By Mark Bassingthwaighte, Esq.
mbass@alpsinsurance.com

In 1829 U.S. Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story stated, “the law is a jealous mistress and requires a long and constant courtship.” This sentiment has held true to this day for far too many attorneys and that’s a problem, particularly for those who are unable to say no to their jealous mistress’s demand for a never-ending sacrifice. If this is striking a chord, meaning you are one who feels that your jealous mistress will never allow you to prioritize taking care of yourself along the way, it’s time to reframe your relationship with the law. I say this because I believe the only way to sustain a long and successful legal career is to prioritize wellness. Here are seven reasons why.

1. Mental Health Matters – The practice of law is renowned for its stressors. Over time, the long hours, tight deadlines, emotionally charged situations, and high stakes matters will take a toll on your mental wellbeing. When you ignore this truth, you risk jeopardizing your personal happiness and your professional efficacy.

• Enhanced Mental Sharpness – Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and mindfulness will lead to improved mental clarity, concentration, problem-solving skills, and memory, all of which are essential attributes for sustaining success as an attorney.

• Improved Client Relations – Effective attorney-client relationships are built on more than just legal skills; empathy, communication skills, and emotional intelligence are also part of the equation. When you prioritize personal wellness, perhaps with meditation, yoga, or even therapy, you become better equipped to listen to, understand, and meet your clients’ needs.

• Professional Longevity – Remember that a career is a marathon, not a sprint; and burnout is an all-too-common issue in the practice of law. Neglect wellness and you risk experiencing a decline in your performance and potentially a premature exit from the profession. It needn’t be this way.

• Ethical Decision-making – The demanding nature of legal work coupled with the financial pressures of running a successful practice can sometimes lead attorneys down the slippery slope of blurred ethical boundaries. A well-rounded wellness routine that includes time for reflection, relaxation, and self-care can help you stay ethically grounded, even when under stress.

• Leadership and Influence – If you happen to be a firm leader, you have the power to influence others. Create a firm culture that not only encourages but enables everyone to prioritize wellness and be the example that others can follow. The end result will be a healthier, more productive work environment and your clients will take note.

• Personal Fulfillment – Prioritizing wellness isn’t just about sustaining a long and successful career. It’s also about what you want your life to be like between now and dead. When you make wellness a priority in all aspects of your life (emotional, physical, social, financial, environmental, professional, and spiritual) you are far more likely to enjoy your work, have a fulfilling life outside of work, and be happy and content.

Of course, there are going to be times when the law can and will be a jealous mistress. Sacrifices will be asked of you, and they will need to be made, often at the expense of other aspects of your life. Prioritizing wellness isn’t about denying this reality. It’s about remembering who is in control of your life. It’s not the jealous mistress. It’s you. So, go ahead, reframe your relationship if need be. You won’t lose your relationship with the law. It will just be a healthier relationship, and that’s a good thing.

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Esq. Is the resident Risk Manager at ALPS Insurance. To learn more about how ALPS can support your solo or small firm visit: alpsinsurance.com

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Esq.
mbass@alpsinsurance.com

Being an attorney is hard enough; but for some, it’s even harder during the winter months. In part, this can be due to the reduced daylight, colder temps, and/or the stresses of the holiday season; but it needn’t be this way. If you are one who can relate, there’s no time like the present to have it be otherwise. One can overcome the winter blues and find wellness in the process. Here are a few tips and ideas as to where to start.

If the darkness of winter brings about a low mood and a drop in your energy level, recognize the situation for what it is and do something about it. Invest in light therapy lamps that mimic natural sunlight, start to take short breaks during your workday to get outside to take in a little sun, and make sure your workspace is near a window in order to maximize your exposure to natural light.

If you find yourself making excuses regarding exercise, work to change that. The more active you become, the easier it will be to beat the winter blues. I started with cycling. What could it be for you? I know that making this change can be hard. Realize that it doesn’t need to be an all or nothing proposition, however. Just start. You might turn one of those short outside breaks mentioned above into a longer and longer walk or team up with one of your support systems and do something together. For example, play pickle ball with your spouse or go to the gym once a week with a friend. Remember Newton’s first law of motion. A body at rest tends to stay at rest, and a body in motion tends to stay in motion, unless acted on by a net external force. So, once you start, do all you can to make sure your mind doesn’t become an external force that prevents your body from staying in motion!

Learn to be mindful with your eating. Comfort food is called comfort food for a reason, and it is so easy to embrace all that goodness, particularly when one is under stress or feeling down – a common response to the cold months of winter, the stress of the holiday season, or the pressure of the end of the year workload. Make your portions more reasonable. Replace bad carbs with good carbs and bad fats with good fats. You can still enjoy the comfort foods now and again, just don’t graze anymore. What helped me was finally waking up to the reality that my body isn’t a garbage can and I have felt better ever since.

There’s so much more to share, everything from underscoring the importance of social connections, getting a good night’s rest, setting and maintaining personal boundaries, and nurturing support systems; but my hope is these few tips are enough to help get you started.

Finally, and hear me clearly. Success in overcoming the winter blues and finding wellness isn’t something you need to do alone. All I am saying is you are the only one who can decide to take that first small step each and every time. The good news is that once you start to move, keeping the momentum up isn’t going to be as hard as you think it will be.

Will the path of change always be smooth and problem free? Nope. Everyone stumbles from time to time. That’s life. When it happens, see it for what it is and just keep moving forward because finding wellness happens one step at a time.

Mark Bassingthwaighte, Esq. Is the resident Risk Manager at ALPS Insurance. To learn more about how ALPS can support your solo or small firm visit: alpsinsurance.com