Healthy tips from the Wellbeing & Resilience Committee

The Law Society’s Wellbeing and Resilience Committee commenced in 2011, and is charged with driving initiatives regarding matters relating to the health (mental and physical), well-being and resilience of members of the profession. Below, a few of our Committee Members introduce themselves and offer some insights into what they have found useful for supporting their own wellbeing in practice.

ZOE LEWIS (CHAIR), MANAGING SOLICITOR, HOMELESS LEGAL, JUSTICENET

Your #1 Wellbeing & Resilience Tip:

Daily exercise. It does wonders for my body and mind.

Your Biggest Wellbeing & Resilience

Struggle: Perfectionism across the board. Even in relation to my own wellbeing pursuits! Sometimes I avoid starting or trying things because I don’t know how to do them perfectly. This can cause so much unnecessary stress.

Why do you choose to volunteer on

this Committee: I think lawyers can fi nd themselves in the perfect storm of having the personality traits, workplace culture and work-related pressures which “perfectly” fuel poor wellbeing. But I don’t think lawyers have to have poor wellbeing. I hope to improve the tools available to lawyers in SA and also open up the conversation about the various struggles we all have.

EMILY MORTIMER (DEPUTY CHAIR), DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, PIPER ALDERMAN

Your Wellbeing & Resilience

Role Model: If I look at my approach to wellbeing and resilience it would mirror the PERMA theory by Martin Seligman which has fi ve components – Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment.

What does Wellbeing & Resilience

look like to you: I am a proud mum to a cheeky 9 year old sports fanatic – his energy is infectious and my worst days are brightened by his love of life and my love of watching him grow into a fi ne young (and resilient) man.

Your #1 Wellbeing & Resilience Tip:

When you are asked if you R OK? Answer honestly. People ask because they care and they can fi nd ways to support you. If you are not asking people, start, it is a question that can save a life.

AMY NIKOLOVSKI, EQUITY PARTNER, DUNCAN BASHEER HANNON

Your #1 Wellbeing & Resilience Tip:

Outsource what you can. Time is precious, and you are not required to do everything yourself, ask for help when you need it.

Your Biggest Wellbeing & Resilience

Struggle: Like many working parents, my main struggle is being able to switch off from work mode and go into mum mode. Owning a business, managing a team, client expectations and a family is a struggle and the ultimate juggle, sometimes I don’t keep all the balls in the air and some drop, the trick is to know which ones are ok to drop, which will bounce and those that if you drop will break.

EDWIN FAH, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, JOHNSON WINTER SLATTERY

Your Biggest Wellbeing & Resilience

Struggle: Being mindful of what “enough” means, because it changes every day, and within days. You can always read that one more case, or write that one more letter, and there are times when you will need to, but there is a point in every day where you have done “enough”.

Your #1 Wellbeing & Resilience Tip:

Let it go. Focus your energies on the things you can control. You can’t do anything about past mistakes so don’t dwell on them. Learn from them so as not to make them again in the future, but don’t carry that angst around with you.

What does Wellbeing & Resilience look

like to you: Being able to say honestly to myself at the end of the day that I did the best I could today. That doesn’t mean that my output was the same as yesterday, or that I made no mistakes today. I can’t always say this, and when I can’t, I try to understand why that was, and therefore, what I can do to rectify that tomorrow. And then I let it go.

GEORGINA PORTUS, SOLICITOR, NORTHERN COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICE INC

#1 Well-being and Resilience

Tip: Prioritise time for yourself and your interests outside of work. Schedule time for yourself and make it non-negotiable.

Why do you choose to volunteer on

this Committee: In my penultimate year of law school, I was being taught wellbeing and resilience content for the fi rst time. I strongly believe this material should be compulsory knowledge for any profession, however, it is markedly missing from many curriculums, workplaces, and social circles. I wanted to be a part of a group that promoted this knowledge and hope that it sparks conversation in workplaces across the profession.

ROSALINA CHARISMA TORREFRANCA, SOLICITOR, WBH LEGAL

Your #1 Wellbeing & Resilience

Tip: Not to wait for retirement to enjoy the things you love or to enjoy your hobbies or to take up new hobbies. We should set some time for things we enjoy. And not to be afraid to ask for help.

Your Biggest Wellbeing & Resilience

Struggle: Following my #1 Wellbeing & Resilience tip.

What does Wellbeing & Resilience

look like to you: Being able to develop constructive coping mechanisms.

REBECCA SANDFORD, SPECIAL COUNSEL, HWL EBSWORTH LAWYERS

What does Wellbeing &

Resilience look like to you: Being wellrested, active and engaged with my work and my life, feeling well equipped to give my best efforts and being kind to myself when things don’t go to plan (as they often don’t!), and reaching out to support others as well as allowing them to help and support me.

#1 Well-being and Resilience Tip:

Remember that the practice of the law is often a marathon rather than a sprint, and that it isn’t necessary (or possible) to get it all done in one day. And to get more sleep!