Engage & Grow: Career & Intellectual Well-Being is the theme of today’s #WellbeingWeekinLaw! Want to better enjoy your work? Tune in to the Happiness Lab Podcast to hear Yale psychologist Dr. Leslie Santos discuss finding greater happiness at work. All week long, you can head over to the Institute for Well-Being in Law for more tips on career and intellectual well-being and much more.

The focus of today’s programming for Well-Being in the Law is to align your spiritual well being. Quick advice: Foster a sense of meaning and purpose in all aspects of life. Align life and work to serve your values.

Well-Being Week in Law kicks off today with an emphasis on physical well-being and staying strong. The Institute for Well-Being in Law suggests listening to The Joy of Movement podcast interview with Dr. Kelly McGonigal about the latest research on why movement is so important for many facets of our well-being. As a special challenge for today’s theme, peruse the Get Moving Activity Guide and try out a physical activity you haven’t tried before. Inspire others by posting about it on social media using the hashtag #WellbeingWeekInLaw. Stay tuned for more well-being tips and resources throughout this week.

Well-Being Week in Law is recognized each year during the first full week of May as part of Mental Health Awareness Month. The initiative, sponsored by the Institute for Well-Being in Law, is designed to engage the legal profession in practical activities that reflect a holistic approach to well-being. Watch for daily coverage next week on this year's themes: staying strong for physical well-being, aligning life and work to values for spiritual well-being, engaging and growing through continued learning for intellectual well-being, connecting with others for social well-being, and understanding emotions for emotional well-being.

Well-Being Week in Law wraps up today with a focus on emotional health, defined as the ability to value emotions, identify and manage emotions, achieve goals and seek help for mental health when needed. To explore this topic, the Institute for Well-Being in Law suggests reading “Feeling Overwhelmed? Here’s How To Get Through The Workday” from the Harvard Business Review; watching the TED Talk “Practicing Emotional First Aid” with Dr. Guy Winch; and downloading two activity guides: one that focuses on retraining unhelpful thoughts and one designed to help us savor positive experiences. Get these and all resources shared this week.

Today’s Well-Being Week In Law theme is “Connect: Social Well-Being,” which means building connection, belonging and a reliable support network. To explore this topic, the Institute for Well-Being in Law suggests reading the 2020 New York Times article “Working From Home Poses Hurdles for Employees of Color,” by Nelson D. Schwartz. The institute also recommends watching a podcast/YouTube video on the science of friendship, how deep and meaningful friendships can help you thrive and reach your goals. Finally, follow along with a 15-minute guided Loving-Kindness Meditation. The exercise is meant to strengthen feelings of kindness and connection toward others.

Day three of Well-Being Week in Law focuses on career and intellectual well-being with the goals of finding personal satisfaction, professional growth and financial stability. Lawyers are encouraged to engage in creative or intellectually challenging activities that foster ongoing development. First, the institute recommends reading “Nine Steps to Achieving Flow in Your Work.” Flow is a psychological state of complete absorption in engaging activities that are optimally challenging. Research shows it is key to well-being and growth and can buffer us against the negative psychological effects of the pandemic. Second, watch the “Fostering Flow is a Key to Growth & Happiness” video with psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. Finally, download the Flow Activity Guide to find creative activities that align with who you are, are absorbing and challenging, and enable you to disconnect from stressful thoughts, as well as the Job Crafting Activity Guide to find a better fit between strengths, values, preferences and work. Access these and other resources here.

Well-Being Week in Law continues today with a focus on aligning work and personal life with values, goals and interests. Keeping with today’s theme, “Align: Spiritual Well-Being,” the Institute for Well-Being in Law suggests reading the WeWork.com article, “Ways to Incorporate Your Spirituality at Work,” and watching a video featuring law professionals on how they integrate their personal approach to spirituality into their work lives. Today’s activity is an “Awe Walk,” a 15-minute uninterrupted walk without a phone. While walking, look for new and inspiring details on your path, explore and be open to inspiration and take time to reflect on emotions after the stroll has ended. Read more on Well-Being Week in Law.

Well-Being Week in Law is recognized each year during the first full week of May as part of Mental Health Awareness Month. The initiative, sponsored by the Institute for Well-Being in Law, is designed to engage the legal profession in practical activities that reflect a holistic approach to well-being. Today's theme is “Stay Strong: Physical Well-Being.” Activities to focus on include getting regular exercise and enough sleep, eating a good diet, limiting addictive substances and seeking help for physical health when needed. The institute recommends reading “Don't Underestimate the Power of a Walk” from the Harvard Business Review, watching “How Exercise Can Change Your Life” with neuroscientist Dr. Wendy Suzuki, and downloading guides for desk yoga and breathing exercises. Access these and other resources.