The Self-Care Most Lawyers Overlook: Your Daily Life

Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership with our friends at MothersEsquire. Welcome Sonya L. Sigler back to our pages. Click here if you’d like to donate to MothersEsquire.

In the first three articles of this series, we explored how noticing your energy, shifting your mindset, and aligning your choices with your true values are critical foundations for sustainable self-care. Now we move from foundation to daily function — because no matter how strong your intentions are, your daily habits shape your reality.

When your daily life supports you — when your routines and small choices reinforce your energy and priorities — everything else flows more easily. Home life runs smoother, work becomes more manageable, and stress feels less overwhelming. And when your day-to-day life is chaotic or misaligned, it often spills over into your professional world too.

Over time, I’ve learned that self-care isn’t just about isolated moments of rest or occasional treats. It’s about how I live every day. By making deliberate, practical choices, I’ve built a daily foundation that supports my well-being, energy, and joy.

Here are a few of the strategies that anchor me. As you read, think about what would work best for you.

Clean Kitchen, Clear Mind

One of my best self-care moves was committing to a clean kitchen before going to bed. There’s nothing more deflating than waking up to a messy kitchen — especially when three teenagers treat “bedtime” as an invitation to raid the fridge. It would leave me feeling defeated before the day even began.

I had to make dishwashing tolerable, so I bought thick, comfortable gloves and blasted upbeat music, making it a fun ritual rather than a chore. Now, waking up to spotless counters feels like an act of kindness to my future self.

One particularly hectic week, I skipped my nighttime clean-up routine, and by Friday, the kitchen was a disaster — and I was irritable. That weekend, I doubled down and reclaimed the sense of peace a clean kitchen gives me.

Meal Planning: Saving Time, Money, And Sanity

Juggling three teens, three sports schedules, and a full career meant that “what’s for dinner?” could have been a daily crisis. Instead, I took control. Meal planning became our survival strategy — one that saved time, money, and stress.

Each Sunday afternoon, I mapped out the week’s meals, factoring in late practices, games, and work events. I also let the kids each pick a favorite meal, which made them more invested and reduced dinnertime complaints.

During football season, slow cooker meals became a lifeline. Tossing in ingredients for chili or pulled pork in the morning meant a hot meal awaited us at the day’s end, preserving our family dinners even during the busiest weeks.

Short Breaks That Refill My Cup

When my energy dips or my attention stalls, I take a short break instead of pushing through. I reach for a curated list of ‘15-minute joys’ that I can pick up or put down easily:

• Petting my cats (instant stress relief)
• Knitting a few rows (simple, meditative)
• Writing a quick journal entry (a mental reset)
• Reading a chapter of a book (a mini escape)
• Calling a friend (a mood boost)
• Practicing trombone (keeps me engaged and learning)
• Sewing quilt squares (progress, one stitch at a time)

One afternoon after a series of back-to-back Zoom calls, I picked up my knitting and worked on a few rows while listening to music. Ten minutes of doing something tactile and creative reset my energy for the rest of the day.

Play Dates: Fun Is Non-negotiable

It’s easy to get caught up in work and responsibilities, but I make it a point to schedule a day of play at least once a month. These adventures — big or small — remind me to stay present, laugh, and savor life.

Some favorites include wandering through a new museum, trying a new restaurant, or a spontaneous day trip to antique stores with a friend.

One month, I almost skipped my play date because I felt “too busy.” Thankfully, a friend nudged me to follow through. We spent the day exploring a botanical garden, and I returned home feeling lighter, happier, and more creative. Lesson learned: fun is fuel.

4-Day Work Week: Protecting My Time

When I started consulting, I quickly realized I didn’t want to work on Fridays. Part of it was practical — I needed to be on the football field by 4 p.m. as the team photographer for my sons’ games. But it was also part of a bigger shift taking shape: creating a life I didn’t need a vacation from, one where my time reflected my true priorities.

Rather than defaulting to emails and busy work, I filled Fridays with intentional activities — brunch with friends, a round of golf, museum visits, or running errands so weekends stayed free for true rest and connection.

A few months in, I caught myself slipping — checking emails on Friday mornings out of old habit. I had to reframe my mindset: I wasn’t skipping work; I was honoring a boundary.

Now, Friday is my reset day — giving me the energy to show up fully for my clients, my family, and most importantly, for myself.

Sharing The Love: Words Matter

One of the most meaningful ways I practice daily self-care is by freely expressing appreciation and encouragement. Whether it’s a quick text, a handwritten note, or a heartfelt voice message, I believe in sprinkling positivity often and generously.

One morning, I sent a short voice message to a colleague just to say how much I appreciated her. Her reply: “You have no idea how much I needed to hear that today.” A small gesture made a big difference — for both of us.

Closing Thoughts

These daily practices have become my self-care foundation. They help me stay energized, motivated, and connected to what matters most. 

When I notice a dip in my mood, energy, or focus, I don’t panic. I check in:

• Am I working for six hours without looking up from the computer?
• Have I let the clean kitchen slide?
• Am I so scheduled I forgot to schedule play?

This reflection and a quick course correction brings me back on track.

Self-care isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about small, consistent choices — the ones that make life easier, more joyful, and more sustainable over time.

Your best life isn’t built in one big leap. It’s built day by day, choice by choice, in the quiet moments you choose to care for yourself.

This article is the fourth in a five-part series on self-care for legal professionals, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. Up next: Owning Your Time: Boundaries That Protect Your Energy and Your Life.

Sonya L. Sigler is a lawyer, author of 30 Days to Better Self-Care, and wellness advocate who helps busy legal professionals build practical habits that support lasting success—personally and professionally.

The post The Self-Care Most Lawyers Overlook: Your Daily Life appeared first on Above the Law.