WWIL was created to raise awareness about the importance of well-being in the profession and to encourage innovations that improve the ways legal professionals live and work. We all know the importance of taking care of our physical and mental health, but many of us don’t make time for it. Legal professionals are often so concerned with taking care of their clients, firms, communities, and families that their own health and happiness take a hit. But making a big commitment to self-care and well-being activities can seem overwhelming and hard to sustain.

WWIL is a chance to learn about ways to make gradual improvements, big changes, or find a middle path. Leading up to and during WWIL, WisLAP will share activities, ideas, and encouragement designed to boost work life balance and promote health and happiness across the legal profession. Follow WisLAP and the State Bar of Wisconsin on social media so you don't miss out. Devoting time to your health and well-being is vital to you performing at your best, so please join us and post about your experience using #WellbeingWeekInLaw.

Monday: Stay Strong — Physical Well-Being​

• LISTEN TO THIS: 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 wellbeing, 41 mins.
• READ THIS: Reframe How You Think About Self-Care by Liane Davey. You might want to reconsider whether squeezing more into today is worth sacrificing what you can contribute tomorrow.
• DO THIS: Peruse the Get Moving Activity Guide and pick a physical activity you haven’t tried before and try it out this week.

Tuesday: Align — Spiritual Well-Being

• WATCH THIS: Nature. Beauty. Gratitude. TED talk. Time-lapse photography of awe-inspiring nature scenes with powerful words from a Benedictine monk as a meditation on being grateful for every day, 9.5 mins.
• READ THIS: 21 Spiritual Goals to Grow in 2022 by Connie Mathers. Setting spiritual goals helps us connect to our spiritual side and gain clarity on the purpose of your life.
• DO THIS: Take a free Purpose in Life Quiz and receive automatic feedback and recommendations for purpose-building activities, courtesy of the non-profit Greater Good Magazine.

Wednesday: Engage & Grow — Career & Intellectual Well-Being

• LISTEN TO THIS: How to Be Happier at Work. On the Happiness Lab Podcast, Yale psychologist Dr. Leslie Santos talks with Dan Harris (from Ten Percent Happier) about how to find greater happiness at work, 54.5 mins.
• READ THIS: Positive Psychology in the Workplace by Brad Desmond. Founder of positive psychology Dr. Martin Seligman’s “PERMA” model offers five pathways to well-being. Learn how to apply them at work.
• DO THIS: After reading the article above, take the Workplace PERMA Profiler (it’s free on U Penn’s Authentic Happiness website; you’ll just need to set up a free account). Make a plan (individually or with your work team) to increase one PERMA element over the next month.

Thursday: Connect — Social Well-Being

• WATCH THIS: Creating More Lollipop Moments TEDx talk. Drew Dudley talks about how everyday acts of kindness or social connection can have a large impact, 6 mins.
• READ THIS: Want Stronger Relationships at Work? Change the Way You Listen, by Manbir Kaur. Conversations that encourage cooperation and understanding result in the release of hormones like oxytocin that reinforce a bonding experience.
• DO THIS: Read about how enthusiastically responding to others’ good news (called Active Constructive Responding or ACR) builds trust and connection. Then peruse an ACR Worksheet created by the Consortium for Health and Military Performance (yes, the U.S. military teaches ACR!) and get started today practicing your ACR skills to build stronger relationships.

Friday: Feel Well — Emotional Well-Being

• LISTEN TO THIS: The Amazing Impact of Self Talk and How to Master It podcast interview of Dr. Ethan Kross, author of bestseller Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It, 1 hr 7 mins
• READ THIS: You've Done Self Care. You'ver Languished. Now Try This, by Brad Stulberg. As the pandemic slogs on, many of us want to feel motivated and get unstuck. An evidence-based practice called behavioral activation—committing to engaging in valued and enjoyable activities—might help
• DO THIS: After reading the article above, check out the Vanquishing Languishing Activity Guide. It offers guidance on how to use behavioral activation strategies to incorporate more enjoyable and valued activities into your life to foster greater engagement and vitality.
  

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​WisLAP Contact Information:

24 hour​ helpline: (800) 543-2625​
Administrative CoordinatorTamra Paulson (800) 444-9404 ext. 6098

​​It is the responsibility of the legal community to help our colleagues. WisLAP is based upon the premise of Lawyers Helping Lawyers and Judges Helping Judges. We have over 150 trained volunteer lawyers and judges, who understand what you go through, to offer support and guidance. Interested in becoming a volunteer? Clic​k Here

Related Links

• The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Changewith 44 recommendations for legal stakeholders to improve the health and well-being of the legal profession.​
• Mental Health America-Wisconsin Wellness Clinic
• ABA Anti-Stigma Campaign ​

Downloads

• WisLAP Law Student Brochure
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• ​​WisLAP Brochure
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• WisLAP Judicial Brochure
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WisLAP is exempt from reporting professional misconduct to the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) under Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule 20:8.3(c)(2) and to the Judicial Commission under Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule 60.04(3). WisLAP​ does not require callers to disclose their identity and does not keep any case records.​