Attorney Wellness
| Publication year | 2022 |
| Pages | 0058 |
Attorney Wellness
Normalizing Wellness in the Workplace: A Conversation With Judge Catherine M. Salinas
There are many ways to prioritize wellness at work, and the more we prioritize it, the more we normalize it.
BY LAURIE MYLER
Talking about wellness with other lawyers can be a daunting task, even to members of the State Bar's Attorney Wellness Committee like me. Many lawyers take pride in being tough and working hard. And even though lawyers are well prepared to analyze complicated factual and legal situations, when it comes to discussing the complexities of maintaining a balanced work-life situation, we often find ourselves unprepared to meet the challenge. Balancing life's stressors, such as managing a legal career, maintaining fulfilling personal relationships, raising children in a post-pandemic world and paying attention to our physical and mental health are not subjects that our legal training addressed. Over the course of my 18 years of legal practice and five years serving on the Attorney Wellness Committee, I have seen coworkers wrestle with such stressors, and I have not always known how to offer help or show support. I know that I am not alone. It has been estimated that "[r]oughly half of practicing attorneys are experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety, with approximately 30% of those falling in the mild range and nearly 20% falling in the moderate/severe range."[1] So, as with every other aspect of my legal practice when I need guidance, I consult a trusted mentor. This time I consulted with U.S. Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas, a federal magistrate judge in Atlanta. Salinas is open, honest and has a self-deprecating way of disarming even the most charged conversations. We sat down to discuss how to encourage lawyers to talk about wellness with their friends, family and colleagues. The big takeaway? There are many ways to prioritize wellness at work, and the more we prioritize it, the more we normalize it. Here are some tips Salinas shared about how to make wellness a focus in your workspace.
Model Good Behavior. Make Healthy Choices and Brag About Them.
Lawyers are good at giving advice but aren't always as good about taking their own advice. We know that we should drink water to stay hydrated, but many lawyers do not drink enough throughout the day. We know that sitting in front of a screen has negative health consequences, but often we go hours without taking a break. We know that routine health screenings such as colonoscopies may save our life, but we cancel them and don't ever get around to rescheduling. And we watch our colleagues do the same...
To continue reading
Request your trial