THE ONTARIO LAWYERS’ ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Coping When You Are On Your Own

When you started your own practice, you heard the popular myth - when you work for yourself, your time is your own. The implication is that you can work shorter hours, golf when you please and seem to have all the money you need available to you to live a life of ease. The reality, however, is entirely different.

As a sole practitioner, you are a one-person office administrator, communications centre, computer technician, financial overseer, business plan monitor, customer service specialist and file manager. Your duties encompass your full day and then some and seem to encroach on the reason you went into business for yourself – practicing law. Your work hours are not 9:00 to 5:00 and nights and weekends are devoted at times to keeping the operation going.

Before all these functions can be started, you must look at the tool used to complete these tasks – you. How do you put the most efficient and durable piece into the puzzle to be able to practice efficiently and successfully? How do you take care of yourself? Keeping your body and mind in top shape will make your practice successful and thriving. Here are some tips.

Physically – Take care of that working machine to keep it in top functioning order. Like a car you care for to give you a smooth ride, good gas mileage and a long life over all kinds of roads – bumpy or smooth - you can take care of your body.

• Keep the fuel tank full with high grade gas. Eat good food and a balanced diet according to the Canada Food Guide at least three times a day with small energy-lifting snacks throughout the day. Balance proteins and carbs. Eat almonds for an energy boost at 3:00 p.m. Don’t overfill the tank - eat smaller portions. Cut back or cut out completely high grease and empty calorie foods (chocolate bars) that burn energy and reduce your stamina while adding girth not bulk.
  
• Exercise at least three times per week. This helps keep your blood pressure under control, builds your stamina and helps your brain clear the cobwebs. It can also be a wonderful social activity time.
  
• You can’t drive a car twenty-four hours a day so rest your body for at least eight hours per night. Give the body a chance to recharge and repair the toll the day’s stresses have brought.
  
• Drink lots of water. Flush the natural toxins your body by-produces by hydrating the tissues. This helps with fatigue and assists in weight management.
  
• Cut out smoking and alcohol intake. Smoking increases your blood pressure and alcohol adds empty sugar to your diet. Obviously dependence on alcohol can add a whole different set of problems to your life too.
  
• Breathe. When you want your car to move forward, you give it gas. In this case, take a deep breathe or two or three to give your brain oxygen to think clearly and allow your body to release the built-up tension which causes you to automatically stop breathing.

Emotionally – The car analogy does not work here so here are some tips to keep you feeling mentally prepared for all your duties.

• Have someone you can talk to in similar circumstances so that you do not feel isolated and alone. It is good to hear that you are not the only one to lose a computer file or have some other problem. You will probably get some advice and encouragement to help fix the problem!
  
• Fulfill yourself with your out-of-office time. Spend time with family, friends or partner. Read non-law fluff. Escape the mental stresses of practice.
  
• Get a hobby or do something that fuels that inner passion – snowboard, collect stamps, go to the theatre, mudwrestle. Whatever turns you on will give you something to look forward to.
  
• Set up your personal comfort boundaries. Learn to say “No!” when the demands of practice push you too far. Trying to do too much with too little time will cause you more stress that it is worth.
  
• Laugh. It reduces blood pressure and gives you the feel-good hormones, endorphins, that give you deeper resources to deal with pressure.

Spiritually – Put it all into the big picture

• Figure out why it is all worth it, how the practice fulfils your life and whether your life is serene. Do you feel happy more than you feel bent out of shape? Do you get pleasure from your practice? Do you want to do this more than you want to do something else?
  
• Connect with whatever you consider to be your personal higher power - not in the religious sense but in the spiritual completion sense. Think about where you fit into the grand scheme of things and how you relate to others. How do you wear the coat of humanity?
  
• Believe in yourself. Give yourself daily affirmations and feedback. Be honest with yourself but avoid negative self-criticism. Look for solutions rather than be stuck in problems.
  
• Give lots of hugs. Affirm that there is love and affection for you to give and get in the world.
  
• Laugh a lot. Everything seems so manageable with humour in your soul.

Now that you have the car tuned up and purring, you are ready to do the 100 things you need to do to get through a day of fulfilling your dream of being a lawyer!

Best of luck!

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