By Anne Leer and Kyli Willis
As we come to the final weeks of 2022, feeling overwhelmed and burned out with work is a common and shared experience amongst lawyers and their staff members. During these hectic times, it is important to remember the positives of working in family law to help finish the year strong and with a good mindset. Take time to reflect on this past year and celebrate the successes! By following these tips, we hope you can alleviate the stressors around this season and remind yourselves of why you do the hard family law work and the ways you have helped families this year.
A lot of families may be celebrating the holidays together for the first time! Think back to the clients who you assisted with adoptions, guardianships, or difficult child custody matters. These individuals are experiencing new holiday firsts because of you. That is something to be proud of!
Because you took advantage of the Family Law Section’s many awesome CLE opportunities this year, you’re not one of those unfortunate attorneys scrambling to get their hours in at the end of the year. Instead, you get to focus on celebrating the season and not have that added stressor. You were smart! Good for you!
Get a jump on helping your clients make their holiday parenting time plans, so they aren’t creating last minute issues for you to address or messing up your end of year zen. You will thank yourself later for taking care of this now!
Creating a clear work/life balance will help center your focus so you can stay productive. Make sure to inform staff members and clients of your schedule and set reasonable boundaries that can stick to. Then stick to them! When you’re at work, you’re at work and when you’re not, focus on yourself, family, friends, and loved ones. Make time for the end of year events that allow you to celebrate with friends and colleagues! (The work will still be there in January, but the parties will be over.)
Reward your staff. They’ve worked hard for you all year and this is a busy and stressful time for them, too. Show them you appreciate them and help them also carve out that work/life balance so they can also enjoy this season.
Remember to enjoy yourself during the holidays! As chaotic as this time may be, allow yourself to indulge in holiday traditions or anything else that brightens your spirits during this time. Rest and recharging during this time will help you start off the year on a fresh note.
For Additional Ideas to Celebrate the Holidays:
From all of us on the Family Law Executive Committee, we wish you and your loved ones a very happy and safe holiday season! We look forward to a new year full of more positive experiences and IndyBar events!
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