Well-Being in the Law Week – Take Time to Focus on You!

The Idaho State Bar Attorney Well-Being Task Force invites you to celebrate Well-Being in the Law Week, May 1st through May 5th. Join other members of the profession, the courts and support staff by participating in these free activities that will improve your overall well-being.

We will focus on a different aspect of well-being Monday through Friday. Every day you will have at least three different suggestions for activities and education. This “well- rounded” wheel shows the well-being emphasis for each day of the week. There is something for everyone!

Click on the days of the week for specific activities including something to watch, something to read and something to do that is focused on an element of well-being for each day.

REGISTER FOR THIS: Moving Together: The Science and Experience of Communal Movement – May 1, 2023 – 11:30 MDT/10:30 PDT

WATCH THIS: Carter, Christine (2020) Confessions of Bad Exerciser, TedX. Marin Christine Carter PhD is a writer, speaker, coach and sociologist, as well as a Senior Fellow at the Greater Good Science Center. In this talk, filmed for TedX Marin, she argues that in order to build a new habit, like exercising, we need to release our perfectionistic desires and let ourselves be bad at it (at least for a while).

READ THIS: Kilkus, Jennifer (2022) Is the Mind-Body Connection Real?

DO THIS: Pick one activity from the “More Movement While Working” section of the Well-Being Week in Law Physical Health Activity Guide and implement that strategy today – maybe it’s a walking meeting, or setting a timer to remind yourself to stand and move during the work day. Pick something small, give yourself permission to do what you can (no perfectionism allowed!), and acknowledge your victories when you follow through.

Exercise is the key not only to physical health but to peace of mind. – Nelson Mandela

REGISTER FOR THIS: What does the U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Mental Health and Well-being in the Workplace Mean for You? – May 2, 2023 – 11:30 MDT/10:30 PDT

WATCH THIS: OnBeing with Krista Tippett and Dacher Keltner: “The Thrilling New Science of Awe” (2023) Dacher Keltner is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and founding director of the Greater Good Science Center. In this podcast, he talks with Krista Tippett about research on primary experience of awe in human life. We experience awe in moments when we have a sense of wonder, or mystery, that transcends our understanding.

READ THIS: Cross, Rob (2020) Do You Have a Life Outside of Work?

DO THIS: Complete the “Connections that Create Purpose” assessment in the Rob Cross article linked above, and identify one new purpose giving activity to explore bringing back in your life. Then talk to someone about this idea today – your spouse, a colleague, or a friend.

The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. – Pablo Picasso

REGISTER FOR THIS: Pro Bono & Community Service as a Pathway to Well-being & Job Satisfaction – May 3, 2023 – 11:30 MDT/10:30 PDT

WATCH THIS: Harris, Carla (2018How To Find The Person Who Can Help You Get Ahead At Work, TEDWomen Carla Harris is a business executive and author. In this talk, she explains why finding a sponsor is so important to propelling your career and provides tips for how to identify and approach a potential sponsor.

READ THIS: Hope Reese (2022), A Neurologist’s Tips To Protect Your Memory

DO THIS: Exert greater autonomy over your career and create a better fit between your strengths, values, preferences, and your work with this Job Crafting exercise.

“Passion for your work is a little bit of discovery, followed by a lot of development, and
then a lifetime of deepening.” – Angela Duckworth, psychologist and author of Grit

REGISTER FOR THIS: Building Friendship & Belonging – May 4, 2023 – 11:30 MDT/10:30 PDT

WATCH THIS: Julian Treasure (2011). 5 Ways to Listen Better. TEDx GLobal, 7 mins. In our louder and louder world, says sound expert Julian Treasure, “We are losing our listening.” In this short, fascinating talk, Treasure shares five ways to re-tune your ears for conscious listening — to other people and the world around you.

READ THIS: Check out The Surgeon General’s Report on Workplace Well-being Guidelines. In the U. S. Surgeon General’s new Workplace Mental Health & Well-Being Guidelines, aspects of relationship quality are imbued in all “Five Essentials,” defined as (1) Connection & Community, (2) WorkLife Harmony, (3) Mattering at Work, (4) Opportunity for Growth, and (5) Protection from Physical and Psychological Harm.

DO THIS: Download this infographic on the Art of Listening and practice some of the listening strategies discussed in “5 Ways to Listen Better” above.

“That which isn’t good for the hive, isn’t good for the bee.” – Marcus Aurelius

REGISTER FOR THIS: How to Build a Workplace that Supports Emotional Well-Being – May 5, 2023 – 11:30 MDT/10:30 PDT

WATCH THIS: Adia Gooden (2018). Cultivating Unconditional Self-Worth, TEDx, 15:20 mins Gooden discusses the power of cultivating unconditional self-worth and how to break free from negative thought patterns so you can live more freely.

READ THIS: Elizabeth Ayoola (2022). Mental Health New Year’s Resolutions You Need On Your List For 2023, (Because who says mid-year isn’t the perfect time to assess and recalibrate?)

DO THIS: Cultivating Unconditional Self-Worth Through Self-Compassion, preferences, and your work with this Job Crafting exercise.

“Let’s not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and
we obey them without realizing it.” -Vincent van Gogh

Thank you to the Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL) for leading the effort to raise awareness of the importance of well-being for all. For additional information, resources, and activities, please visit the Institute for Well-Being in Law website.  

Member of ISB’s Attorney Well-Being Task Force wish all of you continued health and well-being, especially following these challenging times.  If you are in need of any particular assistance, the Idaho Lawyer’s Assistance Program and its website offers resources in a wide range of areas—please do not hesitate to reach out.

Keep the Momentum Going Throughout May with the 31-Day Mental Health Challenge!

Check out this calendar for tips to make your life and work a little easier by focusing on yourself and you loved ones in the month of May.

Share Gratitude and Kindness with Others!

Easily send notes of gratitude, encouragement, and affection using IWIL’s e-card form.

If you have suggestions for activities for the Attorney Well-Being Task Force, please feel free to email the chair Julie Stomper at julie@beardstclair.com.