IN THE COMMUNITY
Coping During
COVID-19
The outbreak of COVID-19 and the constant
swirl of information (and misinformation)
has led to the largest public health crisis in
the last 100 years. The unfamiliarity of this
virus and its symptoms, coupled with the
exponential spread has led to emotional
distress across the country, and in our own
social and professional groups.
Remebering to look at current situations from a
wellness, health perspective.
With over 45,000 deaths in the United
States alone, COVID-19 has likely affected
someone you know. Even if you have not
been personally touched by this virus, all
of us have felt the distress of the economic
uncertainty, the anxiety of possibly losing a
loved one, caring for children while working
at home, or even simply mourning our lost
social connections. In these times, we need
to develop tools to save our sanity, focus on
wellness, and learn how to adapt to settle
into this “new normal”.
While we have all felt the impact of
COVID-19 in various ways, we must
first acknowledge that the legal industry
has remained resilient during this crisis.
Attorneys and legal services are considered
essential - at least here in Georgia - and
many lawyers have been able to continue
their work without interruptions from home.
However, many have been left furloughed or
with hours cut. This has created a ripple effect
across our industry with summer associate
programs being canceled and even the bar
exam being rescheduled. Fortunately, our
legal community has stepped up to the plate
in terms of giving back to the communities
they serve. In just a few months Georgia
lawyers have raised thousands of dollars for
those in need and donated food, masks, and
other essential goods.
There are many resources that provide
information on how to deal with the
emotional strain of COVID-19. The CDC
has promulgated coping tips, including the
following:
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Take breaks from watching, reading,
or listening to news stories, including
social media. Hearing about the
pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
Take care of your body.
Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate.
Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
Exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep.
Avoid alcohol and drugs.
Make time to unwind. Try to do some
other activities you enjoy.
MATTHEW HOLLINGSWORTH
Hollingsworth Injury Law, LLC
[email protected]
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Connect with others. Talk with people
you trust about your concerns and how
you are feeling.
Some of these tips seem elementary or
obvious, but wellness should remain a top-
of-mind priority. These tips can also be
implemented in your professional life to
maintain connections and work remotely,
while still furthering your practice. An
important tip our firm has learned through
this crisis is to over-communicate with
your team. You don't have to write an
essay for your daily to-do list but let people
know what you are working on to keep
yourself accountable. It is also important
to collaborate when possible- there are so
many ways we can do this when working
remotely. Look into Zoom, FaceTime, Slack,
or G-chat. We have too many tools to be our
own island.
For those working from home, boundaries
are crucial to mental and physical wellbeing.
Not having limits can create undue stress
because it can be hard to separate work
from pleasure. Set hours for yourself and, if
possible, identify a dedicated workspace. It
will make a difference in productivity and
focus, and can help eliminate the feeling of
guilt at the end.
After months of preparation - perhaps
in the worst of times - I hung my shingle
and started Hollingsworth Injury Law in
the beginning of March. I have dealt with
many bouts of sleepless nights, anxiety
ridden evenings, and feelings of regret but
with the support of family, friends, and
colleagues, I’ve not just gotten through but
grown personally and professionally. I have
reached out to friends I have not spoken to
in years; I have played trivia over Zoom with
in-laws; and I have focused on streamlining
my practice for the future.
We all have support systems somewhere that
we need to reconnect with, for our sake and
theirs. And if you do not, connect with me,
a colleague, or reach out to the Atlanta Bar
Wellness Committee for help. We are all in
this together.
www.atlantabar.org THE ATLANTA LAWYER
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