Well-Being Week in Law

Who’s Involved?

The “who” is you! WWIL is an event of the Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Program’s Well-Being Committee serves as a sponsor. Many state organizations, such as the Kansas Task Force for Lawyer Well-Being, KALAP, and local bar associations participate. We invite you to join us and the many other organizations in being a champion for lawyer well-being.

What is it?

Too many lawyers and their support teams aren’t thriving. It’s time to take action. Well-Being Week In Law (WWIL) is one way to do so. You’re invited to join organizations across the legal profession to lead and participate in activities that promote health and happiness across the legal profession.

Why Participate?

Too many in the legal profession struggle with mental health and alcohol use disorders. Many others, while not dealing with a diagnosable illness, still are not fully well. The aim of WWIL is to raise awareness about mental health and encourage action and innovation across the profession to improve well-being.

Ways to Participate in Well-Being Week

Join Us All Week for Well-Being Bingo!

Download your Well-Being Week Bingo card here. Return your completed card to KALAP by 4 p.m. on Friday 5/6/22 by dropping it off at the KALAP office at 515 Kansas Ave, Suite 202 or by emailing a picture of yourself with your completed card to baylesse@kscourts.org to receive a prize.

Monday – May 2, 2022

STAY STRONG: PHYSICAL WELL-BEING

Join This: Join the Kansas Task Force for Lawyer Well-Being, KALAP, and the Kansas Supreme Court Wellness Committee on a virtual walk. Everyone is encouraged to take a quick walk and share photos or videos on social media. Don’t forget to @KALAP and use the hashtag # WellbeingWeekInLaw . If you are in Topeka, the Supreme Court Wellness Committee invites you to join them on a lunchtime walk. Meet in front of the Judicial Center at 12:15 p.m. for the walk.

Listen to This: The Joy of Movement, podcast interview of Dr. Kelly McGonigal about the latest research on why movement is so important for many facets of our wellbeing, 41 mins.

Read This: Reframe How You Think About Self-Care by Liane Davey. You might want to reconsider whether squeezing more into today is worth sacrificing what you can contribute tomorrow.

Do This: Get Moving Challenge. Peruse the Get Moving Activity Guide and pick a physical activity that you haven’t tried before and try it out this week. Inspire others by posting about it on social media using the hashtag #WellbeingWeekInLaw.

Tuesday – May 3, 2022

ALIGN: SPRITUAL WELL-BEING

Join This: Join KALAP Board member, Janet Thompson Jackson, as she takes us through a quick guided meditation. We encourage everyone to take a moment to pause today and we would love to see some pictures of gardens or nature scenes in the background as you share your moment with us. Don’t forget to share on social media and @KALAP! Use the hashtag #WellbeingWeekInLaw.

Watch This: Nature. Beauty. Gratitude, TED talk, 9:30 mins. Time-lapse photography of awe-inspiring nature scenes with powerful words from a Benedictine monk as a meditation on being grateful for every day.

Read This: 21 Spiritual Goals to Grow in 2022 by Connie Mathers. Setting spiritual goals helps us connect to our spiritual side and gain clarity on the purpose of your life.

Do This: Cultivate Your Sense of Purpose. Take a free Purpose in Life Quiz and receive automatic feedback and recommendations for purpose-building activities, courtesy of the non-profit Greater Good Magazine.

Wednesday – May 4, 2022

ENGAGE & GROW: CAREER AND INTELLECTUAL WELL-BEING

Join This: Join KALAP executive director, Danielle Hall, as she shares time management and work/life balance tips on the KALAP YouTube channel throughout the day. We encourage everyone to share their time management and work/life balance tips on social media. Don’t forget to @KALAP!

Listen to This: How to Be Happier at Work, 54:29 mins. On the Happiness Lab Podcast, Yale psychologist Dr. Leslie Santos talks with Dan Harris (from Ten Percent Happier) about how to find greater happiness at work.

Read This: Positive Psychology in the Workplace by Brad Desmond. Founder of positive psychology Dr. Martin Seligman’s “PERMA” model offers five pathways to well-being. Learn how to apply them at work.

Do This: After reading the article above, take the Workplace PERMA Profiler (it’s free on U Penn’s Authentic Happiness website; you’ll just need to set up a free account). Make a plan (individually or with your work team) to increase one PERMA element over the next month.

Thursday – May 5, 2022

CONNECT: SOCIAL WELL-BEING

Join This: Join us for a Cinco De Mayo Mocktails Social Hour! An in-person social hour will be hosted at the KALAP office from 4-5 p.m. Can’t attend? Join in on the action by hosting your own office social hour and posting photos or videos on social media. Don’t forget to @KALAP and use the hashtag #WellbeingWeekInLaw! We will also be sharing mocktail recipes on social media.

Watch This: Creating More Lollipop Moments, TEDx talk, 6 mins. Drew Dudley talks about how everyday acts of kindness or social connection can have a large impact.

Read This: Want Stronger Relationships at Work? Change the Way You Listen, by Manbir Kaur. Conversations that encourage cooperation and understanding result in the release of hormones like oxytocin that reinforce a bonding experience.

Do This: Be a Joy Multiplier. Read about how enthusiastically responding to others’ good news (called Active Constructive Responding or ACR) builds trust and connection. Then peruse an ACR Worksheet created by the Consortium for Health and Military Performance (yes, the U.S. military teaches ACR!) and get started today practicing your ACR skills to build stronger relationships.

Friday – May 6, 2022

FEEL WELL: EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

Join This: Join us for our virtual Emoji Madness event. Post emojis reacting to our social media posts to share your current emotion. Please encourage your colleagues and friends to join the fun!

Listen to This: The Amazing Impact of Self Talk and How to Master It, 1:07 hr, podcast interview of Dr. Ethan Kross, author of bestseller Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It.

Read This: You’ve Done Self Care. You’ve Languished. Now Try This, by Brad Stulberg. As the pandemic slogs on, many of us want to feel motivated and get unstuck. An evidence-based practice called behavioral activation—committing to engaging in valued and enjoyable activities—might help.

Do This: Vanquish Languishing. After reading the article above, check out the Vanquishing Languishing Activity Guide. It offers guidance on how to use behavioral activation strategies to incorporate more enjoyable and valued activities into your life to foster greater engagement and vitality.