{"id":118314,"date":"2025-05-08T07:42:21","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T15:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/05\/08\/sustainable-self-care-starts-with-awareness\/"},"modified":"2025-05-08T07:42:21","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T15:42:21","slug":"sustainable-self-care-starts-with-awareness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/05\/08\/sustainable-self-care-starts-with-awareness\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable Self-Care Starts With Awareness"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><u>Ed. note<\/u>: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership with our friends at\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mothersesquire.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><em>MothersEsquire<\/em><\/a><em>. Welcome Sonya L. Sigler to our pages. Click <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mothersesquire.com\/donate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><em>here<\/em><\/a><em> if you\u2019d like to donate to MothersEsquire.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have two kinds of days,\u201d a colleague who had just become a new mother once told me. \u201cThe kind where I\u2019m full of fire, and the kind where I\u2019m burning out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That comment stuck with me \u2014 because so many high-performing legal professionals, especially those juggling their legal career with parenthood, don\u2019t stop to ask\u00a0<em>why <\/em>they feel that way. Instead, we plow through, fueled by caffeine, deadlines, and perfectionism, rarely pausing long enough to assess the difference between what gives us energy and what drains it.<\/p>\n<p>I didn\u2019t learn this lesson in a book or a workshop \u2014 I learned it in the school of hard knocks, after landing in the ER with what I thought was a heart attack. It wasn\u2019t \u2014 but the wake-up call was real. My body was waving the white flag, and I had been too busy to notice how depleted I really was.<\/p>\n<p>I share this not to scare you, but to spare you the wake-up call and ER bill \u2014 and to help you move toward awareness and away from burnout.<\/p>\n<p>The difference between what\u2019s\u00a0<em>energizing<\/em>\u00a0and what\u2019s\u00a0<em>exhausting<\/em>\u00a0is the foundation of sustainable self-care. You don\u2019t have to wait for a crisis. You can start listening now.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Telltale Signs of an Exhausting Day<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When I speak with lawyers about burnout, I often ask, \u201cWhich parts of your day leave you feeling hollow, depleted, or just plain cranky?\u201d You can see the recognition in their eyes. That feeling isn\u2019t subtle \u2014 but we\u2019ve become experts at ignoring it. Instead of responding to the signs, we grow to expect them \u2014 and then we normalize them.<\/p>\n<p>If your schedule is packed but your spirit feels empty, it\u2019s time to re-evaluate what you\u2019re saying yes to. Every task, meeting, or interaction has an energetic footprint. Some build us up. Others chip away at us slowly.<\/p>\n<p>Take five minutes today and audit your most recent workday:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Which tasks gave you a sense of momentum?<\/li>\n<li>Where did time drag?<\/li>\n<li>Who left you energized after a conversation?<\/li>\n<li>Who left you needing a nap or feeling like quitting your job?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It\u2019s a revealing and powerful practice to do this type of audit regularly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Energy Isn\u2019t Just Physical \u2014 It\u2019s Emotional And Mental Too<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In speaking with others about managing their energy, I encourage them to notice which activities fill their tank and which leave them depleted \u2014 because it\u2019s not just about how tired your body is. It\u2019s also about how your mind and emotions are affected.<em> <\/em>Legal work is intellectually rigorous and, depending on the client and type of law, can be emotionally intense.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If reviewing contracts all day leaves you energized, great. But if it leaves you drained and cross-eyed, you may need to intersperse that work with more energizing tasks to avoid depletion on a daily basis. This kind of chronic depletion \u2014 especially when there\u2019s no end in sight \u2014 can lead to health issues and burnout, as it did for me.<\/p>\n<p>When you know what fills your tank, you can increase energizing work \u2014 and start minimizing what drains you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Design With Energy In Mind<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After you recognize what\u2019s energizing and what\u2019s exhausting, you can start making intentional changes. As I often say, \u201cDesign your calendar to reflect how you want to feel.\u201d That might mean front-loading your day with energizing tasks, scheduling strategic breaks, building in recovery time after draining meetings, or delegating where you can.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Small changes \u2014 like blocking quiet time after court or choosing not to schedule back-to-back Zoom calls \u2014 can yield big results. Even a 10% increase in alignment between your energy and your activities can have a dramatic impact.<\/p>\n<p>For lawyers navigating demanding schedules, billing pressures, and high-stakes clients, this kind of alignment isn\u2019t a luxury \u2014 it\u2019s essential.<\/p>\n<p><strong>This Isn\u2019t Optional \u2014 It\u2019s Strategic<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re reading this and thinking, \u201cThat sounds nice, but I don\u2019t have time for this kind of analysis,\u201d I get it. But here\u2019s the truth: you\u2019re already doing the work. The question is\u00a0<em>how it\u2019s affecting you<\/em>. What is the cost of staying on autopilot?<\/p>\n<p>Take five minutes today and list three things that energized you and three that drained you. This awareness is the first act of self-care. You don\u2019t have to overhaul everything at once. You just need to notice \u2014 and start making different choices from that awareness.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Shifting toward energizing work \u2014 even in small increments \u2014 can help you build a foundation for more sustainable, intentional, and integrated self-care. Every day you ignore your energy leaks compounds the cost \u2014 on your health, your relationships, your performance, and your joy, both personally and professionally.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>This article is part of a five-part self-care series for legal professionals, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. Up next: Mindset Shift.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<p><strong><em>Sonya L. Sigler is a lawyer, author of\u00a0<\/em>\u201c30 Days to Better Self-Care,\u201d<em> and wellness advocate who helps busy lawyers and entrepreneurs build practical habits that support lasting success \u2014 personally and professionally.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/05\/sustainable-self-care-starts-with-awareness\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sustainable Self-Care Starts With Awareness<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em><u>Ed. note<\/u>: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership with our friends at\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mothersesquire.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><em>MothersEsquire<\/em><\/a><em>. Welcome Sonya L. Sigler to our pages. Click <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mothersesquire.com\/donate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><em>here<\/em><\/a><em> if you\u2019d like to donate to MothersEsquire.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have two kinds of days,\u201d a colleague who had just become a new mother once told me. \u201cThe kind where I\u2019m full of fire, and the kind where I\u2019m burning out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That comment stuck with me \u2014 because so many high-performing legal professionals, especially those juggling their legal career with parenthood, don\u2019t stop to ask\u00a0<em>why <\/em>they feel that way. Instead, we plow through, fueled by caffeine, deadlines, and perfectionism, rarely pausing long enough to assess the difference between what gives us energy and what drains it.<\/p>\n<p>I didn\u2019t learn this lesson in a book or a workshop \u2014 I learned it in the school of hard knocks, after landing in the ER with what I thought was a heart attack. It wasn\u2019t \u2014 but the wake-up call was real. My body was waving the white flag, and I had been too busy to notice how depleted I really was.<\/p>\n<p>I share this not to scare you, but to spare you the wake-up call and ER bill \u2014 and to help you move toward awareness and away from burnout.<\/p>\n<p>The difference between what\u2019s\u00a0<em>energizing<\/em>\u00a0and what\u2019s\u00a0<em>exhausting<\/em>\u00a0is the foundation of sustainable self-care. You don\u2019t have to wait for a crisis. You can start listening now.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Telltale Signs of an Exhausting Day<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When I speak with lawyers about burnout, I often ask, \u201cWhich parts of your day leave you feeling hollow, depleted, or just plain cranky?\u201d You can see the recognition in their eyes. That feeling isn\u2019t subtle \u2014 but we\u2019ve become experts at ignoring it. Instead of responding to the signs, we grow to expect them \u2014 and then we normalize them.<\/p>\n<p>If your schedule is packed but your spirit feels empty, it\u2019s time to re-evaluate what you\u2019re saying yes to. Every task, meeting, or interaction has an energetic footprint. Some build us up. Others chip away at us slowly.<\/p>\n<p>Take five minutes today and audit your most recent workday:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Which tasks gave you a sense of momentum?<\/li>\n<li>Where did time drag?<\/li>\n<li>Who left you energized after a conversation?<\/li>\n<li>Who left you needing a nap or feeling like quitting your job?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It\u2019s a revealing and powerful practice to do this type of audit regularly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Energy Isn\u2019t Just Physical \u2014 It\u2019s Emotional And Mental Too<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In speaking with others about managing their energy, I encourage them to notice which activities fill their tank and which leave them depleted \u2014 because it\u2019s not just about how tired your body is. It\u2019s also about how your mind and emotions are affected.<em> <\/em>Legal work is intellectually rigorous and, depending on the client and type of law, can be emotionally intense.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If reviewing contracts all day leaves you energized, great. But if it leaves you drained and cross-eyed, you may need to intersperse that work with more energizing tasks to avoid depletion on a daily basis. This kind of chronic depletion \u2014 especially when there\u2019s no end in sight \u2014 can lead to health issues and burnout, as it did for me.<\/p>\n<p>When you know what fills your tank, you can increase energizing work \u2014 and start minimizing what drains you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Design With Energy In Mind<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After you recognize what\u2019s energizing and what\u2019s exhausting, you can start making intentional changes. As I often say, \u201cDesign your calendar to reflect how you want to feel.\u201d That might mean front-loading your day with energizing tasks, scheduling strategic breaks, building in recovery time after draining meetings, or delegating where you can.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Small changes \u2014 like blocking quiet time after court or choosing not to schedule back-to-back Zoom calls \u2014 can yield big results. Even a 10% increase in alignment between your energy and your activities can have a dramatic impact.<\/p>\n<p>For lawyers navigating demanding schedules, billing pressures, and high-stakes clients, this kind of alignment isn\u2019t a luxury \u2014 it\u2019s essential.<\/p>\n<p><strong>This Isn\u2019t Optional \u2014 It\u2019s Strategic<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re reading this and thinking, \u201cThat sounds nice, but I don\u2019t have time for this kind of analysis,\u201d I get it. But here\u2019s the truth: you\u2019re already doing the work. The question is\u00a0<em>how it\u2019s affecting you<\/em>. What is the cost of staying on autopilot?<\/p>\n<p>Take five minutes today and list three things that energized you and three that drained you. This awareness is the first act of self-care. You don\u2019t have to overhaul everything at once. You just need to notice \u2014 and start making different choices from that awareness.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Shifting toward energizing work \u2014 even in small increments \u2014 can help you build a foundation for more sustainable, intentional, and integrated self-care. Every day you ignore your energy leaks compounds the cost \u2014 on your health, your relationships, your performance, and your joy, both personally and professionally.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>This article is part of a five-part self-care series for legal professionals, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. Up next: Mindset Shift.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<p><strong><em>Sonya L. Sigler is a lawyer, author of\u00a0<\/em>\u201c30 Days to Better Self-Care,\u201d<em> and wellness advocate who helps busy lawyers and entrepreneurs build practical habits that support lasting success \u2014 personally and professionally.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/05\/sustainable-self-care-starts-with-awareness\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sustainable Self-Care Starts With Awareness<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership with our friends at\u00a0MothersEsquire. Welcome Sonya L. Sigler to our pages. Click here if you\u2019d like to donate to MothersEsquire. \u201cI have two kinds of days,\u201d a colleague who had just become a new mother [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-118314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118314"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118314\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}