BarCARES Leadership on Lawyer Well-Being: Kayla Britt
May is not only Mental Health Awareness Month, but also Lawyer Well-Being Week — a time to raise awareness about mental health and encourage action and innovation across the profession year-round to improve well-being (wellbeingweek.org). We called on members of the NCBA BarCARES Initiative leadership team to share their own personal experiences with well-being to help us dive deeper into the meanings behind this annual observance and provide advice for bettering one’s own well-being as a legal professional.
Our next Q&A is with Kayla Britt, treasurer of the NCBA BarCARES Initiative, as well as an assistant attorney general with the N.C. Department of Justice and founder of Fairy Law Mother LLC Legal Resources:
Q: This year’s theme is “Tending Joy.” What does Tending Joy mean to you?
A: Tending joy means making intentional efforts to do the things that make you happy, even if only for a moment, among our chaotic schedules and depressing world news. Something as simple as doing 30 minutes of something you love can have a major impact on your outlook for the remainder of your day.
Q: Lawyer Well-Being Week follows a daily schedule where each day focuses on a distinct dimension of holistic well-being. How do you like to strive for each of these dimensions in your own life?
Monday — Physical Well-Being
A: For physical activity, I do weightlifting and cardio. I also love to go on trail walks and paddleboard! Physical is more than just working out to me, though. I love to physically be outdoors. I guess this could also fall under the spiritual component. Whether it’s working from home in my backyard, reading a book in a hammock at the local park or walking through the community garden, there’s something healing about being outdoors.
Tuesday — Spiritual Well-Being
A: Spiritually, I’m super in tune with water, so if I’m feeling drained or uncertain, I go out on my paddleboard to think and pray.
Wednesday — Career/Intellectual Well-Being
A: For career and intellectual well-being, I have the honor of having a side business that is a passion for me. It allows me to balance my real job while also being able to do things in my career that make me and others smile.
Thursday — Social Well-Being
A: Social. Whew, this is a big one because I don’t mind staying home, but I try to be intentional about leaving the house. Wednesday night trivia? Count me in! It’s such a nice breath of air. I also foster game nights with friends and encourage activities for all of us to do something we love together every month!
Friday — Emotional Well-Being
A: Emotional. I’m working on this one. I don’t really know what to say here other than identifying your triggers (for me, fact vs. fears) and finding ways to silence the noise and focus on the right now. I’m a huge advocate for therapy, but I’m not in it right now, so maybe we don’t address this one.
Q: Why is it important that we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month during May, but more specifically, Lawyer Well-Being Week?
A: It is important to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month in May, and specifically during Lawyer Well-Being Week, because our schedules sometimes cause us to overlook our mental health and the negative impacts it’s having on us. This week and month allow us a specific length of time when folks like us are saying, “That happens to me, too” or “I feel the same way,” and give us a moment to connect in those areas and make plans for the rest of the year.
Q: What advice do you have for other legal professionals who may be struggling with well-being?
A: If you’re struggling with well-being, I’d first say you’re not alone, and I know how cliche that sounds. So many of us are fighting every single day. BarCARES is a great resource to receive free and confidential services to help you work through the things that feel so heavy. Also, you’re not doing your best work if you’re not your best self, so don’t neglect yourself for the job. Any job.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about serving on the BarCARES Executive Committee?
A: My favorite thing about serving on BarCARES is the vulnerability and camaraderie. Everyone is there because they want to be there, because they have a story and because they want to make a positive impact on someone else. This isn’t a committee you join for professional self-promotion, but instead for the human connection and mental health empowerment. I feel so fortunate to work with this group of leaders.
BarCARES is a confidential, short-term intervention program provided cost-free to members of participating judicial district bars, voluntary bar associations and law schools. Learn more about the NCBA BarCARES Initiative.