The transition from law school to practicing law can be difficult, and for many young lawyers, work can feel like the only thing they have time for when they start practicing. I experienced this firsthand, and as I’ve transitioned back into private practice after working in-house, I’ve felt it again. It’s easy to let work become the primary focus, and I’ve had to be intentional about reminding myself of a conversation I had early in my practice with a mentor: “Learn what fills your cup.”

The idea is to find activities outside of work that bring you joy so that when you return to work, you’re a better practitioner for it. For me, that started with getting involved with the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Young Lawyers Division. I also stayed involved as a volunteer with a high school program in Illinois, where I am from. Both activities have sustained me outside of practice and continue to do so years later.

I’ve seen other attorneys fill their cups in different ways, including pro bono work, volunteering, hobbies, or simply spending time with loved ones.

There are a few ways that I believe filling your cup can make you a better practitioner:

Time management: Depending on how you spend your time, you may have additional deadlines beyond your work-related ones. I’ve learned to manage competing deadlines and recognize when the “busy season” is for the activities I participate in, so I can manage my time accordingly.

Learning to communicate: I had to learn to maintain clear lines of communication with the attorneys I work with and the individuals I work with outside the office. Sometimes I have to say no to a new work project or another project outside of work. Other times, I ask if there is flexibility on the deadline. Learning how to communicate clearly and set expectations is vital to practicing law.

Advocacy: I’ve learned to advocate for myself and for the activities that fill my cup. They are a priority for me, and I had to get comfortable with asking my supervising attorneys for time to pursue them. Building self-advocacy skills has helped me become a better advocate for my clients.

There are times when it’s difficult to manage all these moving parts. But at the end of the day, I know that integrating these nonwork experiences into my life has made me a better leader, coworker, and practitioner. We all became lawyers for a reason, and remembering that we are people outside our practice helps us become better practitioners.

Integrating these nonwork experiences into my life has made me a better leader, coworker, and practitioner.