LibGuides: Mental Health & Law School: Healthy Living Tips and Resources

General Self Care

What is Self Care?

In a past presentation to law school faculty and staff, Dr. Myra Waters from UB's Counseling Center defined self care as "anything you do voluntarily that is good for your overall health." The basics are things like shelter, hygiene, and sleep, but self care can also include physical activities, hobbies, socializing, or attending religious services.

Some resources also make a point to distinguish between self care and indulgences. Buying something expensive, Netflix binging, or eating junk food might make you feel better temporarily, but you have to weigh that against your health overall. Completely blowing your budget, your study habits, or your diet may end up causing more stress later. The key is to find a place of balance that works for you.

Interactive Self Care Guide
This interactive quiz walks you through self care activities, step by step.
Guy Winch: Why We All Need to Practice Emotional First Aid
In this TED Talk, Guy Winch argues that too many of us deal with common psychological-health issues on our own. But we don’t have to. He makes a compelling case to practice emotional hygiene — taking care of our emotions, our minds, with the same diligence we take care of our bodies.

Everything Is Awful and I'm Not Okay
Are you completely overwhelmed and considering hiding in bed for the next week? This checklist can help you work through some of your feelings.

Physical Health

UB Recreation Center
All UB students, including law students, have access to the UB Recreation Center, located in the Academic Center.
UB Intramural Sports
Join up with other students to compete once a week against other UB students and faculty. Past sports have included Cornhole, 3-on-3 Flag Football, Basketball, Indoor Soccer, and Table Tennis.
Baltimore Running Clubs
The Baltimore area has several running clubs, including clubs for slower runners, LGBT runners, and runners who enjoy a cold beverage after a workout. You can also find a list of races in Maryland here.
Here are some local running clubs: Baltimore Frontrunners • Back on My Feet Baltimore • Charm City Run • November Project Baltimore
Yoga with Adrienne
This Youtube channel features free yoga classes, from 5 minute routines you can do at your desk to full hour long classes.

Mindfulness/Meditation

Why Every Lawyer Should Be Practicing Mindfulness (Part I)
Article written by the author of "The Anxious Lawyer", Jeena Cho, discussing the benefits of mindfulness and how they relate to the legal profession specifically. You can find Part II here.
How To Meditate: A Guide For Lawyers (Part I)
Article written by the author of "The Anxious Lawyer", Jeena Cho, discussing some basic tips and guidance for meditating. You can find Part II, which addresses common questions and concerns surrounding meditation, here.
Meditation LifeHacker Tips
This article goes over a few different meditation apps, as well as other free options.
The Anxious Lawyer - Guided Meditation Recordings
The team from Anxious Lawyer guides you through a free meditation with this podcast playlist. Note: recordings are only available through Week 7.
Headspace
Headspace has a wide variety of resources available on their website and via their app. There are free materials, as well as subscriptions, which offer a student discount.
There are also a wide variety of videos available on their Youtube channel, covering everything from meditation and sleep habits to eating healthy and stress-relief exercises.
Finally, they have partnered with Netflix to create two series, "Headspace Guide to Meditation" and "Headspace Guide to Meditation".
Columbia Law School Mindfulness Program
Founded in 2017, the Columbia Law School Mindfulness Program is a community of faculty, staff, and students committed to the practice of mindful awareness and the examination of how it informs our understanding of law and lawyering. Their website provides information on events, as well as links to other resources, including recordings of past events.
Miami Law Mindfulness in Law Program
This website provides a comprehensive look at mindfulness in the law, including video and audio guided exercises; information on relevant books, articles, and apps; and links to other websites.

Mindfulness for Law Students by Scott Rogers
Call Number: KF287 .R64 2009 (Thurgood Marshall Law Library)
ISBN: 9780977345519
Publication Date: 2009-05-29
Mindfulness for Law Students is a one-of-a-kind book that is specifically designed to introduce law students to fundamental contemplative practices as well as the cutting-edge research that shows how incorporating mindfulness techniques can alter the physical structure and function of the brain to reflect decreased levels of stress, increased levels of productivity and improved mental health. This book is based on the Jurisight® program - which uses legal terms and concepts to teach lawyers what they need to know about mindfulness and neuroscience to lead more balanced and effective lives - and written with input from law students, law professors and recent law school graduates to ensure that the lessons are accessible to law students and can be easily integrated into their busy schedules. "As a first-year law student, I found that I didn't need another book on the law school experience, nor a bevy of outlines and advice. What I needed was a way to help myself focus in the midst of a very intense and sometimes chaotic experience. Mindfulness for Law Students introduces mindfulness concepts in a way that will help law students remain self-aware and keep the law school experience in its proper perspective. " -- Dale Dobuler, second-year law student

Dealing with Perfectionism & Procrastination

Not all procrastinators are perfectionists, but sometimes the two go hand in hand. When they go hand in hand, often:

Perfectionists ends up procrastinating one task because they're involved in too many activities, or
Perfectionists put off doing a task they fear won't be perfect.

Beware Perfectionism in Law School
From the Law School Academic Support Blog, this article outlines some tips to avoid perfectionism in law school. (Nov. 2009)
Are you being sabotaged by perfectionism?
From the Law School Academic Support Blog, this article discusses some "symptoms" of perfectionism, as well as some strategies to deal with perfectionism in law school. (Oct. 2018)
Perfect Hurts
From the Law School Academic Support Blog, this article provides a list of some of the negative consquences of perfectionism, as well as some strategies for managing your perfectionism. (Sept. 2020)
How to Overcome Perfectionism
Tips on recognizing signs of perfectionism (including chronic procrastination) and tools to overcome it.
Overcoming Procrastination by Letting Go of Perfectionism
Includes self-assessment questions like "Why am I putting off this task?" and "What is procrastinating costing me?"
5 Types of Procrastination (And How to Fix Each of Them)
Gives 5 examples of procrastinators and gives advice and examples for each.

Mental Health & Law School

Preparation for School:

Time Management

General Self Care

Physical Health

Mindfulness/Meditation

Dealing with Perfectionism & Procrastination