Time Off

I regularly* do something unconventional for a #biglaw attorney. I take a day off during the work week.** This action has led to: • Improved productivity long term • Better strategic thinking across matters • Increased business development and brand work After 9 years in big law, I've learned the benefits of blocking time to work on rather than in my business. After 9 years in big law, I've learned the benefits of blocking time to take care of myself when all to-dos are taken care of (or can wait).  Here are 3 reasons this counterintuitive method works: • Mental fatigue impairs judgment • Strategic breaks decrease mistakes • Rest is a professional obligation Because of my billable hour method, I do this without sacrificing my hours requirement. I build these days into my weekly, monthly, and annual billing goals. Our ethical duty of competence requires us to take care of ourselves. When I become president-elect of the Young Lawyers Division for the State Bar of Wisconsin, I started making #lawyerwellbeing a central focus. Now, as a litigation partner at an AmLaw100 firm, I model a sustainable practice and call others to join me in destigmatizing wellbeing in our profession. ❤️🔥✌🏻 *I use "regularly" loosely. These days are sometimes planned, but most often they come about spontaneously when I realize my to-do list allows for it. **I do this when things are tidied up, in a lull, or can otherwise wait. I do this when I know my hours are planned and accounted for. I do this after I built the credit and trust with teammates, who know I'm not leaving them in a lurch. ---- Want to learn more? Check out my podcast, The Grace Period, which explores these topics across 30 bite-sized episodes.