The #1 Step Towards a Happier, Healthier YOU!
The office is busy. Life is busy. Things get crazy and hectic. Some days and weeks are worse than others. You’ve probably felt, at one point or another, that there was far too much to do and not enough time to do it all. This can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety—whether you’re an estate planning professional (such as an attorney, CPA, financial advisor, life insurance agent, or trust officer), or part of the equally essential support team.
Despite the chaos, one thing remains critically important: You must take care of yourself.
The Best Advice I Ever Received
I’ve shared this story before, but it bears repeating. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received came from my former associate, Megan. Shortly after she started working with me in 2011, she noticed I had my work email synced to my personal cell phone. No one asked me to do it. The company wasn’t paying my phone bill or compensating me for checking emails after hours. I did it to myself.
Being a bit of a Type-A, semi-OCD person, I hated seeing that little red notification badge showing unread messages. So I was constantly checking my phone—basically married to it—and by extension, married to my job.
Megan saw this and strongly advised me to remove my work email from my phone. I resisted at first, but eventually I took her advice.
What Happened When I Disconnected
The results were transformative.
I was finally able to disconnect and get a real break from work. My evenings and weekends became mine again—time I could spend with friends and family. My relationships improved. I had the freedom to pick up hobbies and travel. And surprisingly, the quality of my work improved too.
By not being tied to my email 24/7, I came into the office feeling happier, less stressed, and more refreshed. I could focus on the tasks at hand with greater ease and efficiency than ever before.
And here’s the kicker: clients, coworkers, and even my boss were still being taken care of. I responded to emails first thing in the morning, and that was enough. No one complained. No one was disappointed. The truth was, no one expected an immediate response to begin with. I had created that unrealistic expectation for myself.
A Lesson Worth Sharing
I remember a funny story that happened at one of our 2-day Ultimate Level events. I shared this story during the staff breakout session and it clearly resonated—probably to the dismay of a few attorney bosses in the room (Hi Scott and Tracey!👋🏼😂). Many attendees told me afterward that this was one of their biggest takeaways from the event.
They were already feeling the signs of burnout that come from never disconnecting. For them, hearing someone give permission to prioritize their well-being was exactly what they needed.
This Advice Is for the Attorney Business Owners Too!
And let me be clear: this advice isn’t just for the support team. Bosses, business owners, and estate planning professionals—this is for you too!
Email has made communication incredibly efficient, but it’s also created a culture of chronic stress. We’re constantly connected—glued to our phones, social media, and inboxes. But that nonstop connection comes at a cost.
Everyone needs a break. Picture yourself on a hamster wheel, never stepping off to rest, eat, sleep, or breathe. How long can you last? And at what cost—to your health, your family, your peace of mind? Funny enough, about a year after that Ultimate Level event, my attorney-client, Scott, sent me a photo of him on a beach while on family vacation. He said that it was the first time he had gone on vacation and didn’t call in or hear from anyone at the office! How amazing is that?!
Take the Challenge: Disconnect to Reconnect
So here’s my challenge to you: If you have work email on your personal phone, take it off.
See how it feels. Give yourself space to be fully present in your personal life. Let yourself recharge. You might be surprised how freeing it is—and how much better you perform at work because of it.
What’s the worst that could happen?
More importantly… what’s the best thing that could happen? 🤔
You won’t know unless you try.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kristina Schneider is a Practice Success Coach at The Ultimate Estate Planner, Inc. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University in 2004 and was hired right out of college to work for the Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, coordinating and facilitating Philip Kavesh’s “Missing Link” Boot Camps while also providing administrative support to Mr. Kavesh as his Executive Assistant for over seven years. Through her direct hands-on experience in Mr. Kavesh’s law firm, Kristina has assisted numerous estate planning professionals through The Ultimate Estate Planner and, equally as important, many of their staff members, in the successful implementation of Ultimate Estate Planner’s products and systems. In April 2025, Kristina graduated with her MBA with honors from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School.
Image courtesy of Sira Anamwong | FreeDigitalPhotos.net.