When I was a young, hotshot lawyer three decades ago, I had little time for anything outside my demanding corporate law career. Eighty-hour work weeks were the norm. Weekends were for catching up, not hobbies or relaxation.
In my limited off hours, one of the first activities I had to cut out was my morning swim. I used to do laps at the local pool several times a week before heading to the office. But as I climbed the ranks to senior partner, even that small indulgence became impossible. I told myself I’d get back to it someday. But the years flew by in a blur of briefs, contracts, and conference calls.
Now at 62, with more seniority and control over my schedule, I’m thrilled to have reclaimed some “me time.” And the first thing I did was dive back into the pool. Swimming is not only a great low-impact workout for creaky knees and joints, but it’s also tremendously restorative for the mind and spirit.
Gliding through the cool, quiet water washes away the stresses of high-stakes litigation and demanding clients. As I’ve reincorporated regular swims into my routine, I’ve found they make me sharper, calmer, and more creative back at my desk.
Just 30 minutes in the pool leaves me feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle challenges with fresh energy and perspective. The tension I habitually carry in my shoulders and jaw unclenches. I’m reminded there’s a whole world outside my corner office. Reconnecting with swimming has genuinely improved my overall quality of life and made me a better lawyer. I’m more patient, focused, and clear-headed.
In addition, over time, I’ve formed friendships with fellow swimmers who provide motivation and accountability. Knowing that familiar faces will be at the pool expecting to see me gives me that extra push to show up, even on days when I might feel less inclined.
On those rare occasions when I do skip a swim, I find myself questioning my decision and recognizing the positive impact swimming has on my overall well-being.
Reflecting on it, I’ve realized swimming provides a perfect metaphor for enduring and thriving in the legal profession. Like a long swim, a legal career is about pacing yourself. You can’t sprint the whole way—you need to find a sustainable rhythm.
Sometimes you’re fighting against rough waves or currents; other times you’re carried by the tide. But you keep stroking, one arm after the other. There’s something deeply satisfying about that consistency and persistence, both in the pool and at the firm.
The changing conditions in a swim also mirror how the practice of law keeps evolving. What worked for me in the pool years ago doesn’t necessarily apply now.
Like swimmers, lawyers need to adapt their style to shifting circumstances. We have to periodically reinvent ourselves and our practices to stay afloat in new environments. For me, that meant embracing new technologies, exploring alternative fee arrangements, and collaborating with colleagues in new ways. It keeps me on my toes.
I’ve also found swimming provides a wonderful opportunity for mindfulness and reflection. Watching the sun sparkle on the water’s surface or the orderly, geometric tiling at the bottom of the pool creates a Zen-like calm. The rhythmic splashing and bubbles become a kind of meditation.
Some of my best brainstorms for tackling thorny legal issues have come to me in the middle of a backstroke set. Insights seem to percolate up effortlessly when I’m not actively straining for them.
At the end of a swim, I always feel lighter, refreshed, and restored. The nagging worries and irritations I carry into the pool dissolve away, leaving a sense of placid well-being. I may not move as nimbly on land as I once did, but in the water, I’m still lithe and limber. It’s an invigorating feeling. I bound up the pool ladder with a spring in my step, ready to bring that buoyancy and optimism to my work and life on dry land.
So my advice to my fellow senior legal eagles is this: Make time for a hobby that takes you outside yourself and the all-consuming demands of your work. For me, that meant returning to the joys and benefits of regular swims.
Even if it’s just a quick dip a couple of times a week, it makes a huge difference. The water is restorative, and it’s a reminder to stay buoyant, in body and spirit. I only wish I hadn’t let this deeply rewarding habit lapse during the many decades I spent climbing the corporate ladder. But I’m making up for lost time now, one lap at a time. See you in the pool!
