This is an emotion I hear expressed on a daily basis. While I don’t have the answer to all of it, here are some things I’ve learned along the way. I’ve written about some of these in the past, but I think they’re useful to have in one place.
Don’t look at the long to-do list every single day.
Rather each day, take a few things, three to five is what I usually recommend to my clients, put those on a note pad, and focus on accomplishing just those. If there is time after accomplishing those, you can always go back to your longer list.
On Fridays, review your past week.
Were there things that others could have helped you with? Were there projects that could be done better, more efficiently and more effectively? By looking back, you’ll be able to tell and move ahead differently for next week.
Take mini-breaks during the day.
A walk outside or a trip down the block to grab a coffee can increase endorphins, get your brain cells moving and release some of the pressure. It will also help you think more clearly when you return to the office.
Put it down on paper.
If you are overloaded, write your long to-do list on paper or type it into a document. Get the stressors out of your mind and onto paper, and you will be better able to visualize what you have ahead of you. Once you do that, you’ll be better positioned to plan your priorities and consider tasks you can delegate. There is science to back the concept of why you should write it down.
Avoid silos of information within your organization and the firm.
The most significant stressors I see when working with law firms come when one area doesn’t know what the other is doing. The friction (aka complaints) from lawyers and your own staff are generally issues that could have been mitigated by breaking down silos. By creating processes to keep workflows going and putting good communications in place, you can avoid a tremendous number of problems.
Learn to say no.
Every yes, means saying no to something else. Guard your time.
Keep your brain refreshed with new ideas.
I am active in the Legal Marketing Association and the International Bar Association. Listen to programs, podcasts and books on topics you love, even if they don’t relate to your career. I love Masters of Scale with Reid Hoffman, Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway, and The Bowery Boys (because I love learning about the history of New York City.)
