What is so scary about winter as a law graduate in a Sydney law firm?
In essence, the depressing change of season will coincide
with your graduate lawyer work load increasing. It will be raining constantly,
the howling wind will make it sound as though your building is about to
collapse, and the sun sets hours before you get to leave the office. The air
temperature in your building will never be warm enough because studies have
shown workers are more productive when they are slightly cold. Heaters are not
standard issue to law graduates.
If this is not enough to worry you, around this time of the
year your “honeymoon period” at your law firm comes to a close. The welcome
drinks, orientations and easy billable hours will end. You will be expected to
do real work, produce billable hours and you may even be changing rotations and
having to settle into a new team. Winter is the business end of the year,
especially around the EOFY. You will probably be working long hours to meet your
team’s annual billable targets. This is the reality of being a lawyer, but can
be a shock the first time around.
10 ways to survive the winter:
1.
Get sunlight
Standing in the shard of light coming in through the office
window does not count. Vitamin D deficiency is real among office workers. If
you have forgotten what Vitamin D is, it helps keep your bones strong and
healthy and has other general health benefits. Sunlight also releases
endorphins. Direct quote from Cancer Council Australia on how much sunlight you
need on a daily basis:
“In winter in the
southern parts of Australia, where UV radiation levels are less intense, people
may need about two to three hours of sunlight to the face, arms and hands, or
equivalent area of skin, spread over a week to maintain adequate vitamin D
levels. In winter in northern parts of Australia, people will continue to
maintain adequate vitamin D levels going about their day-to-day activities, so
it is not necessary to deliberately seek UV radiation exposure.”
Sydney is neither
in the North or South of Australia, so something in between will suffice. You
need to actually expose your skin. Your face and hands generally will not be enough.
2.
Eat and drink hot food
Not only is hot food comforting, it assists in heating up
your core temperature, which will be low from sitting down most of the morning.
Homemade soups are super healthy and nutritious and are a good choice. Salads
can be relegated to summer. Your tea addiction can also be useful to warm you up.
Tea is particularly nice after a windy and cold trek through Phillip Street to the
Supreme Court precinct.
3.
Produce endorphins
One of the easiest ways to produce endorphins is to move
around. This could be going to gym before work, but any kind of movement can
produce endorphins. You could walk to court instead of getting a taxi. You
could walk up the stairs to have a chat to a colleague on a different level.
You could go to the kitchen and do some stretches (while standing in a ray of
sunshine).
4.
Do things on the weekend
My theory about why winter seems so long and drawn out
sometimes is that people don’t do anything. Your weekend goes from “beach, walk
with friend, gym, catch up with friend for coffee, dinner out” to “sleep in,
sleep in some more, eat, watch TV, Facebook”. When you have too long to mull
over things and stay cooped up inside, things drag out. Make your life exciting
in winter by planning social activities for the weekend.
5.
Do things after work
The same reasoning applies as for (4). During summer, after
work usually includes a social or sporting activity. This often stops in
winter, where you may go straight home to your bed or the TV. This may seem
like a good idea, but it makes your week feel as though you were at work 100% of
the time.
6.
Talk to your colleagues about the weather
It may seem counter intuitive but talking to your colleagues
about the weather is team building and mood-lifting. I used to think talking
about the weather was uncreative and boring. Then I realised everyone in Sydney
is obsessed with it. You will come across as suspicious if you do not enjoy
talking about the weather. You could talk to your colleagues about anything and
get the same results, but the weather is a safe topic. Especially when you are
watching the hail fall on the other side of the window.
7.
Use your annual leave
Most law firms have a Christmas shut down where you will be
forced to use up to two weeks of your annual leave. You will have 10 days left.
Make sure you use them. There are no long weekends in winter, but you could
make one by using a day of annual leave. If you do not take annual leave there
is a risk of crash and burn and job performance issues. Studies have also shown
those who take their 20 days annual leave are healthier than those who do not
and have enhanced engagement levels.
8.
Do not go to work when you are sick
This should go without saying, but so many people go to work
sick and then infect all their colleagues. You have sick leave for a reason. Do
what is best for yourself and your firm and stay at home when you are
infectious. You should also opt in for the free influenza vaccine that most law
firms provide to staff.
9.
Invest in a foot heater
If you get cold easily, I recommend going to K-Mart and
buying your own foot heater. Sneakily install it under your desk where the
computer power points are. This can make a big difference to your quality of
life at work.
10.
Keep spare shoes and clothes at work
At least once a year you will get drenched by gutter water
from a passing bus while walking up George Street. Usually it is when you are
in your new shoes and just-dry cleaned coat. You will need spare shoes and
clothes at work for these occasions. You have been warned!
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