Autonomy

Autonomy often feels out of reach for associates.

You can cultivate autonomy by looking to the things you can control.

Even if small, building habits that create space for choice is key.

Some ways I do this, are:

☀ I start each day with time that is only mine. This can be as short as a five-minute meditation, or as long as four hours of early morning selfcare, exercise, journaling, and/or an exciting breakfast. It doesn't matter, as long as I get to choose what the thing is and it is totally mine.

🎾 I have a hobby. For my first four years of practice, that was tennis. The key is for your hobby to be wholly separate from work and a true outlet--a place you can go to escape and just be. It also must be a true commitment, something work cannot interrupt or cause to be rescheduled. (Note: For the last 1.5 years, I've been nursing a torn labrum, so tennis has not been an option. I've honestly been a bit lost without it, but am hoping to get back to it this summer.)

📅 I monitor my calendar. This has taken me years to feel comfortable with, and I wish I had started much, much sooner. Being available does not mean every moment of my calendar is free for others. Time blocking, tracking the billable hour, not offering up whole days as open meeting times--these things take a nudge and confidence to implement, but you will not regret it.

🎧 I check my thoughts and tune out negative nellies. It is very easy to listen to the advice of senior associates and partners--all their advice all the time--and follow it blindly. In fact, listening to others and following their advice is sometimes easier than asking yourself, "What do I want?" or "What makes sense for me?" Those folks mean well. They got where they are and want others to be like them (or work like them and for them). But your career is not their career. Your life and experiences are not their life and experience. Now, I regularly check in with myself (and a few trusted mentors) to make sure I'm on track and that I'm doing work that makes sense for me and my goals. If on track, I celebrate and keep at it. If off track, instead of forging ahead like I once did (which led to stress, disappointment, and honestly, lots of tears), I pivot as professionally and quickly as possible.

I recognize that some reading this will think, "I could never."

I thought that once too.

Start small.

Focus on your zone of control.

What can you choose to do today to support your sense of control?

Do that one thing, and build from there.

You will not regret it.

And in a week, month, or year from now, it'll grow in ways that might surprise you.

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