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Grit & Resilience: Well-Being for Law Students and Lawyers

Law can be a challenging profession; these resources can help.

Managing Your Media Intake

  • Tools to help you focus
    • Forest | Free extension or one-time app purchase | Chrome and Firefox extension or Android/iOS App
      • Blocks specified websites for the duration of a timer you set. While the timer counts down, a digital tree grows from a seedling. If you visit blocked websites, the tool reminds you your tree is still growing. If you click "I give up" and choose to proceed anyway, the seedling dies. At the end of a session, you'll have a 'forest' with a living (or dead) tree corresponding to each successful (or failed) running of the timer. 
    • Just Focus | Free | Chrome extension
      • Blocks specified websites for the duration of a timer you set. No cute animations. 
    • LeechBlock | Free | Chrome, Edge, and Firefox extension
      • Blocks up to 30 websites, with the option to block within specified time periods and/or after a time limit.
    • one sec | Free or premium | Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari extension or Android/iOS App
      • Doesn't block but sends breathing exercise prompts, counts visits, and invites you to back out whenever you open specified apps/websites. Helps to identify patterns and support behavioral change. App/extension is free to configure for one app or site; premium features also available. 
  • Tools to help you manage stress and practice self-care
    • Calm | Free or premium | Android/iOS
      • Offers guided meditation, sleep stories, and other features to support well-being. 
    • Daylio | Free or premium | Android/iOS 
      • Helps users track moods, habits, and goals.
    • Tide | Free | Android/iOS
      • Offers relaxing sounds, breathing exercises, a Pomodoro timer, and a diary.

Digital Detox Suggestions

  • WNYC’s Bored and Brilliant Project – In 2015, Manoush Zomorodi of WNYC’s radio show Note to Self created the Bored and Brilliant project to help listeners unplug from their devices and improve their focus and creativity. This six-part series will walk you through a sequence of challenges to change your relationship to your phone and redirect your energy where you need it most. A companion book provides even more guidance and detail about the psychology behind the project.
  • Lee Tilghman’s 10 Offline Things I Did This Week – A weekly roundup from former influencer Lee Tilghman with ideas for how to meaningfully spend your time away from technology.
  • David Levy, Mindful Tech – an early advocate for digital detoxing, Professor David Levy of the University of Washington summarizes his approach to finding balance in our relationship to technology.
  • University digital detox guides – A selection of guides for students on how to digitally detox