We hear too many lawyers saying that they are not "happy" practicing law. But, when asked, they admit that (a) they do not know how to define "happy" in terms of themselves, and/or (b) they are not doing anything to improve their condition or situation.
Our focus is NOT to encourage (unhappy) lawyers to change careers, or even change firms. Rather, we encourage them to make subtle changes - often easy changes - that could help them to enjoy life more.
As reported in a Wall Street Journal article by Jonathan Clements on April 2, 2008, a new study suggests that one needs to be smarter about how they spend their time. The study identifies happiness as having three components: (1) Whether one is, by nature, a happy person or not - - which is something there is little one can do to change; (2) There are one's life circumstances such as age, health, marital status and income - - which the study states are not as important as one would imagine; and (3) How one spends their time - - which is a factor that we DO have some degree of control over.
In the study, five professors surveyed 4,000 Americans, asking what they did the previous day and then quizzing them in detail about three randomly selected events from that day. Those surveyed were asked to rate three episodes based on feelings such as pain, happiness, stress and sadness. All this was used to calculate what percentage of time people spent in an unpleasant state.
Activities such as visiting friends, exercising, attending church, listening to music, fishing, reading a book, sitting in a cafe or going to a party - - all which are "interactive and engaging activities" - - things that we choose to do, rather than have to do, seemed to bring the most happiness.
The obvious implication is that if we would do these types of things - - mixed in with our oftentimes difficult and stressful legal activities, we might be a whole lot happier.
The study also concluded that watching TV does not make one happier. However, spending leisure time (even a small amount of leisure time) engaged in doing something more interactive and more engaging does.
Soooo, if you spend all day (24 hours) and/or entire weekends in your office, and can't figure out why you are so unhappy practicing law, get out and do something fun for a change ! See what a difference can make.
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