Break Free from Busyness and Thrive in Law
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
As female lawyers, we often find ourselves juggling demanding schedules, client expectations, and the pressures of a competitive industry. But what if the busyness we wear as a badge of honour is actually holding us back?
This month, Female Lawyers’ Club hosted an inspiring masterclass with Lindsey Frances, a psychologist and sophrologist with a focus on human behaviour and performance. In her masterclass, titled “The Survival Masterclass: Break Free from the Traps That Keep You Busy But Not Productive”, Lindsey shared strategies to help us pause, reclaim our focus, and achieve more by using our intuition, not just our intelligence.
Here are the key takeaways from Lindsey’s brilliant session:
1. Treat busyness as a ‘swear word’
Lindsey reframed busyness as something to avoid, not aspire to. She asked us to reflect: What are we gaining from being busy? Often, the answer is less about productivity and more about habit or external validation.
Action tip: Commit to doing just one task at a time. Choose it, focus on it, and complete it. Multitasking is the enemy of true efficiency.
2. The 80/20 rule
Lindsey highlighted the Pareto Principle: 20% of your activities create 80% of your results. Are you focusing your time on what truly matters?
Action tip: Identify the tasks that bring the highest return, whether that’s income, impact, or personal fulfilment, and prioritise those.
3. The five traps of busyness
Lindsey identified common traps that keep us stuck in cycles of unproductive busyness:
Moving at the wrong speed – Slow down to assess your direction and make better choices.
Chasing the wrong destination – Ask yourself: What am I really trying to achieve?
Expending the wrong energy – Shift from “busy energy” to “Source energy” by aligning with your true self.
Surrounding yourself with the wrong people – Evaluate your circle of influence. Are your relationships uplifting or draining?
Using the wrong tools – Leverage your innate talents and gifts to create more fulfilment in your work.
4. The six pillars of wellbeing
To thrive in law and life, Lindsey emphasized caring for these six pillars:
Nutrition and hydration: Fuel your body with nourishing foods and stay hydrated throughout the day to maintain energy and focus.
Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity, whether it’s a brisk walk, yoga, or a workout, to boost both physical and mental health.
Sleep: Prioritize quality sleep to recharge and enable your body to recover from daily stress.
Relaxation: Incorporate relaxation practices, such as mindfulness or meditation, to reduce stress and promote calm.
Recovery: Allow your body and mind time to recover, especially after intense work periods, to prevent burnout.
Purpose: Align your daily actions with your deeper sense of purpose, creating a fulfilling and balanced life.
Action tip: Choose one pillar to focus on this week and make a small, consistent improvement. For example, set a goal to drink more water or schedule a 10-minute daily mindfulness session.
Final reflection
Lindsey reminded us to ask ourselves: What gifts and talents have I been given, and how can I use them to lead a more fulfilling life? When we align with our purpose and intuition, the answers will come.
This masterclass was a powerful reminder that by slowing down, focusing on what matters, and caring for our wellbeing, we can achieve not just professional success but also a life we love.
If you’d like to explore these ideas further, visit Lindsey’s website at www.lindsey.frances.co.uk.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Rachel