Did you happen to catch “Thrive: Interconnectivity of Mind & Body Well-Being”? If not, allow me to summarize just a few of the many relevant takeaways offered by Justine Karanof of Faranof Law during her recent talk on how to manage stress and maintain your mental health amid today’s multitude of stressors.
First, Justine reminds us that, as with meditation, we don’t need to entertain a certain, strict posture with the law. She suggests we seek to find what works for us and encourages us to think about alternative ways to balance work and self-care. Working on a project outside or taking a walk during a Zoom meeting, she explains, are solutions that can easily be incorporated into the workday.
To think more critically about self-care, Justine encourages us to consider what each of rest, nourishment, movement, connectedness, and meaning look like in our personal and professional lives. Naturally, she notes that today’s normal will look different from that of your pre-COVID normal.
Importantly, Justine also notes the importance of trauma-informed legal practice and draws a connection between self-care and the civil rights movement, equity, and justice.
Justine further provides a number of recommendations for self-care. I particularly enjoyed her tips on release valve breathing techniques and the creation of a mindful life map, but again, as she suggests, you should do what works for you! You can check out Justine’s balance heart mind meditation here.
Fortunately, Justine points out that the practice of law is indeed changing. She notes young lawyers are entering a state of the profession in which tendencies like working incessantly and failing to care for one’s self are becoming old norms, and asserts the legal profession is slowly but surely beginning to welcome opportunities for self-care.
You can view the full presentation, offered in the memory of UHLC alum and dedicated prosecutor Gil Epstein, here. Stay well and thrive!
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