Lawyer Life Experiment
Hosts Anya Smirnova and Frieda Levycky use their experience as lawyers and coaches to address the myriad of day-to-day issues which make every lawyer question whether work-life balance is ever achievable. We know it is! Join us every couple of weeks as we set theories and test out ways to help you have more balance, better health and more fulfilment in your lives. | Find more about Frieda's work here: https://bravingboundaries.com/ | Find more about Anya's work here: https://anyasmirnova.com/
Episodes
37 episodes
# 37 Perfectionism vs Pursuit of Excellence
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: “Perf...
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Season 3
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Episode 37
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34:12
#36 How To Manage Negative Feedback Well
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 make...
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Season 3
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Episode 36
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29:53
#35 Cultivating Healthy Corporate Culture
This month's episode focuses on how to cultivate workplace wellness and create a mentally healthy culture in the corporate environment. Amongst other things, Anya and Frieda explore why mental health is still an issue in big corporates (particu...
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Season 3
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Episode 35
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34:17
#34 A Word on Kindness
"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, a...
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Season 3
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Episode 34
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33:44
#33 Reflections & Intentions: 2023 Year-End Special
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 33
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31:52
#32 The Invisible Hand: How Systems Shape Our Decisions
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 32
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33:11
# 31 I'm Not Good Enough
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 ...
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Season 3
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Episode 31
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29:41
#30 Celebrating Midlife
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 d...
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Season 3
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Episode 30
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29:35
#29 Book Talk: "Working Identity" and "Mr Unavailable and The Fallback Girl"
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,...
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Season 3
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Episode 29
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37:44
#28 Book Talk: "Four Thousand Weeks" and "The Art of Possibility"
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. ...
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Season 3
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Episode 28
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39:31
#27 The power of pets in stress management
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 27
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29:53
#26 The Joys of Conflict
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 im...
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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33:16
#25 Connected vs Contactable. Musings on the power of choice.
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 foll...
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Season 3
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Episode 25
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22:07
#24 Reflections: Look Back to Move Forward
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 thoug...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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38:16
#23 Fighting for a Cause
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 di...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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23:11
#22 Mental health stories
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 ins...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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25:28
#21 Retaining talent following The Great Resignation
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 diffe...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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30:34
#20 When lawyers meet failure
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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29:16
#19 Effective communication
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 you...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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32:08
#18 Time management: work and beyond
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 g...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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14:02
#16 Mental health and billable hour
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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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29:52
#17 Closing the year to support your growth and success
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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28:56
#15 The guilt of the working parent
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 colleague...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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34:06
#14 September Motivation
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 c...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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31:26