Be Well, 0617 WYBJ, Vol. 40 No. 3. 56

• Author: Maryt L Fredrickson, Ninth Judicial District Court Jackson, Wyoming

Be Well

Vol. 40 No. 3 Pg. 56

Wyoming Bar Journal

June, 2017

Morning Mindfulness-A Time for You

Maryt L Fredrickson, Ninth Judicial District Court Jackson, Wyoming

An early column in this series addressed mindfulness practices used in other industries, like sports teams and tech companies.^[1] This month's column returns to that theme. Hosts of successful, well-known business and political leaders use morning mindfulness practices. Attorneys also run businesses and serve as political and community leaders, while also carrying out their unique professional and ethical obligations. Thus, like their non-legal colleagues, attorneys face at least equally challenging demands on their time and mental resources. Morning mindfulness practices provide often-elusive personal time and the opportunity for physical fitness, quiet introspection, and the cultivation of creativity. The side effects of morning mindfulness can include increased personal and professional satisfaction and increased resiliency to stress—all effects many attorneys often seek more of.

The inspiration for this month's column came from hearing a local elected official talk about her morning routine: Question: "How do you stay so calm and grounded with so much to do, faced with so many demands?" Answer from elected official: "I have a mindfulness practice every morning. Sometimes it is only for five minutes but I do it every day. It makes all the difference."

After hearing those words from a local leader, who spends her time under crushing public scrutiny, I began to reflect on the number of busy, successful people I know who have a morning mindfulness practice. A former law partner I worked with sits and meditates every morning. A busy family law lawyer I know is an early riser. She spends the time before her family wakes up reading and doing personal projects. A friend of mine with a grueling work schedule is noticeably less happy and expresses less professional and personal fulfillment on the days he skips his morning walk with his dog.

Mindful Moments for Breakfast

Mindfulness is simply moment-to-moment awareness, systematically and intentionally paying attention to each moment, without judgment. The benefits of mindfulness exercises include improved focus and memory, lower stress levels, improved sleep quality, more resilience when dealing with the unexpected, and less emotional engagement with stressors. There...