable distress, the task might present a great growth opportunity! However, if the task is clearly in the “distress-only” category or takes your eustress to

unmanageable levels, it’s likely time to decline. 6. Would I write this down as a Standard Operating Procedure? Would you expect other people in your organization to do this, or are you just being hard on yourself? For example, if you find yourself bending over backwards for clients rescheduling ap pointments, letting them correct drafts over and over, or com plying with their demands to review something with you on a weekend or evening: would you expect everyone in the office to do the same? Would you really write in the employee handbook “you must meet with clients on weekends any time they ask”? If you wouldn’t tell your employees to do it, maybe you should not do it yourself! You’re probably a little more balanced when you think of your expectations for others, so don’t hold yourself to a higher standard. But on the other hand, if you would share the expectation for anyone in the office, then the expectation is fair game. Yes, we do all need to comply with deadlines, and return phone calls within two business days! Fair. And last, keep these questions in your back pocket if you’re working with others who you feel need some help finding the “yes” or “no” sweet-spot. Keep communication open to discuss values, well-being, and time management. Set a good example by tackling difficult projects while leaving time to take care of your self so you don’t slip into the over-stressed zone.

Tech Tips for Lawyers Tips for Solo Practitioners

4. Time-Tracking Software: Basic time-tracking apps like Toggl or Harvest help attorneys monitor billable hours. These tools automatically track time spent on various tasks, ensuring accurate invoicing and helping you stay on top of deadlines. Solo Practitioners can benefit from basic tools like video conferencing (e.g., Zoom) for remote meetings, email management filters for organized communication, PDF editing software (e.g., Adobe Acrobat) for easy document handling, and time-tracking apps (e.g., Toggl) to monitor billable hours efficiently. These simple technolo gies streamline everyday tasks, enhance client service, and boost productivity.

1. Video Conferencing Tools: Platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams make it easy to conduct remote client meet ings, depositions, and court appearances. These tools are simple to use and offer features like screen sharing, which enhances virtual collaboration and helps maintain rela tionships when in-person meetings aren’t possible. 2. Email Management Tools: Tools like Microsoft Outlook or Gmail filters help attorneys organize and manage the flood of daily emails. Setting up rules for sorting emails by priority, client, or topic ensures important correspondence doesn’t get lost and helps streamline communication. 3. PDF Editing Software: Simple PDF tools like Adobe Acrobat or Foxit let attorneys easily edit, sign, and annotate legal documents. Being able to manipulate PDFs quickly and securely is essential for reviewing contracts, adding signa tures, or redacting sensitive information.

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