This year has been “a lot”, to put it mildly, and we are heading into a holiday season that will undoubtedly look and feel different than any in our memorable history. Here are a few simple, yet effective tips for lawyers to bring more ease and joy to your life over the next few weeks.
Tips for Lawyers for a Smoother and More Enjoyable Holiday Season
Focus on That Which You Are Grateful For
According to the article Giving Thanks Can Make You Happier, from Harvard Health Publishing, “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
One easy way to get in touch with gratitude is to make a list of five things you are grateful for in your life and post this where you can see it everyday. It's fast and easy to do, and getting in touch with feelings of gratitude can have a positive impact on your entire outlook.
Block Time Now for the Atypical
One of the best ways to help yourself stay sane this holiday season is to block your time. Now is the time to think through any atypical items that you will need to handle for your business over the next few weeks, and block off the specific hours on your calendar.
Time blocking is a critical component to building a successful law practice. For a full training on creating your time blocking calendar, check out Module 3 of the Money Map for Lawyers, a free resource from NLBM that is designed to help you map out a path to identify and reach your time, money, and personal goals.
It's also important to remember to block time for the holiday-related ‘to do’s’ in your personal life, such as writing your holiday cards, finding the presents on your children’s Christmas list, or planning your holiday meals.
Schedule Some Personal Time
This is mission-critical during the holidays! Give yourself an early gift and schedule some personal time, right now. Do you need a haircut or pedicure? How about a cozy date with your partner, or a pizza and games night with your family? This can be as simple as scheduling an afternoon off to do something you love. Whatever you choose, you’ll thank yourself later if you schedule this time now.
For these blocks of time, decide ahead of time that nothing is urgent. Turn off your notifications or set ‘do not disturb’ hours on your phone. You will be less tempted to answer emails or get unnecessarily sucked into something that can wait until business hours.
We hope these tips for lawyers will help you have an easier and happier holiday season.
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