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Maintaining your emotional wellbeing

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  4. Maintaining your emotional wellbeing

Fit for Law - Online course

Fit for Law is a cross-jurisdictional free learning resource on emotional competence and professional resilience, developed for legal professionals in the UK and Ireland by The Open University and The University of Sheffield in collaboration with legal mental health charity LawCare.

Menopause support resource

Our comprehensive menopause support guide, produced in partnership with Peppy, is designed to help individuals and firms access the support they need, with information, advice and further resources to explore.

Many of us consider what foods we eat, what we drink, how much exercise we undertake and numerous other aspects of life in order to reduce our risk of illness. So why do we not take the same care of our emotional health? It is about time we did so?

Asking for help is not easy. Expectations from clients, managers and colleagues are high. However, you will work best when you are at your healthiest. If you feel the balance slip and stress levels increase, you can take some positive steps to realign the balance and restore your wellbeing.

Recognising your own warning signs will allow you to manage your psychological wellbeing and will in time increase your resilience.

Here are a few simple tips to improve your mental wellbeing:

Talk

Talking about your mental health can help you through the bad times. It is not a sign of weakness. Admitting that you are feeling stressed or low and opening up to someone about it is a true sign of strength.

Understandably, in such competitive sector, it may be hard to talk about how you feel at work, however there are many organisations offering confidential support and advice. There is always someone ready to listen and help you.

Time is always at a premium but taking the time to see and speak to friends and family can be a simple way to maintain wellbeing. Work life balance is important and it is great self-care to maintain your life priorities outside your professional life.

Get active

How often do you exercise? When was the last time you tried a new sport or went to the gym? Exercise can make a huge difference to your wellbeing. Could you work physical activity into your work day by reclaiming your lunch break to get some fresh air and go for a walk ?

Healthy food choices can also make a difference. Drinking more water and opting for nutritional lunch options with less sugar and fat content can make a difference to how you feel. Read NHS inform for more tips on keeping active.

Tips on keeping active

NHS Inform has information on the health benefits of exercise and ideas on how to keep active.

Take time for you

Do you use your annual leave entitlement? Taking a break is good for mental wellbeing. A holiday or regular down time is important in ensuring a healthy work life balance.

When on annual leave, make a conscious effort to avoid checking emails on your phone or laptop. Try to keep a clear divide between work and home life. Manage client expectations by only responding to emails and calls within business hours. If you operate outside of these hours, it will reinforce the 24/7 access culture that can exist within legal services.

Take notice

How often do you take notice of the world around you? How often do you take stock of how you feel during your working day? Taking the time to notice a beautiful day, a job well done, a kind gesture or the positive aspects of your life can help promote wellbeing.

Next time you’re feeling stressed in the office take a moment to be mindful or incorporate daily mindfulness practice in your working day. Mindfulness can be a great way to retrain your brain to focus on positive thoughts rather than negative.

You can read more on the benefits of mindfulness and practising mindfulness. Alternatively why not listen to a Lifelink podcast?

How to be more mindful

Reminding yourself to take notice of your thoughts, feelings, body sensations and the world around you is the first step to mindfulness.

What is mindfulness?

Here's some key information from the NHS to explain what mindfulness is, how it can help wellbeing and how we can practise it.

Mindfulness for your everyday life

Headspace is an app that teaches you to meditate. Explore their videos and courses covering everything from sleeping better to boosting self esteem or mindfulness for kids. A free trial is available.

Practice mindfulness in as little as 15 minutes a day

A guide on ways to incorporate mindfulness skills into your daily life from Harvard Health publishing.

Lifelink podcasts

Relax and practice mindfulness techniques in the comfort of your own home. These audio resources are used by Lifelink Practitioners in one-to-one and group work and are now available to listen and download in your own time.

Keep learning

Keeping your mind active has a fantastic impact on wellbeing. Dedicate some time to yourself and set your self a challenge outside of work such as learning a new language or skill, reignite your passion for a forgotten pastime or undertake a part time learning course.

Give back

Volunteering and giving back to the community has also been proven to improve your overall wellbeing. There are numerous opportunities to fundraise for charities. You could join a board to utilise your professional experience in a different and fulfilling way or just take the time to do something nice for a friend, colleague or neighbour. Through the Law Society, you can volunteer to mentor a new entrant to the profession. By taking the time to give back, you will feel fulfilled and improve your general wellbeing.

Read more about mentoring opportunities and the Lawscot Foundation on our website.

Helplines

LawCare

LawCare provides a free, independent and confidential helpline for legal professionals and their families. Practical help and support for those experiencing stress and ill health or facing redundancy as well as information for those returning after a period of maternity or paternity leave.
Find out more about LawCare

Samaritans

Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Tel: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Find out more about Samaritans

NHS A-Z of mental health helplines

There are a lot of helplines available and some can be very specific to a type of mental health issue, or a particular concern you may be facing. This list from the NHS provides information about general helplines but also contacts for specific related issues, for example drug misuse or gambling.
Find out more about NHS A-Z of mental health helplines

Breathing Space

Breathing Space aims to provide an alternative and easily accessible ‘first stop’ service; assistance at an early stage in order to stop problems escalating; empathy, understanding and advice through active listening; hope when none exists; direction for those who do not know where to seek help. Tel: 0800 838587
Find out more about Breathing Space

Support in mind Scotland

Support in Mind Scotland seek to support and empower all those affected by mental illness, including family members, carers and supporters.
Find out more about Support in mind Scotland

LifeLink

A Glasgow based early service which provides support to individuals who have mild to moderate mental health issues covering anxiety, depression, relationship issues and overall low mood and provides support to manage stress. They also offer courses and podcasts. You can refer yourself to Lifelink or refer a colleague, friend or client.
Find out more about LifeLink

Redundancy and unemployment support

Guides and resources for employees and employers including redundancy procedures and entitlements, managing your finances and finding a new job.

Financial wellbeing and support

Find out where to access financial support and advice, as well as discovering information about the link between money management and mental health. Read about benevolent funds available, as well as support through other organisations.

Employer resources

Learn about positive employment practices

Menopause support resource

Our comprehensive menopause support guide, produced in partnership with Peppy, is designed to help individuals and firms access the support they need, with information, advice and further resources to explore.

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Additional

  • Lawscot Wellbeing

In this section

  • Maintaining your emotional wellbeing
  • Member resources
  • Employer resources
  • Our wellbeing strategy
  • Inappropriate behaviour

Wellbeing blogs

  • Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 - Programme of events
  • LawCare at 25 – ahead of the wellbeing curve
  • Our Mental Health Awareness Week programme of events
  • Mindful business charter
  • Sign up for free mental health training
  • Our Mental Health Awareness Week programme of events
  • Menopause resource launched to support Scottish legal profession
  • Senior lawyers to Pass the Badge on World Mental Health Day 2020
  • Mental Health Awareness Week 2020: Our free week-long programme of events
  • Homeworking hacks: our starter for 10
  • Catherine Hart LawCare champion
  • Chetna Bhatt wellbeing
  • Wellbeing blog holidays
  • Mental health survey launch
  • Are you listening?
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