President's page: Make space for your well-being this holiday season

Athena Dickson is 2025-2026 Missouri Bar president.

As the year draws to a close, many of us — myself included — find ourselves racing toward the finish line. We’re finalizing cases, wrapping up projects, attending professional holiday parties, and preparing for family gatherings — all while trying to make sense of a calendar that somehow feels both full and fleeting. 

The end of the year is often a time of reflection, celebration, and connection. But for lawyers, it can also be a season of intensified stress. Court deadlines don’t disappear for the holidays. Clients often want answers before the new year begins. Our personal calendars fill up quickly. And in the rush to complete everything, it’s easy to put our own well-being last. 

I offer a simple but important reminder: Your well-being matters. Not just for you, but for your clients, your colleagues, your families, and our profession. 

Practicing law is demanding in every season, but the year’s end brings its own unique pressures. Along with financial and professional expectations, many of us find ourselves navigating the emotional weight that often accompanies the holidays. For some, this is a season of joy and connection; for others, it can feel isolating or overwhelming. 

This will be my first holiday season without my dad, and I feel a sense of apprehension about what the holidays will look and feel like. 

As lawyers, we’re trained to focus on solving other people’s problems. But we are not immune to fatigue, anxiety, or burnout. In fact, studies over the last several decades have shown that lawyers experience higher rates of stress and mental health challenges than the general population. Acknowledging that truth is not a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of wisdom. 

One of the most powerful things we can do as a profession is normalize conversations about well-being. Mental health should be treated with the same seriousness and compassion as physical health. Mental health is health. Taking time off, setting boundaries, or reaching out for help should be seen not as weaknesses, but as essential parts of being an effective and ethical lawyer. 

Creating a culture that supports well-being starts with leadership, but it doesn’t end there. Each of us can help — by checking in on colleagues, modeling healthy habits, and extending grace to one another during this busy time.

As we move through the coming weeks, consider these reminders: 

– Set boundaries intentionally. Communicate clearly with clients and colleagues about your availability and give yourself permission to rest and recharge. While we want to complete every task before the year’s end, it is important to be realistic about what is achievable so expectations remain manageable. 

– Take real breaks. Even a few days away from work can offer valuable perspective. The greater challenge is not stepping away from the office but stepping away from email. Though disconnecting fully can be difficult, it allows us to be truly present in other areas of our lives. 

– Recognize the warning signs. Irritability, exhaustion, or difficulty concentrating can indicate it is time to slow down. Listen to what your body and mind are telling you, and take steps to restore balance before burnout sets in. 

– Reach out for support. Whether through friends, family, colleagues, or professionals, talking openly about challenges or worries makes a meaningful difference.

Remember that the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is a confidential resource available at no cost to all Missouri lawyers and judges, immediate family members who reside with them, and law students. If you or someone you know needs support, contact MOLAP at 1-800-688-7859. If it’s an emergency, call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

Reaching out is a sign of strength — and it can change lives. 

As we prepare to turn the page on another year, I encourage each of us to take stock not only of our professional accomplishments, but also of our personal well-being. Have you allowed yourself time to rest? Have you nurtured relationships outside of work? Have you given yourself permission to slow down, even briefly? 

The legal profession is a calling that demands much of us. Yet if we wish to continue serving our clients and communities, we must also care for ourselves. 

This holiday season, I hope you will create space for rest, connection, and reflection. Our work will be waiting for us in the new year. For now, let us allow ourselves a moment to pause, breathe, and simply be. 

Wishing you a peaceful and restorative holiday season.