(Not) Burning Out While Staying In – New Article by Attorney Vicki L. Shemin Published in Lawyers Weekly

A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR LAWYERS

by Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW

For most of us, we have compartmentalized well our work/family life so that when we leave the office, well – we have left the office.

Fast forward to stay-at-home orders.

In order to carry on with our work lives, the boundaries have blurred – literally – as many of us find that our computers and printers are set up on the kitchen/dining room table or in our bedrooms. Harkening back to the days of college dorm living, there is that pervasive sense of guilt and burden: I could be working longer instead of watching Netflix after dinner; I should not go to bed yet because I could probably work for another hour or two.

In order not to extinguish our Mojo flame, here are my top 10 survival tips:

1. Gratitude

Ask not what has been taken from you, but reflect on what you have to be grateful for as you start each day. Enough said.

2. Routine, Ritual, Repeat

Establish new routines to offset the new normal. For me, I have inverted my usual routine (which was – TMI -showering in the morning to be fresh to start the day); now, once my work for the day is complete, I shower to psychologically and physically demarcate the clear boundary between ending the work day and beginning the evening. Conversely, mark the beginning of your work day by getting out of your pajamas and actually getting dressed in garb you would wear outside. I don’t watch television during the day while I work (well, okay, except for the news during my lunch break).

3. Dress for Success

For Zoom meetings, it’s an occasion to do something different than jeans and a T-shirt! I don earrings, choose an outfit I would wear to the office, and apply some makeup in an attempt to recapture looking professional while sitting at the dining room table.

Read more of the article at https://masslawyersweekly.com/2020/04/23/not-burning-out-while-staying-in-a-survival-guide/