Erin Clifford Wellness

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, being a lawyer is the most stressful occupation in the United States! As a corporate wellness coach and attorney, I am passionate about finding ways to help my colleagues reduce their stress to improve overall well-being inside and outside the workplace. One of the many ways I do this is by creating and leading Continuing Legal Education (CLE) wellness programs designed to help lawyers combat elevated stress levels, work-life imbalance, and career burnout.

Last week, I led a CLE titled “Working Wellness: Healthy Solutions for Lawyer Well-Being,” with over 2,600 people registered in the summer, when people are taking vacation – a clear indication that the topic resonated with many. Therefore, I shared some healthy strategies from the program in the hopes that many more lawyers (and anyone else who happens to be reading this) may benefit from them. https://ow.ly/QSfl50Sksog

Watching my wellness clients reap the rewards of making healthy lifestyle choices brings me so much joy. Every day is a new opportunity to create a more fulfilling and happier existence for yourself. If you’d like to get started on a healthier path, visit my bio link to learn more about my one-on-one lifestyle coaching services.

📲 Virtual coaching is available. https://erincliffordwellness.com/contact/

Please pass the fries! 🥕🍟! I make this recipe on repeat, and you will too once you see how simple and delicious it is. It’s a great alternative to potato fries!

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. In a large bowl, toss the carrots, green beans, oil, salt, and pepper.
2. Spread the carrots and green beans in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
3. Broil for about 7 minutes, turning once halfway through the cooking time, these are best right out of the oven.

Happy Father’s Day to the ultimate girl Dad. I am so incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful true blue father and friend in my life. Love you!! ❤️

If you’ve never made a bucket list, summer is a fun season to start! When I write my list, I try my best to find activities that Daisy, my favorite four-legged family member, can be a part of because she is always up for something new!

Here is some inspiration:

☀️ Visit a farmers’ market in a different town (Bonus: stock up on seasonal produce!)
☀️ Take a day to explore a new city.
☀️ Go to a park that you haven’t visited before.
☀️ Do a family campout in your backyard.
☀️ Pick out 6 books to read this summer.
☀️ Organize a game night with friends and family.
☀️ Do one random act of kindness per week.
☀️ Try new recipes with the produce you bought from the farmers’ market! And make a little something for your dog too!

What is on your summer bucket list?

The best way to handle junk food cravings is to stock your refrigerator and pantry with foods that will satisfy those cravings. Here are a few ideas, but many more can be found online!

🍪 Instead of a sweet treat, try:
👉 A piece of fruit, fruit leather, or a few pieces of dried fruit
👉 A chocolate or vanilla protein drink
👉 A small piece of dark chocolate
👉 A cup of herbal tea

🍟 Instead of something processed and salty, try:
👉 A small handful of nuts
👉 Vegetable “chips” (made in the air fryer or baked in the oven)
👉 Popcorn
👉 Pickles

🏖️ Ready to take a guilt-free vacation? 🌴

As a corporate wellness consultant and partner at a fast-paced law firm, I understand the struggle of leaving work behind. But it's possible to unplug and truly enjoy your time off! Here's how:

▫️Communicate: Let colleagues and clients know about your absence and provide clear instructions for coverage.
▫️Set Boundaries: Define your availability and what constitutes an emergency.
▫️Unplug: Turn off work notifications and permit yourself to relax.
▫️Enjoy: Use this time to savor the moment, your surroundings, and the company you're with.

Enjoying your vacation to the max will exponentially increase your well-being and productivity when you’re back in the office!

Did you know it takes 12 weeks to shift your lifestyle and build new habits?

I have designed a customizable 12-week Lifestyle Reboot Program that will take your lifestyle and wellness goals to the next level. You will create new habits that promote work-life harmony and complement your unique lifestyle in the areas of:

▫️Self-care
▫️Nutrition
▫️Physical Fitness
▫️Sleep Maintenance
▫️Stress Management
▫️Mindfulness

Want to build consistent routines and develop skills and tools to maintain lasting results to live your best life?

📲 Contact me! https://erincliffordwellness.com/contact/

Intuitive eating isn't just a trend—it's a non-diet approach to eating based on the idea that you eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full - instead of counting calories or following strict diets. The longer you practice intuitive eating, the easier it will be for you to recognize your body’s cues and make decisions about food that fuels you and makes you feel good. 🧘‍♂️🍎

Instead of relating your exercise program to weight loss, focus on how it makes you feel when you’re done (healthy, happy, accomplished, and sometimes tired too!)

When it comes to living healthfully – mentally and physically – there’s always room to make adjustments or improvements for a more beneficial result. Here are 5 strategies to help you improve your mental well-being.

Five Strategies to Improve Mental Well-being Chicago-based wellness coach Erin Clifford shares five strategies to improve mental well-being and live more healthfully - mentally and physically.

Phytonutrients give vegetables and fruits their colors and different colors are linked to different levels of nutrients. So, when it comes to selecting which vegetables and fruits to eat, strive to crowd in a rainbow of colors!

Carve out time this evening to indulge in a detox bath to unwind, soothe sore muscles, and induce sleep. This is the perfect remedy for after a busy weekend or any time that you feel the need for relaxation.

This crowd-pleasing sheet tray recipe is a great alternative to cooking on an outside grill if it’s too hot in your town this Memorial Day weekend. Plus, it includes a vegetable and a healthy carbohydrate. A complete meal done all at once!

🍗 Recipe here: https://tinyurl.com/bdhv9zv8

When was the last time you reached out to a friend just because?

Social connectedness improves an individual’s sense of belonging and elevates feelings of love, value, security, self-esteem, and appreciation. Fostering social connections may also help prevent chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, and dementia.

If you’ve been thinking about someone lately, I encourage you to reach out to them this weekend. ❤️

Why is self-care so important? One of the major benefits of practicing self-care is that it helps clear the mind.

A clear mind helps to reduce feelings of anxiety, stress, or worry and opens up space in your brain for more innovative and creative thinking. This, in turn, will boost your problem-solving skills and your interaction with others.

Tell me what your favorite self-care practice is!

Due to the challenges of the profession, many lawyers experience chronic stress and overwhelm in their lives but there are steps they can take so it doesn’t ruin their lives. I joined Dave Scrivens-Young on the Litigation Radio podcast to share strategies and tips on dealing with stress by building resilience, having routines, creating boundaries, and practicing self-care so lawyers (and anyone else) can lead lives that are healthier and happier. Listen now!

Lawyers Managing Stress: Living a Healthier, Happier, and Less Stressful Life - Legal Talk Network Attorneys live stressful lives, but it doesn’t have to ruin your health. Hear tips for dealing with stress and living a happier, less stressful life.

A reminder that we need to stay hydrated as the days warm up. This flat belly tonic is one of my favorite infused water recipes, especially good if you’re feeling bloated.

💛 Ginger root stimulates digestion and decreases inflammation
💛 Cucumber acts as a “coolant” for the stomach and can help balance sodium levels
💛 Lemon may help to improve digestion by boosting gastric acid secretion
💛 Mint leaves soothe the stomach and can aid in digestion

Happy Saturday! My weekend plans include a little spring cleaning, here’s why. 🧽🪣

When your space is clean, you will feel a boost mentally and physically which may include:

👉 Increase in productivity: Without the distraction of a messy area, the ability to focus on
the tasks at hand is greatly improved.
👉 Better overall “mood”: An organized area reduces feelings of anxiety and stress.
👉 Improved physical health: Cleaning – dusting, mopping, vacuuming – removes potential allergens such as mildew, dust, and pollen. Removing environmental pollutants can boost your immune health.

Hope I’ve motivated you to tidy and clean some space in your home this weekend.

It can be complicated to leave work behind when you go on vacation. But with a little planning, you can unplug to really enjoy your vacation. I will be part of an hour-long webinar offering tips and advice to help you get away without the guilt on Tuesday, May 21st! This is open to ABA members and non-members! Register today to save your spot:

How to Unplug and Take a “Real” Vacation from Work | Erin Clifford Corporate wellness coach Erin Clifford will be part of an ABA panel webinar about how to unplug and take a "real" vacation from work without guilt or stress.

Food gives us nourishment and energy and provides our bodies with the necessary fuel to function at full capacity. However, when it comes to what dietary pattern to follow (i.e., balanced, calorie-restriction, low-carb, high-protein, vegan, paleo, etc.,), it varies from person to person.
❓So how does an individual pick a dietary pattern to support their body?
👉 Choose a way of eating that focuses on nutrient-dense foods AND that you can easily follow for not just weeks, but months and years.

Maintaining work-life harmony and mental clarity in our fast-paced world is difficult! Individual lifestyle coaching is a great solution to:

▪️Stay focused and intentional
▪️Be held accountable
▪️Create tailored plans to reach personal and professional goals

Lifestyle coaching is not about quick fixes but about learning and developing tools to help you thrive on your wellness journey long after coaching is finished.

Interested? Get in touch with me here: https://erincliffordwellness.com/contact/

🌷 Happy Mother’s Day to the best Mom in the whole world. You are my dearest girlfriend and confidant. You’re truly my greatest role model for the woman I strive to be as I go through my life. One who is strong, intelligent, kind, and beautiful from the inside out. I feel so grateful to have you in my life. 💖

Slow carbohydrates, such as whole grains and starchy vegetables, can help crush cravings and increase the fiber and nutrients in your diet.

Enjoy a serving of these slow carbohydrates daily:
🌾 Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Quinoa, Barley, Whole Grain Breads
🥔 Starchy Vegetables: Sweet Potato, Russet Potato, Yam, Squash, Corn

Values are the fundamental beliefs that govern our lives and guide our life choices. Throughout life, your values may shift. Your values as a teenager may not be the same as your values as an adult, or your values may differ from those of family, coworkers, and friends.

Identifying your unique set of values is important for recognizing areas in your life that may need more attention. Take time to determine your values and how they relate to your wellness journey.

Action Item:
▪️Write down 10+ values that resonate with you.

Review your list and:
▪️Narrow it down to your top 5 values
▪️Write down why you selected those top 5 values

Challenge:
▪️For the next five weeks, choose one of your top values to focus on each week.

I love hearing feedback like this! Thank you! 😊

A way to ensure that exercise is a continuous part of your self-care routine is to treat it like a doctor’s appointment or an important meeting. Schedule it into your calendar and should you need to cancel, reschedule it for another day/time. Doing this with a workout partner also helps with accountability!

I have joined the American Bar Association’s Litigation News Board as the Attorney Health & Wellness columnist for the Litigation News magazine – a national news publication available online and in print that covers recent legal trends, offers analysis, and other hot topics including attorney wellness. Look for my first article in mid-summer!

Attorney Health & Wellness Columnist Announcement Erin Clifford has joined the American Bar Association’s Litigation News Board as the Attorney Health & Wellness columnist for their Litigation News magazine.

I have a firsthand understanding of how complicated it can be to leave work behind when you go on vacation. With a little planning, however, it is possible to unplug and take a “real” vacation! 🌊

Join me for a one-hour Zoom webinar on Tuesday, May 21st, on how to get away without the guilt. I am excited to be part of a panel of professionals who will be sharing advice and tips in this webinar hosted by the American Bar Association. This webinar is open to members and non-members. To register: https://tinyurl.com/5d8avch4

😊Feeling grateful today.