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Lawyers and Holiday Blues in 2020
The year-end holiday season is often presented as a time of joy and fun. However, it can also be a time of high stress, depression and anxiety. Underlying personal issues as well as national and global events can exacerbate these feelings. One may feel pressured to “be jolly” which can only add to distress.
Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President and CEO of NJAMHAA, describes these issues. “During the winter holiday season, the days are darker and the pressure people feel is greater. With the COVID-19 pandemic, these symptoms will be heightened due to isolation. This will likely result in an increase in anxiety and depression. To maintain mental and physical health, it is important that if people do decide to hold family gatherings that the proper safety protocol is followed, including social distancing, wearing masks and frequent hand washing. If families cannot meet in person, then they can meet virtually. It is also important at this time to practice self-care routines to ease any ‘holiday blues’ or SAD symptoms.” She offers more tips in this article:
The “Holiday Blues” Are More Melancholic in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Lawyers, especially, can suffer from extra stress at this time, especially this year. Courts may have limited hours; clients, who also are experiencing individual holiday stress, may become anxious about pending cases and want updates. Attorneyatwork.com suggests shifting some business and personal tasks to others, giving yourself personal time, and also celebrating your successes in the past year:
Don't Let Holiday Stress Undo Your Entire Year
To paraphrase something I’ve said before, being grateful that 2020 is over, and patting yourself on the back for getting through it, is a legitimate well-being enhancer.
Below are more helpful links.
Law.com
https://www.law.com/2020/12/10/home-for-the-holidays-how-are-you-coping-as-2020-comes-to-a-close/
Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers - MA
https://www.lclma.org/2020/11/24/roundup-essentials-for-the-end-of-year-holiday-season-in-the-legal-profession/
Women Lawyers Association of LA
https://www.wlala.org/page/DECEMBER2020PM
Texas Lawyer
https://www.law.com/texaslawyer/2020/11/30/hurricane-season-for-mental-health-lawyers-with-holiday-stress-put-these-coping-mechanisms-in-your-arsenal-now/
Oregon Law Practice Management
https://oregonlawpracticemanagement.com/2020/11/23/holiday-stress-revisited/
Attorney At Law Magazine
https://attorneyatlawmagazine.com/new-holiday-traditions-pandemic-era
Advocate Capital
https://www.advocatecapital.com/stress-management-tips-for-busy-lawyers
This is not specifically holiday-related, but has good information about feelings that can be exacerbated during holidays, especially during this pandemic year.
Grief, Loss, and Burnout
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/grief-loss-burnout-talking-about-complex-feelings-at-work?cid=other-eml-dre-mip-mck&hlkid=c53d9efadfff49688fdeb013f05f8e88&hctky=12220074&hdpid=fad15aed-40c6-4f4d-8961-88d792c7b476
Noreen Braman
NJLAP Program Communications & Technology Manager
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For Our Friends in Recovery
This time of year can be difficult for those in recovery.
Addiction counselor, Bob Forrest, offers some tips:
- Be good to yourself, protect yourself
- Don't give in to negative feelings or people
- Don't drink
- Don't use
- Just make it to January 1 by any means necessary
- Don't be around family who constantly shame you
- Be around people who love and support you
- Don't Fall Apart
- Remember, it' only one day. You can make it through any one day. Tomorrow might be better.
- Everything will feel better when the holidays are over!
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Information and Registration Links
to Upcoming NJLAP Online Presentations
If you missed any of the sessions, or would like to view them again, you can catch the recorded version on NJLAP's YouTube Channel
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As always, our email lists and your correspondence with us, are kept completely confidential. We look forward to hearing from you!
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"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come,
whispering
'it will be happier'...”
― Alfred Lord Tennyson
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NJLAP
One Constitution Square
New Brunswick, NJ
800-246-5527
www.NJLAP.org
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