Five Things Every Lawyer Should Do to Start the Day

Forbes recently posted an article about the 16 things one should do at the start of the workday -- while some of the points were useful to lawyers, others didn't apply because of the nature of the work we do.

Since time is money, we've decided to whittle the list down to the five top things you should to every morning to kick start your day. Here goes ...

1. Don't Be Late

If you want to guarantee a stressful, crummy day just come to work late. If you want to avoid that kind of day at all costs then make sure you get to work on time. The last thing you want to do is start your day frazzled and sweaty.

2. Eat Breakfast

Remember when your mom told you not to skip breakfast because it's the most important meal of the day? Well it's true. Make sure you get something light and healthy into your system to give yourself enough energy to get through the day (and not induce a food coma).

3. Check Your Voicemail/Email

As lawyers, it's our ethical duty to communicate with clients in a timely manner. Before you get into the details of your day, review your email and voicemail for any urgent communications that require timely responses. Make it a priority to get back to each message that awaits a response from you.

4. Check Your List/Calendar

We're sure you're very organized and before you leave work you create a list of things you need to do the following day. When you get in the following morning, check your calendar and review the list. Try to create a tentative time line for approaching you work for the day, and coordinate your pressing assignments with any meetings you may have scheduled.

5. Tackle the Most Difficult Job First

If all of your assignments are equally important, or don't have pressing deadline, try to tackle the most difficult job first. You will be freshest in the morning, and if an emergency pops up during the day, at least you will have gotten something difficult out of the way.

The way you start your day will dictate the way the rest of your day goes. Get off on the good foot, to make what could potentially be a stressful day more manageable.

Related Resources:

• The Mindful Lawyer: Can Meditation Help With Your Billable Hours? (FindLaw's Greedy Associates Blog)
• Turn Off, Tune Out, Drop Out -- It's Time for Digital Detox (FindLaw's Technologist Blog)
• Will Relaxing Make You a Better Attorney? (FindLaw's Strategist Blog)