The Grace Period: Shining A Light on Lawyer Wellbeing
A podcast for lawyers that explores the realities of big law, provides tips for better practice management, and shines a light on lawyer wellbeing.
The Grace Period: Shining A Light on Lawyer Wellbeing
Episode 47: Weekly Reset
Every attorney knows the feeling: Sunday evening anxiety creeping in as you mentally brace for another overwhelming week. The never-ending deadlines, the constant fires to put out, and that persistent feeling you're always one step behind. But what if a simple ritual could transform how you experience your work week?
In this episode, I share the weekly review practice that's become my professional anchor. This "Sunday Reset" combines reflection, planning, and self-care in a flexible format that takes anywhere from ten minutes to two hours. The magic isn't in rigid adherence to a system—it's about creating an intentional pause that allows you to approach your week proactively rather than reactively.
I walk through my exact process: how I reflect on the past week without judgment, review my upcoming calendar to identify pressure points, block time for deep work, and set meaningful intentions. This simple practice has dramatically reduced my "Sunday scaries" because I know exactly what I'm walking into on Monday morning. There's power in being prepared.
For attorneys and legal professionals constantly feeling overwhelmed by their reactive workload, this episode offers a practical framework for regaining control. The legal profession doesn't have to be a constant sprint from one deadline to the next. By establishing boundaries, building supportive habits, and giving yourself permission to pause, you can steer your week rather than merely survive it.
Find out more at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilystedman/.
Welcome to the Grace Period where we get real about attorney mental health and well-being and pull back the veil on the high-stakes world of big law. I'm your host, emily Logan Stedman, a commercial litigator partner and someone who believes there's always room for a little more grace, even in this high-stakes profession. Here I share real stories from my own journey in big law and invite you behind the scenes, beyond the billable hour, to talk about what it means to stay human in a demanding field. Whether you're a lawyer, a legal professional or someone trying to find your footing, this space is for you. Let's pull back the curtain, start the conversation and find our grace period together. Disclaimer the views and opinions shared on this podcast are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect those of my firm or any organization. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal advice, and listening does not create an interning client relationship. Welcome to episode 47 of the Grace Period.
Speaker 1:Today I want to share a ritual that's become an anchor for me my Sunday reset or my weekly review. For many years, my weeks blurred into each other, sprinting from one deadline to the next. I'd roll into Monday, usually already feeling behind, and by Friday I was exhausted, but over time I realized that intentional planning, even just a short session, could make a world of a difference. So what does my Sunday reset look like? It's part reflection, part planning and part self-care. Here's how I approach it. First, I review the week that just ended what went well, what fell off, what felt off, what do I need to carry over from last week into next week? I'll take notes and I try to do this with no judgment, just honest, spontaneous reflection. I might celebrate a win or I might even notice a pattern I want to change. Then I look at the week ahead and today, when I'm recording, this is actually Saturday and I did this today. So even though I call it a Sunday reset, it doesn't have to be done on Sunday and sometimes I wait and do it Monday morning.
Speaker 1:But regardless of when I do it, I pull up my calendar and I review big and little deadlines. I note what meetings and commitments I have. I try to figure out where the pressure points are and where I can add buffer time. I block white space for deep work. And actually to block space for deep work I use Outlook's focus tool. It weekly inserts focus or do not disturb blocks on any open spaces on my calendar. So I'll review those and either shorten or elongate them or delete them. If it doesn't make sense for me to be on, do not disturb.
Speaker 1:At that time I try to add in prep time for important calls and I'll go ahead and write out my to-do list for each day of the upcoming week, listing the appointments and deadlines I have that day or tasks that I know I want to do that day. Then I set a few intentions. Then I set a few intentions. Maybe the goal is to finish a project or have a conversation with a colleague, or time to work out or go for a walk or even read for fun. I try to keep my intentions realistic and meaningful so that they don't become just another thing on my to-do list, another obligation. Finally, when I have time and the mental capacity to be honest, I prep my LinkedIn and Instagram content for the week. I map out posts in advance, I try to draft them and even schedule them ahead of time, and this just takes one more thing off my mental plate.
Speaker 1:If I have the time on Saturday or Sunday and I look into the week and there's anything, I feel like I have the energy to do now and get it off my plate. I do it Again. The magic here is that it's not rigid, it's not about perfection. It creates space to breathe, regroup and step into the new week with intention. It helps me keep the Sunday scaries at bay because I know what I'm walking into on Monday, I know what to expect and I'm being proactive rather than reactive.
Speaker 1:So many of us reach a point where we're overwhelmed and feeling excessively reactive. So I encourage you to try to find your own version of this ritual. I do many versions of this every day when I close out and look at tomorrow's calendar and enter my time. These small moments, no matter what day of the week they are, no matter what time of day they are, help me pause, reflect and plan so that I'm in control. I'm steering my week, not just surviving it and reacting to what comes. And again, this can take 10 minutes, it can take two hours. It is your choice, it is your time.
Speaker 1:Thank you for joining me on this episode of the Grace Period. I hope this reflection shared a little spark of an idea on how you can create pauses, even on the weekend, to take control and be proactive about what's ahead in the week to come. Remember you don't have to choose between your wellbeing and your ambition. By setting boundaries, building supportive habits and giving yourself permission to pause, you can thrive in law and in life. Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other. That is the path to our grace period. Disclaimer the views expressed here are solely my own and do not represent the official policy or position of my firm or any organization. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not professional or legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
