The Hope of a New Season, 0122 COBJ, Vol. 51, No. 1 Pg. 20
| Author | BY AMY PHILLIPS |
| Position | Vol. 51, 1 [Page 20] |
WELLNESS
BY AMY PHILLIPS
I've heard in many circles recently that we're all getting a little tired of "change," "unprecedented times," and "navigating the unknown." The world we once knew has been turned on its side, and predictable patterns we once relied on are now a thing of the past. On top of that, the "new normal" we were promised still seems just out of reach.
While the difficulties of the legal profession might not go away anytime soon, we can address them with simple yet profoundly effective strategies to navigate upcoming changes and capitalize on the ways we've already learned to grow and adapt. Many within the legal profession are planning for approaching transitions, from job moves to hybrid workplace models and new ways of integrating work and home life, to the current winter season and the new year.
Thankfully, we at the Colorado Lawyer Assistance Program (COLAP) have also observed growth as the goodness and compassion of humanity have risen to the occasion within each of us, our families, our communities, and even the legal profession itself. These adaptations allow for greater strength and resiliency as we move forward in 2022.
Tending to Our Routines
During times of change, our routines can either keep us grounded and focused or show us that what we've been doing is no longer working and we need different strategies to navigate new seasons. Tuning into how things such as movement, food, music, social media, and news consumption impact your moods, emotions, and energy levels will help you optimize such transitions.
In with the New
Note what is working well for you and commit to doing more of those things. Build in mental and physical "commute time" even when you're not going somewhere different. Get up from your chair and move around. Go into a different room, engage with nature if possible, and move by stretching, deep breathing, or taking a quick walk.
If you're a leader within your organization, encourage your entire department, team, or firm/agency to adopt the practice of building in 10 minutes of "commute time" between meetings. These behaviors will help you to quickly reset after difficult interactions so you don't carry lingering negativity and stress into your next meeting, but they are equally important for all meetings, even the good ones!
While your days and weeks may be in flux right now, you can still...
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