Building Autonomy

One of the biggest drivers of burnout and dissatisfaction in big law isn’t the workload (although unmanageable workload does play a role)—it’s the feeling that you have no control over your day.

A low sense of autonomy can make even the best job feel overwhelming and generally not fun.

And yet: you have more control than you think, and it starts with your calendar.

I know the instinct—I can’t control my calendar, I have to be available.

Or—time blocking is too rigid, it prevents me from pivoting.

Time blocking and calendar mastery aren't about shutting yourself off or refusing to be flexible.

It’s about protecting space for deep work, focused thinking, and personal wellbeing—so you can actually deliver on the stuff that matters, so you can actually sustain the high-quality work product demanded of you.

It's about placing reminders on your calendar, consistently, that encourage you to choose, with consistent intention, what time you give up and what time you do not give up.

I block out “white space” on my calendar every week.

Sometimes it’s Monday mornings, sometimes it’s a Friday afternoon, sometimes it’s just one hour for a project that needs my full attention.

And, I calendar everything:

- my buffer time at the end of the day to conduct closing admin tasks
- my time with my husband or myself after work and before sleep
- my winddown, sleep, and morning routine hours

Do all these "blocks" remain every day or every week? No.

But, they remind me to be intentional about the decision or choice to interrupt that time; they remind me to ask, "Is there another time that works better for me?"

These blocks are not about hiding—they’re about making sure I have the bandwidth for strategic work, creative problem-solving, and yes, even rest.

Time blocking is a tool, not a wall.

It lets you be responsive and available for your team and clients, while also protecting your energy and your best work.

The more you practice calendar mastery, the more you’ll realize: autonomy isn’t out of reach. It’s a necessity for long-term success.

Recently, I got access to Claude's CoWork within Microsoft's CoPilot.

One thing I love using it for?

Once a week it reviews my calendar for the next week.

It identifies redundancies, overlaps, unblocked time for travel to and form hearings and depositions, and more.

It proposes modifications and asks me to approve proposed adjustments.

Then, it gets to work deleting, updating, and adding calendar appointments based on my needs and goals for that week.

If you want to grow in big law, if you want to create a sustainable career, being extremely intentional about your calendar is critical.

♥️✌🏻🔥