Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership with our friends at MothersEsquire. Welcome Sonya L. Sigler back to our pages. Click here if you’d like to donate to MothersEsquire.
In the first four articles of this series, we explored how noticing your energy, shifting your mindset, aligning your choices, and building intentional daily practices create a strong foundation for self-care. Now, we turn to the ultimate act of self-care: owning your time.
Time is your most precious, non-renewable resource. Protecting it isn’t optional—it’s essential. Without boundaries around your time, even the best self-care intentions collapse under the weight of other people’s expectations, endless client demands, or your own internal pressure to do more.
Time is of the Essence
Over the last few years, after losing several close friends and family members, I’ve come to appreciate just how fragile and finite time really is. None of us know how long we have.
That realization changed everything for me. I made a conscious decision to live life “full tilt”—leaving nothing on the field, embracing opportunities, and designing my days as intentionally as possible, instead of living reactively.
Owning my time became a non-negotiable act of self-care.
Rethinking Time: Fluid, Not Fixed
Early in my legal career, I didn’t have much control over my time (read: almost none). Like many lawyers, I worked within rigid structures—tracking time in six-minute increments, adhering to ‘9–5’ type schedules (and beyond), and reserving weekends for catching up on sleep or preparing for Monday, or more likely, an ‘urgent—has to be done now’ project. Time wasn’t mine to manage; it was accounted for, billed, and dictated by client needs and expectations.
In-house life offered a little more breathing room, but even then, the business prized constant availability and visible productivity. The idea of self-care—if it existed at all—fit into whatever minute gaps were left over.
Over time, I realized I didn’t have to live by someone else’s clock.
When my boys were young, I reorganized my work around what mattered most. I worked early mornings and then again after their bedtime. I aligned my time around their sports, school events, and everyday family life. Now, as international client needs and time zone differences dictate, I may work early morning on the weekends when the house is quiet (apparently, I am the only morning person in my household).
This fluid approach to time allows me to live more fully—both personally and professionally. It isn’t about working less—it’s about working differently, with more intention.
Time isn’t just something to track or bill. It’s a tool you can design around your real priorities—once you give yourself permission to do so.
Quiet Time is Productive Time
One of the smartest boundaries I set was building quiet, restorative time into my days. It doesn’t have to be long—sometimes it’s fifteen minutes to journal, walk, or simply sit and reflect.
In a profession that prizes constant output, it’s easy to undervalue stillness. But quiet time isn’t wasted time. It’s where strategic thinking happens. It’s where creativity refuels. It’s where your mind resets from the relentless demands of emails, meetings, deadlines, and client needs.
Scheduling quiet time, and treating it as non-negotiable, helped me work more effectively. It allowed me to act with clarity instead of reacting from overwhelm.
Integrated Living and Travel
Another boundary I redefined was how I approached work travel. Instead of isolating myself in hotels, I stayed with friends and family whenever possible. I combined business trips with personal connection—sharing meals, catching up, or simply being present.
I also built in small moments for myself—an art exhibit, a new coffee shop, a scenic drive—even if it meant adding an hour or two to the trip.
This practice transformed travel from a drain into a source of renewal. It reminded me that work and life aren’t two separate tracks. They are deeply intertwined, and thoughtful boundaries help integrate them in ways that fuel, rather than deplete, your energy.
Setting Your Own Boundaries with Time
Owning your time starts with setting clear, protective boundaries—with work, with others, and with yourself.
When my calendar becomes too crowded, I start blocking dedicated “deep work” time for drafting or writing. I treat those blocks just like client meetings—protected, scheduled, and non-negotiable. The result? Faster turnaround on substantive work and far less mental exhaustion.
When I transitioned into consulting, one of the boundaries I set was around client response times. Instead of feeling pressured to respond immediately to every email or call, I set the expectation upfront: “I aim to return calls within 24 hours.” Clear, respectful communication gave me space to prioritize without feeling guilty—and it helped my clients trust that they would always get a thoughtful, timely response rather than a rushed one.
Minimizing task-switching and scheduling the type of work that matches your own energy profile can keep you focused and productive.
Here are a few strategies that have worked for me and others I work with:
- Be intentional about meetings. Set preferred times for client or internal meetings, and protect focus hours for substantive work.
- Say no or “not now.” Every “yes” takes time from something else. Choose intentionally.
- Use time blocks. Use blocks of time for similar tasks, like returning client calls, or calendaring. Block out deep work/drafting periods.
- Build in buffers. Block out travel days, follow up time after conferences, or recovery time after major deadlines.
- Protect your quiet time. Schedule thinking and recovery time on your calendar like any important meeting.
- Redefine productivity. Rest, play, and strategic reflection are just as critical as client work.
- Release rigid expectations. Focus on results rather than working according to someone else’s schedule.
Time is too precious to spend it reacting or surviving. Boundaries allow you to design your days with care – protecting time for deep work, recovery, creativity, and connection.
Closing Thoughts
Owning your time isn’t just a productivity hack. It’s a profound act of self-respect, especially for us as lawyers when we spend so much time in reactive mode.
When you protect your time, you protect your energy. You protect your focus. You protect the people and passions that matter most.
Self-care isn’t something you squeeze in around the edges of someone else’s agenda. It’s how you live.
Protect your time, and you protect your life.
This article is the last in a five-part series on self-care for legal professionals, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Sonya L. Sigler is a lawyer, author of 30 Days to Better Self-Care, and wellness advocate who helps busy legal professionals build practical habits that support lasting success—personally and professionally.
The post Owning Your Time: Boundaries That Protect Your Energy And Your Life appeared first on Above the Law.
Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership with our friends at MothersEsquire. Welcome Sonya L. Sigler back to our pages. Click here if you’d like to donate to MothersEsquire.
In the first four articles of this series, we explored how noticing your energy, shifting your mindset, aligning your choices, and building intentional daily practices create a strong foundation for self-care. Now, we turn to the ultimate act of self-care: owning your time.
Time is your most precious, non-renewable resource. Protecting it isn’t optional—it’s essential. Without boundaries around your time, even the best self-care intentions collapse under the weight of other people’s expectations, endless client demands, or your own internal pressure to do more.
Time is of the Essence
Over the last few years, after losing several close friends and family members, I’ve come to appreciate just how fragile and finite time really is. None of us know how long we have.
That realization changed everything for me. I made a conscious decision to live life “full tilt”—leaving nothing on the field, embracing opportunities, and designing my days as intentionally as possible, instead of living reactively.
Owning my time became a non-negotiable act of self-care.
Rethinking Time: Fluid, Not Fixed
Early in my legal career, I didn’t have much control over my time (read: almost none). Like many lawyers, I worked within rigid structures—tracking time in six-minute increments, adhering to ‘9–5’ type schedules (and beyond), and reserving weekends for catching up on sleep or preparing for Monday, or more likely, an ‘urgent—has to be done now’ project. Time wasn’t mine to manage; it was accounted for, billed, and dictated by client needs and expectations.
In-house life offered a little more breathing room, but even then, the business prized constant availability and visible productivity. The idea of self-care—if it existed at all—fit into whatever minute gaps were left over.
Over time, I realized I didn’t have to live by someone else’s clock.
When my boys were young, I reorganized my work around what mattered most. I worked early mornings and then again after their bedtime. I aligned my time around their sports, school events, and everyday family life. Now, as international client needs and time zone differences dictate, I may work early morning on the weekends when the house is quiet (apparently, I am the only morning person in my household).
This fluid approach to time allows me to live more fully—both personally and professionally. It isn’t about working less—it’s about working differently, with more intention.
Time isn’t just something to track or bill. It’s a tool you can design around your real priorities—once you give yourself permission to do so.
Quiet Time is Productive Time
One of the smartest boundaries I set was building quiet, restorative time into my days. It doesn’t have to be long—sometimes it’s fifteen minutes to journal, walk, or simply sit and reflect.
In a profession that prizes constant output, it’s easy to undervalue stillness. But quiet time isn’t wasted time. It’s where strategic thinking happens. It’s where creativity refuels. It’s where your mind resets from the relentless demands of emails, meetings, deadlines, and client needs.
Scheduling quiet time, and treating it as non-negotiable, helped me work more effectively. It allowed me to act with clarity instead of reacting from overwhelm.
Integrated Living and Travel
Another boundary I redefined was how I approached work travel. Instead of isolating myself in hotels, I stayed with friends and family whenever possible. I combined business trips with personal connection—sharing meals, catching up, or simply being present.
I also built in small moments for myself—an art exhibit, a new coffee shop, a scenic drive—even if it meant adding an hour or two to the trip.
This practice transformed travel from a drain into a source of renewal. It reminded me that work and life aren’t two separate tracks. They are deeply intertwined, and thoughtful boundaries help integrate them in ways that fuel, rather than deplete, your energy.
Setting Your Own Boundaries with Time
Owning your time starts with setting clear, protective boundaries—with work, with others, and with yourself.
When my calendar becomes too crowded, I start blocking dedicated “deep work” time for drafting or writing. I treat those blocks just like client meetings—protected, scheduled, and non-negotiable. The result? Faster turnaround on substantive work and far less mental exhaustion.
When I transitioned into consulting, one of the boundaries I set was around client response times. Instead of feeling pressured to respond immediately to every email or call, I set the expectation upfront: “I aim to return calls within 24 hours.” Clear, respectful communication gave me space to prioritize without feeling guilty—and it helped my clients trust that they would always get a thoughtful, timely response rather than a rushed one.
Minimizing task-switching and scheduling the type of work that matches your own energy profile can keep you focused and productive.
Here are a few strategies that have worked for me and others I work with:
- Be intentional about meetings. Set preferred times for client or internal meetings, and protect focus hours for substantive work.
- Say no or “not now.” Every “yes” takes time from something else. Choose intentionally.
- Use time blocks. Use blocks of time for similar tasks, like returning client calls, or calendaring. Block out deep work/drafting periods.
- Build in buffers. Block out travel days, follow up time after conferences, or recovery time after major deadlines.
- Protect your quiet time. Schedule thinking and recovery time on your calendar like any important meeting.
- Redefine productivity. Rest, play, and strategic reflection are just as critical as client work.
- Release rigid expectations. Focus on results rather than working according to someone else’s schedule.
Time is too precious to spend it reacting or surviving. Boundaries allow you to design your days with care – protecting time for deep work, recovery, creativity, and connection.
Closing Thoughts
Owning your time isn’t just a productivity hack. It’s a profound act of self-respect, especially for us as lawyers when we spend so much time in reactive mode.
When you protect your time, you protect your energy. You protect your focus. You protect the people and passions that matter most.
Self-care isn’t something you squeeze in around the edges of someone else’s agenda. It’s how you live.
Protect your time, and you protect your life.
This article is the last in a five-part series on self-care for legal professionals, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Sonya L. Sigler is a lawyer, author of 30 Days to Better Self-Care, and wellness advocate who helps busy legal professionals build practical habits that support lasting success—personally and professionally.
