Dear 3L, This is a mental-health check-in.

Dear 3L, This is a mental-health check-in. I don’t care: whatever your class rank, your post-law-school-job plan, or the numbers in your GPA. If you’re prone to anxiety & depression like me, the specter of law school ending may seem NOT A-OK.

As I’ve written about before, my anxiety got so debilitating during my 3L spring that I ended up lying flat on my back at home. (Link to full story in comments.) Please don’t let yourself get to that point.

The number of mental-health studies on law-student well-being is growing, and the statistics have become increasingly shocking.

—> One 2023 Clio study even says while <10% have mental-health issues before law school, a whopping 40% will graduate with them.

As for me, remembering to do an annual check-in each January has helped. It’s become my nudge to start preventive steps—

-upping my daily Vitamin D dose,
-forcing myself to get out and exercise more regularly, and
-surrounding myself with more color and natural light.

Featured among my self-care steps this year are some new art pieces from Heather Harrington. I first met Heather in the fall of 2021, and I’ve become quite a collector!

🗳️ What are YOU doing this winter to make sure you stay A-OK?

💌 Amanda
Jan 14, 2024

P.S. Check out Heather’s full collection at lifeandwhim dot com. You won’t be disappointed!

#Dear1L