By: Valeen M. Arena, Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Fourth Circuit Representative

The year 2020 has brought all of us its fair share of stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. While we cannot control all the stressors in our lives, we can control our minds and focus on the positive. When we start small, we can make big changes toward caring for ourselves and our mental health.

First, try finding structure in all the chaos. Routines are calming as they help our minds know what to expect next. While many aspects of our routines have been put on hold, we can view this as an opportunity to create a new intentional structure to our lives. Creating a calm morning routine is a good place to start. Psychologists suggest carving out time to move, nourish, connect, and just “be.” Experiment with meditation, gardening, or painting. Whatever works for you to relax, stick to it and make it a daily practice.

You can also make a bucket list of things you want to accomplish during the remainder of 2020. Keep it simple. Consider developing a new meal plan, finishing that yard work you’ve been putting off, or reading that book that’s been on the shelf for a year. Commit to something for yourself—no matter how small—and make it happen.

I know many friends and colleagues who have used this time to work on house projects. As a result, now they really enjoy their living spaces—whether it was creating a home office or just decluttering. When your home is in order, your mind will feel more focused.

As attorneys, we strive for perfection, work long hours, and push ourselves past our limits. One lesson we’ve learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is not necessarily to give up our former habits, but add the need to be present, hit pause, and focus on today.

We can all take these practices with us as we move beyond this year to create happier and more balanced lives. After all, it is our choice to focus on the positive.