Reminder from the Wellness Committee to practice excellent self-care during these waning days of winter—work hard, eat right, get plenty of sleep, exercise in ways you enjoy, get outdoors, practice any chosen forms of spirituality or religion– and spend time with colleagues, friends and family.  It is a sign of strength to ask for help if you need it.  Your work is vitally important to the people you serve.  You matter.  Your integrity is the most important quality you have as an attorney.  Cherish it—and yourself!  Click on the Wellness page on the Buncombe County Bar website for wellness resources.

For this year’s Buncombe County Bar Wellness Day on Friday, February 25, we are hosting these free online wellness events:

For a great start to your day, join us for a 15-minute meditation with Eddie LeShure of A Mindful Emergence. We’ll start promptly at 8:00 a.m. Click here to pre-register.

Also, to help you relax, we’ll have a free 30 minute yoga class beginning at 4:30 p.m. online with Margaret Kirshner of A Mindful Emergence. Click here to pre-register.

For additional wellness resources and information, please visit the wellness resources webpage offered by our Wellness Committee.

Need inspiration to address your holiday stress? Here are a few tips from the Wellness Committee:

1.  Get outside and walk in our beautiful mountain area.  If possible, walk with a friend or colleague. Especially during the work day, even a ten minute walk outdoors can make a big difference.  If possible, once each hour— or several times each day —take a ten minute break to walk outdoors. Even if it’s rainy or cold, just dress for the weather and go. If walking is not for you, do the exercise you enjoy.
2.  Eat nutritiously, get enough rest, and socialize with others you enjoy. Avoid being too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired—HALT.  If any of the HALT conditions appear, then “halt” and take steps to remedy them.
3.  If spiritual or religious practices are part of your daily routine, stick to them —and consider doing more during the holiday season.  Write daily in a journal.  Each day, make a list of what you are grateful for. Take really good care of yourself and think of how you can give to others—then give.

For more ideas on combatting stress, go to the Wellness Committee page on our website.

From Gill Beck, Wellness Committee Chair & Bar President-Elect:

Research and experience demonstrate that the legal profession’s unique stresses  require that attorneys take affirmative steps to promote their wellness and improved attorney wellness translates directly into enhanced  effectiveness as an attorney and a healthier work-life balance. Buncombe County Bar President Carter Webb and the Bar’s Executive Committee are committed to promoting wellness within the Buncombe County Bar and have taken the following steps to promote wellness by offering:

• Resiliency CLE — The Bar is hosting free virtual CLE with Laura Mahr to promote resiliency. The seminar is called “Wiring Your Brain for Optimal Resilience in an Evolving Legal Landscape,” and will take place on Zoom on Thursdays from 10am-11am on October 7, 14, 21, 28 and November 4, 2021. For more information and to sign up go to https://buncombebar.com/upcoming-events/.
• Resources CLE — During the October 13, 2021 Bar Luncheon we will feature a panel of speakers including Judge Kepple and Ron Harris who will discuss resources available to our clients regarding a wide range of issues including treatment courts, drug and alcohol addiction, and mental health resources. To sign up go to https://buncombebar.com/events/bar-luncheon-october-2021/.
• The Impact of COVID on Lawyer Wellbeing CLE – On November 10^th during our monthly meeting, Robynn Moriates of the State Bar will present a CLE on The Impact of COVID on Lawyer Wellbeing.
• Bar Cares Program – BarCARES is a short-term professional intervention program offered cost-free to members of the Buncombe County Bar. Each attorney may receive up to three free visits per year to address substance abuse, crisis intervention, depression/anxiety issues, and other professional stressors. To learn more about BarCARES visit https://www.ncbar.org/members/barcares/  To request a referral to a provider please contact the BarCARES coordinator at 919-929-1227 or 1-800-640-0735. For urgent concerns: to speak to someone immediately, call 919- 929-1227 or 1-800-640-0735.
• Mentorship Program — The Buncombe County Bar mentoring program provides experienced practitioners an opportunity to share their knowledge and experience with their mentees and to provide a guiding and supportive hand as young attorneys traverse the reality of practicing law. Finally, the mentees will learn the importance of becoming a citizen lawyer.
• Webpage –  The Buncombe County Bar webpage provides wellness resources — https://buncombebar.com/wellness.
• Dealing with Adversity CLE — In the spring we will conduct a CLE focused on wellness similar to last year’s CLE where experienced attorneys will discuss how to deal with adversity in the practice of law.
• Wellness Week — Next May we are considering expanding out Wellness Day to a Wellness week where we bring in meditation, yoga, and other practices to help us deal with the pressures of practicing law.
• Wellness Committee Welcomes Your Ideas  — President Carter Webb has appointed a Wellness Committee to look for ways to enhance wellness for our Bar members, which includes President-elect Gill Beck as Chair of our Wellness Committee, Past President Sonya Rikhye, Hayley Wells, Becca Eden, and Elizabeth Oxley.  Please reach out to them regarding your ideas of how we can promote wellness for our Bar members.