A new series on how busy lawyers can find more work-life balance is running in Above the Law. In the first installment, Paragon Legal noted how lawyers can audit, guard and schedule their time. The second installment includes four additional tips to manage the workday. (1) Try “time blocking,” which means divvying up the day into blocks of time during which specific tasks are handled. Also schedule tasks that require more concentration when you have better focus. (2) Reduce multitasking by turning off chat and social media notifications or silencing your cell phone. To protect your focus, minimize switching between tasks as much as possible. (3) Use a timer to stay focused and encourage short breaks. The article suggests several products on the market. (4) Finally, sometimes the best way to find more time is to get rid of a task altogether by outsourcing, delegating or just saying “no.” Learn more here.

A new series on how busy lawyers can find more work-life balance is running in Above the Law. In the first installment, Paragon Legal offers three time management tips. (1) Do a time audit. This involves keeping a log of how you use your time on a random day. For each activity, note how you felt about it; whether it was productive, fun or purposeful; if it made you stressed or unhappy; whether you could spend less time on it in the future; and what you could do to make it more fun or less stressful. (2) Schedule at least one hour every day of “focused time.” This is time when you block out distractions and focus on an important task. Be disciplined about guarding this time! (3) Use to-do lists. A simple to-do list can help you set priorities for the day and stay on track. Keep your list short and sweet (three to six tasks per day) and keep it visible during the day so priorities stay top-of-mind. Watch for more tips next week!

As part of its lifestyle benefits for members, the TBA is now offering a one-year subscription to the Calm app for $29.99 plus tax — a discount of $40! Billed as the number one app for sleep, meditation and relaxation, Calm has been named the "the world's happiest app" by the Center for Humane Technology. It has been downloaded more than 100 million times and has more than 1.5 million 5-star reviews. Learn more here.

The legal profession may struggle to identify lawyers experiencing cognitive decline, partly because lawyers are good at hiding their problems and redirecting conversations, according to the ABA Journal. The chair of the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs also tells Bloomberg Law that lawyers tend to think they are invincible and find their identities closely intertwined with their work, both of which make it difficult to recognize when it is time to retire. Though no statistics exist regarding the prevalence of dementia in the profession, the number of practicing lawyers older than age 65 has increased more than 50% over the last decade and the legal field has double the percentage of older individuals than the general working population — all of which suggests this issue could be worse for the legal field. States vary on whether they require lawyers to report or intervene when another lawyer is impaired. At least a dozen have issued ethics opinions on duties, as has the American Bar Association.

As the world starts to get back to “normal,” it may be beneficial to keep in place some of the activities we've employed during the pandemic, says Michelle Wax, the founder of American Happiness Project, a provider of corporate mental health programs. “During the shutdown, we went from an emphasis on external factors, such as going to a job or attending events, to a more internal focus,” she says. With more time at home many of us created new morning rituals. Wax recommends keeping these in place, even if we take just a minute or two to set up the day for success. She also recommends continuing to take breaks and getting outside throughout the day. Finally, she recommends continuing to unplug from the news cycle — either permanently or with small breaks — to reduce the constant bombardment of stress coming through our devices. “The pandemic forced us to take a look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we were finding joy and fulfillment,” Wax says. Now it’s time to make sure those positive emotions stay with us over the long term. Read her full article from Fast Company.

Lawyers seldom feel that they can take a work-free vacation. Tight deadlines, understaffed projects, overpromised clients, and a culture that shuns vacation takers are often to blame, leading to increasingly longer hours for attorneys. And while employers may encourage lawyers to disconnect while they are away, encouragement may not be enough. A new article from Bloomberg Law argues that employers must go further by structuring firms and legal departments in a way that allows lawyers to take time off without having to manage work-related tasks while away. Designing a practice that allows for more vacation time may also make the workplace less stressful when lawyers are back in the office. The article offers four practical suggestions for how to better plan for truly disconnected vacations.

A new study finds that depression symptoms, anxiety and stress are higher in women attorneys since the pandemic, the ABA Journal reports. The report also finds that a larger percentage of women than men are engaging in risky or hazardous drinking, and one in four women have considered leaving the profession due to mental health concerns. Causes identified include disparity in power in the workplace, disparity in promotions and pay, discrimination and lack of opportunity. The study was conducted by a University of Minnesota psychiatry professor and a lawyer who also is a licensed and board-certified alcohol and drug counselor. The pair write about their findings in “Stress, drink, leave: An examination of gender-specific risk factors for mental health problems and attrition among licensed attorneys.” Related, another recent survey from legal recruiter Major, Lindsey & Africa found about one in five respondents have not been satisfied with how their firm has supported parents during the pandemic. Westlaw has more on that study.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month — an initiative designed to fight the stigma, provide support, educate communities and advocate for policies surrounding mental illness. This year’s theme “You Are Not Alone” was chosen to emphasize that it’s OK to not be OK and no one needs to feel alone in their struggle. The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers a variety of resources for those who want to learn more. Other resources in Tennessee are available from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse’s Division of Mental Health Services, the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations, National Alliance on Mental Illness Tennessee and the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Ascension Saint Thomas Behavioral Health Hospital also offers a free confidential mental health assessment on its website.

The National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being has launched a new nonprofit dedicated to advancing systemic change in the legal profession so that well-being becomes a core component of personal and professional success. The Institute for Well-Being in Law will seek to address growing concerns about mental health, substance use and addiction, and stress affecting lawyers. It also will coordinate next week’s “Well-Being Week In Law” to raise awareness and encourage action and innovation across the profession. Watch for wellness tips in TBA Today each day next week!

Professionals across the country are experiencing a late-pandemic crisis of productivity, purpose and enthusiasm, writes New York Times reporter Sarah Lyall. In an investigative piece for the Times, Lyall talks to professionals who feel burned out, exhausted and less productive, engaged and motivated. She also shares feedback from mental health professionals who confirm the burnout is real. Though Lyall does not offer a laundry list of remedies, she does report that some are finding solace through meditating, other spiritual practices, walking, getting regular sleep, and accomplishing small tasks each day such as making the bed. The most important take-away from the piece may be the fact that those experiencing such feelings are not alone, and every day the country is moving closer to returning to office environments that offer structure, camaraderie and inspiration.