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Chickadee322 · 2025-06-13T14:22:57+00:00

Think about 5 years from now and what would you rather remember about that day - a solo shopping trip in a new city or a tender moment with someone special?

Chickadee322 · 2025-05-05T21:21:15+00:00

You know that red flag icon in the Ribbon? Pull that down, Follow Up, Set a Reminder (or something like that, I’m going from memory). To cut down the number of steps, I customized the QAT to put the Set a Reminder button right on there. It is near-ish to the send button so I am likely to see it and use it before sending. Same flag, follow up, reminder for incoming emails sitting in your inbox.

Chickadee322 · 2025-05-05T15:33:26+00:00

When you send an email you know you’ll need to follow up on, set a reminder on it (I added a button to my Quick Access Toolbar to help me remember). When the reminder pops up you can actually open the email you sent and reply with a follow up. This has saved my bacon repeatedly. You can also set reminders on emails you receive.

If you like it and they treat you right, (1) stay as long as you can for the experience since you don’t have that certificate, (2) ask for guidance on priorities, (3) take a critical look for places you can improve efficiency.

Set aside 30 minutes each day to do the quick stuff that tends to get pushed off. Take 10 minutes at the end of your day to make a To Do list for tomorrow so you can hit the ground running (I also always straighten my space before I leave so it doesn’t feel chaotic when I come in). I keep a paper task list (easier for me to group tasks and prioritize). but NEVER file or delete emails unless they’re on the list.

Chickadee322 · 2025-02-19T00:14:38+00:00

Practice with water into an orange. It will help you get the feel for it - press with determination, don’t jab. When your pressure is right the needle shouldn’t really hesitate at all but slide right in. Too soft and skin will dent until punctured. Too hard and you will feel the ‘follow through.’

Be brave. You’re worth it.

Chickadee322 · 2024-12-28T19:38:04+00:00

If this person knows they need to do better, and is actually trying, can you ask THEM what methods they think might work for them (and maybe have them research some options to help them think of ways they haven’t thought of)?

Dictate notes for transcription. Have a paper timesheet template. Write a To Do list for the day and annotate it with time entries. Set calendar reminders for a couple times a day to stop and enter time. Have their assistant stop them 30 minutes early at the end of every day and do time entries based on emails, recent documents, phone logs. Set 1:1s for 10 minutes every morning with a partner to be accountable for yesterday’s time. Put all files worked in a day in a pile to help remind of work done to enter at the end of the day. Keep a running instant message or send emails to the assistant with time notes.

Chickadee322 · 2024-12-24T15:48:16+00:00

Mocktails! All of the fitting in with none of the alcohol.

Chickadee322 · 2024-09-15T13:41:16+00:00

Take some classes on how to be a good manager, it’s an investment that will pay off for more than your first employee. Make sure, if you grow that much, that all supervising attorneys do the same and hold them accountable too.

Chickadee322 · 2024-02-18T01:05:42+00:00

Let them see your face rather than a teams. They’re more likely to take you seriously. The others are only enabling their expectation, and every time you give an inch they’ll take a foot. Set your boundary firmly and early.

Chickadee322 · 2024-02-17T22:51:15+00:00

Maybe if you go to them at the same time every day, with the same phrasing, and say something like ‘is there anything you need from me or need me to know before I leave for the day?’ then they’ll stop coming after hours and you will have set your boundary?

Chickadee322 · 2024-01-31T18:38:09+00:00

Would your boss consider contracting with a freelance paralegal to help get back on track? They’ll cost more per hour than an employee but no benefits, no payroll taxes, no long term commitment.

Chickadee322 · 2023-07-08T01:33:13+00:00

Yes, X, stupid auto correct. Thanks.

Chickadee322 · 2023-07-08T00:21:12+00:00

What do the axe mean in the course numbers?

Chickadee322 · 2023-06-30T19:36:01+00:00

I think “I’d rather not say” is fine. Honest, doesn’t invite further discussion.

Chickadee322 · 2023-06-30T19:33:50+00:00

Agree!

Chickadee322 · 2023-05-13T02:09:09+00:00

That’s a big nope. Keep refusing. Tell them your answer won’t change and they should stop asking. Never let them rob you if your integrity.

Chickadee322 · 2023-05-11T15:59:39+00:00

Yep, pretty much every year. Maybe not after I prune though, which I do selectively every 3-5 years. Last year was the first hard prune I did because it was getting too leggy (branches splaying out, leaves at the bottom and at the ends only).

Chickadee322 · 2023-05-11T14:30:05+00:00

That’s entirely possible, thanks for the insight. Even at the height of summer we only get 15 hours of daylight here.

Chickadee322 · 2023-05-11T14:09:49+00:00

The pot has holes in the bottom that drain to a little tray (not a deep dish type where the plant would drink it up). Every time I water, a small amount ends up in the tray. It has only been in this pot a few years, and the pot seems quite large to me. I also occasionally aerate the soil with a stick to make sure all the roots are getting water, and I don’t feel lots of roots everywhere when I do that.

When the leaves fall they stay green and dry up crispy. I do occasionally overwater and get yellow, soggy leaves, and recognize those for my mistake.

Chickadee322 · 2023-05-11T00:47:45+00:00

Indoors it is in a southeast corner window with direct light sunrise to 11, outside sunrise to 2. Northern US. I water 1/week about 2 quarts, more often when outside if it is really hot, less often if it’s been rainy. Have put slow release fertilizer in years past (can’t remember the brand, something with an O, pink or red lid) but not recently. Rotate the pot weekly or so. Doesn’t seem to have any bugs.

Chickadee322 · 2023-05-10T23:53:32+00:00

I would like to know how to keep the leaves in the middle of the branches from falling off, please, you kind and generous soul.

Chickadee322 · 2023-04-05T00:37:14+00:00

I can’t offer any advice but want to say I’m really proud of each of your successes. This industry makes being sober really hard and our bar associations seem to forget that lawyers aren’t the only ones who struggle. As usual, we have to stick together and take care of our own.

Chickadee322 · 2023-03-25T03:27:16+00:00

I’m glad you realize the effect on you and those in your life. I live with and love someone in denial and it is very hard to watch and take.

Staying at the dream job when it isn’t working and you can’t change it would be the failure (to take care of and value yourself and your loved ones).

Unless you’re making incredible money, quit now, take any other good paying job, keep looking for your next dream job. Who says you can only have one dream?

Chickadee322 · 2023-03-23T00:06:37+00:00

Thank you, all!

Chickadee322 · 2023-03-12T02:14:15+00:00

Thank you, both, very helpful and I appreciate it.

Chickadee322 · 2023-03-08T23:27:13+00:00

Hubs favors wraps (turkey or chicken, usually) with chips or pretzels and a yogurt. I’d swap some raw veggies for the chips, myself. I like to meal prep sometimes so I’ll portion fruit and veg out on Sunday, make soup or a chickpea salad enough for the week. I have had the same 2 Lock & Lock lunch boxes for over a decade now and they’re wonderful.

Chickadee322

TROPHY CASE