Whether you are a seasoned attorney or a first-year associate, evaluating how you manage your time should be a priority. When every six minutes has a value, it is easy to get overwhelmed by never-ending professional and personal commitments. For lawyers, good time management habits increase productivity and efficiency, ultimately allowing us to accomplish tasks more effectively. But equally important, these skills can be instrumental in trying to reach a sustainable work/life balance. Though sometimes overlooked, time management is also a valued skill set that can help us safeguard mental well-being—an area receiving increasing attention in the legal profession.

Learning to prioritize is a skill—as well as a process. Attorneys play many roles, beyond practicing law. We develop business and help others develop theirs; we meet new people and maintain relationships with others; we stay current on the law, as well as the industries and interests of those we represent. We are also family members, friends, members of the community, and people who need time to climb rock walls, brew our own beer, hike hills and more. Time management is not an optional skill set; it is a necessary one. The time you invest in developing effective time-management skills will bring benefits not only in the early stages of your career, but also downrange, as partner, counsel, shareholder, in-house counsel or wherever life leads you.