We face so many stresses in our professions. We encounter demands of clients; stresses about money and paying bills; too much work and too little time; and the pressures of the court, other attorneys, and our full calendar. The pressure builds. We work harder. But, we just feel more overwhelmed. We eliminate any time for ourselves. We just do not have any time for self-care. And, so the stress worsens. We get more distracted, and our focus weakens. It is a challenging downward cycle. How do we change that? How can we be successful in our profession handling our workload, but still find fulfillment and peace?

The key is we need to get away from that pressure, and make time for ourselves. We all can get overwhelmed, stressed and burned out. We all know it is very important to have self-care, to find time for ourselves, to recharge our batteries, to give ourselves the energy to both do what we need to do in our profession but also to enjoy it and feel fulfilled. 

In this newsletter, I will explain why self-care is so important, detail the five most important benefits of self-care, and give you eight tangible tips for building healthy self-care habits.

Why is self-care important?

Self-care is so helpful to free ourselves from the stresses of our professional life. It is a critical part of living a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Looking after yourself both mentally and physically is crucial to taking control of your health and of your happiness.

We lead increasingly busy lives and it has become so hard to put ourselves first, particularly when we have so many responsibilities. But looking after yourself will make you feel better, and the better you feel, the better you will be in all areas of your life – from work to relationships.

Self-care doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or require a huge amount of our precious time. But without finding time for ourselves, we will be overwhelmed, and not effective. 

What are the benefits of self-care?

Self-care has so many benefits, which work together to create a better sense of self. Committing to self-care should improve your wellbeing all round. These are just few of them:

1. Self-care can improve your physical health. Self-care includes looking after your body and becoming more attuned with its needs. Whether it’s brushing your teeth, eating better. exercising more or getting enough sleep each night, part of any program of self-care should focus on your physical health. When you take care of your body, you think and work better.

2. Self-care can reduce stress and anxiety. Making time for relaxing activities, such as chatting with a friend, meditating, getting a massage, listening to music or practicing yoga or meditation, is an important part of self-care. Activities that relax us help to reduce symptoms of our stress and anxiety and to lifts our spirits.

3. Self-care can boost our self-esteem. As well as helping to calm our nerves, taking time to relax and look after yourself can have a positive impact on the way we see ourselves: When we treat ourselves with kindness, we look upon ourselves more kindly. When we have a stronger self-esteem, we handle setbacks better, and are more likely to achieve our goals. 

4. Self-care protects our mental health. When we prioritize our self-care, we manage our mental health and might even prevent any issues from getting worse. We are more emotionally stable and well-balanced. Of course, self-care is not a substitute for professional help, and we shouldn’t feel we must handle our problems alone. If your mental health is suffering, you should always talk to someone. However, if you’re looking to improve your mental wellbeing, taking the time to care for yourself both mentally and physically is really important.

5. Self-care can lead to better relationships. When we are happier and healthier, our relationships are better, whether with our spouse, children, family or friends. 

How can we create a healthy self-care practice?

Here are eight tangible tips to build a positive self-care regimen:

1. Schedule time for self-care. We of course schedule appointments, hearings, and client meetings. If we do not specifically make time for ourselves, it will never have happen. It is critical that we make a conscious decision each day to find some time, either in the morning before going to work, right after work, or in the evening, for ourselves. That time is reserved: for you.

2. Start a program of better nutrition. We all know the importance of clean nutrition. When we get busy though, we eat whatever is convenient, handy and fast, which is often not the best or most healthy for us. Try to start a program of healthy eating habits, and drink plenty of water. When we eat cleaner, we have more energy, work better, and have a better mental outlook.

3. Enjoy a quiet time. When we work so hard, our mind is always racing. So many thoughts and conversations occupy our thoughts. It can be so helpful when we take a break, clear our mind, reflect and meditate on our day, our goals, and our plans. We can attain peace by being more mindful and present.

3. Exercise or enjoy our hobby. A brisk walk, playing our favorite sport, or indulging in our favorite hobby is a great break from the pressures of work. For me, it is a long, brisk walk with my dogs, golf or pickleball. Getting the blood flowing, clearing our mind, and focusing on our favorite recreational pursuit helps to free us from our work stresses.

5. Connect with friends and family. Our work can be not only stressful, but solitary. We stay immersed in our office, churning away, completing our projects, no real human connection. One great way to recharge is to take a break from work demands and have a real human connection with our spouse, best friends, or family. Quality time with loved ones is a great source for support.

6. Spoil yourself. Do something you really enjoy. Get a massage or a spa treatment. See a great movie. Purchase that one thing you really wanted but have been denying yourself. 

7. Build a healthy sleep pattern. When we are stressed and overworked, our sleep habits struggle. We go to bed later. We do not sleep soundly. We wake up too early. Focus on developing healthy sleep habits. Set a time when you will go to bed each night and allow for eight hours sleep. Turn off electronics 60 minutes before you go to bed. Take a relaxing shower or bath. Turn off the lights and TV in your room. Listen to some relaxing music. You will find if you have consistently better sleep, that you will have more energy and better focus during the day, and handle struggles much better.

8. Make a gratitude list. Take 10 minutes at the end of the day and focus on what things you have to be grateful for. What went right that day? What happened that you appreciate? What do you have to be grateful for? Often, the stress we feel is based on a self-centered focus. When we instead reflect on the many gifts in our life, we feel much better about ourselves and where we are. Living in gratitude is a great way to reduce anxiety in our life.

If you were to improve one thing, what would you start doing more of to improve your self-care?

I am now providing a service of helping lawyers to feel more fulfilled and to be more successful in their practice. I would love to learn how you are doing and to connect with you. Would you like to schedule a courtesy call with me? If so, please use this link: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call