THE ADVOCATE 879
VOL. 79 PART 6 NOVEMBER 2021
should not be discounted. Getting something off your chest can be incredibly
helpful whether you are problem solving or simply “inventing”.
Micro Self-Care
Micro self-care is defined as quick, self-replenishing practices throughout
the day that are simple, free and doable. In other words, don’t wait for your
next vacation. Incorporate small habits into your day and throughout the
week. You can start the day with a grounding tool (e.g. listening to music on
the way to work), practise an energizing tool after lunch (e.g. walking outside)
and/or implement something relaxing at the end of the day to transition
out of work (e.g. sit at a local lake for ten minutes). During a workshop,
one lawyer said that to avoid bringing work issues home, he would imagine
putting them in a duffle bag and tossing them by the side of the train tracks
he crossed on the way home. He would “pick up the duffle bag” in the morning
on the way back to work.
Strategy for Keeping Your Commitments
At the end of one of our programs, a lawyer participant said, “This is all well
and good, and I am pretty pumped up now, but I have been to these kinds
of things for years, and yet I always seem to drift back into my old ways.
How is any of this really going to make a lasting difference?” Fair point!
Here are suggestions for keeping your commitment to improved well-being:
• Pick one key desired change.
• Make sure the goal is SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant,
and time bound). Example: I will listen to classical music
during my commute to work for three of the five days (you can
eventually increase the days, but it is important for you to experience
success first).
• Write down the goal.
• Tell someone you trust.
• Ask that person to follow up with you.
So, to avoid the “drift back into your old ways”, write down one thing you
can commit to now to improve your well-being and identify who are you
going to tell. Having an accountability support person can be really effective.
The Lawyers Assistance Program of British Columbia is an independent organization of members of the legal community
(lawyers, judges families and support staff). We provide peer support and referral services to help people deal with personal
problems, including alcohol and drug dependence, stress, anxiety and depression. We are volunteers and staff committed
to providing confidential, compassionate and knowledgeable outreach, support and education. We seek to foster collegiality
among our peers and to promote health and well-being in our community. You can reach LAPBC by telephone at 604-
685-2171, toll-free at 1-888-685-2171 or via the LAPBC website: <www.lapbc.com>.
/www.lapbc.com