Lawyer Life Experiment

Do you ever ask yourself, “Am I even capable of becoming a partner, an impactful leader, building a business, or [insert your own dream here]?” In this episode, we explore what it means to feel stuck and ask who we really are - unpacking identity, is it fixed or flexible, nature vs. nurture, internal beliefs, and the glass ceilings we place on our potential. We examine how recognising our past choices can help us reclaim our power, and offer an identity exercise to help shift from feeling trapped to feeling in charge. Download the Identity exercise.We love hearing how experiments work out for you. Email us at and . Please rate, review and subscribe. (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

In this deeply personal episode, we open up about our own experiences with grief and how work showed up - both for better and worse. We explore the reality of grief at work, the fear of sharing and why colleagues often don't know what to say.We ask: (i) Why is grief so hard to talk about at work? (ii) How can we be more open about what we need when grieving? (iii) What role do colleagues and managers play in creating a safe space? (iv) Why flexible workplace policies around grief actually matter?We also challenge you with a simple but powerful experiment: If you're grieving, how can you share just a little bit more? If you're supporting someone, how can you show up in a way that truly helps?We hope you find this episode helpful. We love hearing how experiments work out for you. Email us at and . Please rate, review and subscribe. (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

In this episode, we delve into the value of visualising your future to set a clear direction, so that you can focus on what truly matters. We also share our approaches to end-of-year reflections, combining thoughtful insights with a bit of fun to round off the year meaningfully. We encourage you to take some time this holiday to reflect on 2024, so that you can mindfully enter 2025.We love hearing how experiments work out for you. Email us at and .Please rate, review and subscribe.(Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)We love hearing how experiments work out for you. Email us at and . Please rate, review and subscribe. (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

 In this episode, we reflect on how we approach the question of “What's next?”—whether it's short-term (1-2 years), mid-term (5-10 years), or long-term (retirement). This question often touches on sensitive topics like identity, relevance, purpose, fears of the unknown, finances, and the physical and health challenges of ageing (including menopause for women). Join us as we explore how to navigate these transitions smoothly and take control of your future. Our experiment for this episode is a visualisation exercise, a powerful tool from professional sports that can help you figure out what's next for you. We love hearing how experiments work out for you. Email us at and .Please rate, review and subscribe.(Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)We love hearing how experiments work out for you. Email us at and . Please rate, review and subscribe. (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

In this episode, Frieda and Anya dive into the nuanced differences between perfectionism and the pursuit of excellence, exploring how each mindset impacts personal and professional growth. The hypothesis for this episode is the following: “Perfection inhibits growth, while promotion of excellence promotes agility and growth.” Awareness of the triggers that lead to perfectionism is crucial, yet so is an understanding of how perfectionism affects our lives. Use the following questions to understand the effect of your perfectionist standards on your life: https://bravingboundaries.com/reevaluating-your-perfectionist-standards/We love hearing how experiments work out for you. Email us at and . Please rate, review and subscribe. (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

Feedback that is constructive—highlighting what you do well and identifying actionable areas for development—is great! But what do you do when you receive feedback that feels purely critical, that hits your confidence and self-esteem, that makes you ruminate on it, and that makes you play it safe next time? In this episode, Anya and Frieda discuss how to manage negative feedback well and use it to build your resilience, ultimately coming out stronger.We love hearing how experiments work out for you. Email us at and .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

In this episode, Frieda and Anya put the organisation's hat on to discuss whose responsibility it is to look after employee's mental health. Employee? Line manager? The org? We love hearing how experiments work out for you. Email us at and .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

"I should have been made partner by now. I'm a failure." "I can't manage the load - does this mean I am weak?" "I don't see anybody else complaining, so there is something wrong with me." "I should try harder!" "I sound really stupid." "Gosh, am I fat. What a slob." How do you speak to yourself? Is it with the same kindness you'd offer a loved one or is it laden with self-criticism? If the former, keep it up! But most likely, there are things you say to yourself that you would not say to a loved one. Welcome to the episode on kindness; you need it to have a fulfilling, long-lasting and successful life and career.We love hearing how experiments work out for you. Email us at and .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

Whether you're a seasoned reflector or a first-time voyager into end-of-year introspection, join us as we talk about how individuals and cultures around the world pause to ponder, learn and envision anew as they bid farewell to another year. We are believers that end-of-year reflection is good for you - for your brain, body and soul. It helps you notice your successes, and so it alleviates stress and lifts confidence, you discover something new about yourself, and it brings a sense of completion to the year that our human brain is craving for. We love hearing how experiments work out for you. Email us at and .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

In this episode of the Lawyer Life Experiment, Anya and Frieda go scientific! We delve into two psychological models to discuss the often unseen forces of influence that guide and shape our everyday decisions - the systems each of us is part of. Join us as we explain these two ways for you to look at the systems you are part of and reveal the profound impact they have on the choices that define your life.You can find the graphic representation of the models using search engines: Model 1 - The Seven-Eyed Model of SupervisionModel 2 - Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems ModelWe love hearing how experiments work out for you. Email us at and .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

Anyone can feel unsure about themselves, and people experience it in different ways. It ranges from healthy self-reflection (e.g., 'I'm not yet good at networking') to debilitating self-doubt (e.g., 'I can't ask for a promotion because I'm not worthy' or 'Someone will find out one day that I am a bad lawyer and a fraud'). In this episode, we explore that range, when self-evaluation turns unhealthy, and how we can build resilience and confidence. As always, we finish off with an experiment for you to try.Do send us your stories. We love hearing how experiments work out for you. Email us at and .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music. 

As Anya approaches her 40th birthday in September and with Frieda already having two years of experience in her 40s, we dive into a discussion about midlife. We explore the juggling act of family, caregiving, health and career challenges that define this phase of life. We share the invaluable lessons we've learned. We celebrate the unique gifts that midlife brings. Join us for an honest conversation as we navigate these complexities while embracing the new opportunities that come our way.We would love to hear your midlife stories! Email us at and .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

In this episode, Anya and Frieda explore the theme of getting unstuck in our romantic relationships and in our careers. We all sometimes find ourselves feeling lost or stuck, walking in a fog. These books take us on a journey of self-discovery, unconventional strategies for reinvention and finding your way when the path is unclear. Join us as we uncover the secrets to navigating career transitions and breaking free from unhealthy relationships.0m27s - Intro3m11s - Anya talks about the book that changed her career trajectory - "Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career" by Herminia Ibarra.20m55s - Frieda talks about the book "Mr Unavailable and the Fallback Girl” by Natalie Lue that appeared in her life at just the right time.We would love to hear your stories of getting unstuck in your career and romantic relationships! Email us your stories at and .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

We are trying something new this week! We love thought-provoking books and often share book recommendations with clients. In this episode, we each reflect on one book which we've found inspiring on our journeys as lawyers and coaches. 0m50s - we discuss the experiment of the previous episode "The Power of Pets in Stress Management"8m00s - Frieda talks about the book "Four Thousand Weeks". It's a thought-provoking exploration of embracing the finite nature of time and making the most of our limited weeks on this Earth.22m45s - Anya talks about the book "The Art of Possiblity" which presents 12 practices and mindset shifts for individuals seeking to redefine success, unleash their full potential, and create a more fulfilling and balanced life both personally and professionally.We would love to hear your feedback and suggestions for future episodes! Reach out to us at and .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

It is Mental Health Awareness month. Join us as we dive into the science-backed benefits of spending time with a pet, from reducing anxiety and depression to helping you balance your energy for a more sustainable career. Frieda's dogs even take part in her coaching sessions! As always, we finish with an experiment and you can already guess that it will involve spending time with animals!We would love to hear your thoughts. Please get in touch with Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

In this episode, Frieda and Anya explore the often-overlooked benefits of conflict. While most people view conflict as something negative to be avoided, we argue (no pun intended!) that conflict can be a powerful tool for positive change and improving relationships. Join us as we delve into how conflict can help us better understand ourselves and others, build stronger relationships, and improve workplace dynamics.We would love to hear your thoughts. Please get in touch with Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

In this episode, we explore the concept of choice in the legal profession. Lawyers are so aware of the legal rights, but how do we navigate the limits of our own autonomy, are lawyers truly in control of their own daily actions or are they following the rules set by the system? We'll talk about how our mindsets impact our daily choices. We will also touch on the concept of "power of choice" from Viktor Frankl, which holds that even in dire circumstances, one can always choose one's attitude and mindset.  Join us as we question if lawyers truly exercise choice in their daily lives.We would love to hear your thoughts. Please get in touch with Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

Join Anya and I for the final episode of 2022 as we reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly of 2022! Reflecting doesn't come naturally to a lot of people. Often, we just sweep the past under the rug and move on forwards without a second thought. However, it's actually really beneficial to acknowledge our achievements, to understand our challenges and to identify the things we've learned about ourselves and others, so that we can step into the future with intention. So grab a cuppa and come and have a giggle with us as we close off the year.Happy holidays!With Love, Frieda and Anya

With COP27 underway, we are reflecting on how climate change (and other world issues for this matter) affect lawyers personally. We have multiple elements in our life that want balance. Giving back affects us deeply. What we do might feel in dissonance with what we believe in. Or causes that matter to us might feel too big for us to change.  In this episode, we explore how we can express what matters to us within our lives in a way that is meaningful and available without having to drastically change our life.  We would love to hear your thoughts. Please get in touch with Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

If you've had enough of mental health training, this episode is for you! We have heard so much about mental health in the wake of Covid, we became immune to the word.In this episode, Frieda and Anya share personal stories to give you an insight into feelings, thoughts and other signs of when things are not going right and it's time to take action or ask for help. In fact, we'd encourage you to take action a step earlier than both podcasters did!You are your best tool. Hone it!We would love to hear your thoughts. Please get in touch with Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

Many people in the legal world changed jobs or quit their careers altogether during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, we explore the reasons WHY people are choosing to shake up their livelihoods and investigate new opportunities and different ways of working - both inside and outside the law.  We also discuss what HR teams and Managers can do to retain key talent in this post-COVID world.We would love to hear your thoughts. Please get in touch with Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

What beliefs do you hold about yourself around mistakes? Have you ever failed and what impact has it had on you? Join us as we talk about the psychology of failure and the impact of self-talk. Learn about association-disassociation from failure. And try the practical exercise on managing negative self-talk to build resilience, improve confidence and free up your potential.If you would like to do deeper work on confidence and rewrite disempowering self-talk, please get in touch with Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

Join us as we talk about effective communication. What it is, how to understand the impact your communication style has in your personal and professional life and how to improve your communication skills.If you would like to work on your impact further, please get in touch with Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

Time management is a highly valued skill in the corporate world. When professionals want to improve, they are told to keep track of their projects, prioritise, delegate, use time management tools to be your most efficient self with a dream to get to the bottom of your to do list (aka Pomodoro method).  In this episode, Frieda and Anya argue that this approach to time management as being more efficient glosses over the most important thing: what are you spending your time on. Time is your biggest asset and it's not only about work, it's about how we choose to spend the 40,000 weeks that we have on this earth. If it resonates with you and you would like to explore your professional and personal growth further, please get in touch: Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

More than two-thirds of lawyers (69%) have experienced mental ill health in 2021, according to the survey of around 1,700 legal professionals by legal charity LawCare. In this episode, Frieda and Anya explore how much the billable hour mindset has to contribute to this and what individuals, corporates and authorities can do about it. We challenge YOU to do this episode's mindset experiment - we believe that an individual's mindset shift can change the future of the legal profession.If it resonates with you and you would like to explore your professional and personal growth further, please get in touch: Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

We can be so driven to move on to the next task, the next stage, the next project, that we want to skip the celebration of our accomplishments and miss the chance to discover more about ourselves and the keys to our success. The end of the year is the perfect time to talk about how to close the year to support your growth and success. Happy holidays to everyone!If it resonates with you and you would like to explore your professional and personal growth further, please get in touch: Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

For working parents and their colleagues and managers. Tune in as Frieda (no kids) and Anya (mum of two) have an open conversation on how working parents are perceived in the workplace. Expect practical tips for working parents, their colleagues, managers and organisations. And listen to a view from the non-parent side too. Let's get a shared understanding of both sides of the coin. As always, we finish with an experiment for working parents and their colleagues to try out.If it resonates with you and you would like to explore your professional and personal growth further, please get in touch: Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

As we face the September blues, get back into work/school routine and start hybrid working, we talk about building the motivation that lasts to make the last quarter of the year count! Tune in as we share our tips for individuals and teams on creating healthy motivational habits and provide you with an experiment to try out to see if this helps you progress your goals and live a balanced and fulfilling life.If it resonates with you and you would like to explore your professional and personal growth further, please get in touch: Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

As we approach the holiday season, we talk about the power of play and fun in having a balanced and fulfilling life. Tune in as we share our best and worst of holidays and  provide you with an experiment to try out to see if this helps you to bring a mindful approach to holidays.If it resonates with you and you would like to explore your professional and personal growth further, please get in touch: Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

As hybrid working becomes the societal norm - we take a look into what strategies of hybrid working firms and corporates are adopting around the world. In this episode, we discuss the challenges and the opportunities of making hybrid working a success. Our experiment for this week introduces you to the leadership coaching tool: "Yes... And". Ready to get innovative in your approach to hybrid working? Enjoy the episode!If it resonates with you and you would like to explore your professional and personal growth further, please get in touch: Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

In this episode, we dare to go into the money and status topic. How much these define you, trap you and benefit you? How much they add or take away from your happiness? If it resonates with you and you would like to explore your professional and personal growth further, please get in touch: Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

The annual performance review / appraisal causes much stress for many a lawyer. How am I viewed? What should I say? How do I get that promotion? What is my value?In this episode, we share our own experiences with the appraisal process (the good, the bad and the ugly), discuss how to remove the stress from the annual performance review, and identify steps which you can take to make a real difference in your career progression.If it resonates with you and you would like to explore your professional and personal growth further, please get in touch: Frieda at and Anya at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

What a fantastic episode that was! All of us experience the fear of business development. From junior to senior to partner level. This week Frieda and Anya tackle the key challenges to lawyers acing business development, the reasons why it's important for a lawyer's career and how to become a natural at it (hint - it takes practice).Download the PDF to help with your experiment.Please rate, review and subscribe.   If it resonates with you and you would like to explore this topic further, reach out to Frieda at or to Anya at .  (Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.)

How would you describe a good leader? What traits do they have? What characteristics spring to mind? What examples of good leaders do you have in your life? This week Frieda and Anya take a look at leadership in the legal profession and discuss what makes a good leader during Covid-19 and beyond. Join them in this week's experiment which seeks to help identify and develop good leadership habits.Please rate, review and subscribe.   If any of the topics discussed on today's episode or on any previous episodes resonate with you and you would like to explore the topics further, then reach out to Anya at or to Frieda at .  Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

In this last of three episodes on relationships, we talk about the relationship with our Self, how the legal profession influences our identity and how to show up authentically. Download the values experiment form here (or copy-paste this in your browser: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10cNrVaciNRqTJfmxhiKtUIkMY_1tNEUw/view?usp=sharing).We would love to have your thoughts on our podcast, we are just two lawyers-coaches learning to podcast! Reach out to Anya at and to Frieda at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

Continuing February's theme of relationships, today, Frieda and Anya take a look at the impact our personal relationships (with our friends, our family and our loved ones) have on our lives. Relationships are powerful things: Good and healthy relationships (our assets) support us and gift us with renewed energy. Toxic relationships (our liabilities) empty our energy tank and drain us. Today we look at how to identify the relationships in our lives which are assets and liabilities; how to find a balance between the relationships that drain us and the relationships that support us; and how actively working on our supportive relationships will improve our progress and experience of happiness and fulfilment in our lives.00.25 - our findings from Episode 5's experiment: how we are triggered in toxic situations and strategies we use to cope with them 07.10 - introducing the concept of a system of relationships, transforming relationships from liabilities to assets + an 80-year long study on happiness19.20 - a mini-guided coaching session to help you explore your system of relationships and clarify which are assets and which are liabilities (Frieda bravely volunteered to be coached) 32.15 - hypothesis 32.55 - experiment on exploring your system of relationshipsEXPERIMENT: Click here to report back on the results of your experiment (or copy-paste this in your browser: https://forms.gle/GChc4kJf9wWenf159). YOUR THOUGHTS: Click here to leave us a review and suggest topics (or copy-paste this in your browser: https://forms.gle/d9SZKGJZjo8bbnbEA).  CONTACT US: If you are stuck in a rut, reach out to either of us for a complimentary chat. Reach out to Anya at and to Frieda at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

With Valentine's Day around the corner, we thought February would be a good month to explore relationships: the good, the bad and the ugly! So, of course, we decided to start with the toxic ones!00.25 - what we've learnt from the last experiment on maintaining motivation and taking action with our New Year resolutions  04.35 - what constitutes a toxic work environment and our experiences21.35 - The role of HR / your boss in resolving a toxic environment  25.35 - hypothesis  27.15 - experiment on identifying toxic environments in your work and life. Click here to download the worksheet for this experiment (or copy-paste this in your browser: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_8c1AVfqxaHEhkbS2OEmOrhvZcWniyyl/view?usp=sharing).  EXPERIMENT: Click here to report back on the results of your experiment (or copy-paste this in your browser: https://forms.gle/GChc4kJf9wWenf159).  YOUR THOUGHTS: Click here to leave us a review and suggest topics (or copy-paste this in your browser: https://forms.gle/d9SZKGJZjo8bbnbEA).  CONTACT US: If you are stuck in a rut, reach out to us for a no-obligation chat to clarify your issues and see if coaching is for you. Reach out to Anya at and to Frieda at .  Please rate, review and subscribe.   Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

In the last episode we mused on how to create New Year Resolutions that actually work! In this episode we take it one step further and discuss how to maintain the motivation throughout the year.  00.25 - what we've learnt from the last experiment on creating the vision for the year ahead  08.50 - what are the obstacles to sticking to the new year vision  12.50 - how to manage those obstacles  14.30 - hypothesis  14.40 - experiment on maintaining the motivation and going into action  EXPERIMENT: Click here to report back on the results of your experiment: https://forms.gle/GChc4kJf9wWenf159.  YOUR THOUGHTS: Click here to leave us a review and suggest topics: https://forms.gle/d9SZKGJZjo8bbnbEA.  REACH OUT: If you are stuck in a rut, reach out to us for a no-obligation chat to clarify your issues and see if coaching is for you. Reach out to Anya at https://postnatalrecovery.co.uk and to Frieda at https://bravingboundaries.com.  Subscribe, like and share.   Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

In this episode, Frieda and Anya reflect on how we usually make NY resolutions and let's be honest most of the time give them up by Feb, and how to make sustainable NY resolutions that really work and make our boat go faster towards happiness and success.00.25 - results of the previous experiment05.20 - NY resolutions discussion18.30 - hypothesis21.30 - NY resolutions experimentEXPERIMENT: Click here to report back on the results of your experiment: https://forms.gle/GChc4kJf9wWenf159. YOUR THOUGHTS: Click here to leave us a review and suggest topics: https://forms.gle/d9SZKGJZjo8bbnbEA. REACH OUT: Anya at https://postnatalrecovery.co.uk and Frieda at https://bravingboundaries.com.Subscribe, like and share. Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

This week's topic is Routine! Do you have a strict daily routine or do you take each day as it comes? Does your current routine make room for everything you want to do? Is your current routine a conscious choice or merely a habit you've fallen into? Join us as we explore the pros and cons of routines, Rafael Nadal's routine and how to use routine to build in more of what you love and want in your life.EXPERIMENT: Each episode has an experiment to try at home. Click here to report back on the results. YOUR THOUGHTS: Click here to leave us a review and suggest topics. REACH OUT: We love helping lawyers. Contact Frieda here and contact Anya here.Subscribe, like and share. Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.

Frieda and Anya talk about stress in lawyers' life, especially in these Covid-19 times.We discuss: how stress works, what's a normal stress response and what isn't one, striving for control, top tip for building resilience, the study on the power of positivity.  We finish off with an EXPERIMENT to try at home. All listeners are invited to take part in the experiment and click here to report back on the results: https://forms.gle/GChc4kJf9wWenf159. Please subscribe, like and share. Click here to leave us a review and suggest topics: https://forms.gle/d9SZKGJZjo8bbnbEA.  Reach out to us: Anya at www.postnatalrecovery.co.uk and Frieda at www.bravingboundaries.com.Thanks to tedefame from Pixabay for the music.