By: Mary Beth Kuenzel (FL)

Amy Wood, Psy.D., was the keynote speaker for this year’s virtual mid-year meeting of the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks, and she brought a fresh and practical perspective to a familiar challenge: managing the stress of our work. Drawing on her book, Lawyer Like an Athlete, Dr. Wood invited us to think differently—not about avoiding stress, but about using it.

Like elite athletes, she explained, we perform best not by eliminating pressure, but by balancing it with intentional recovery. Success, she noted, is built on four core elements: strong relationships, intentional self-care, meaningful diversions, and a grounded perspective.

Her message was both simple and powerful: the basics matter. Sleep, nutrition, exercise, and hydration are not luxuries.  They are the foundation for long-term performance. Establishing consistent morning and evening routines can help us start and end each day with focus and energy.

Dr. Wood also encouraged us to simplify. Her practical advice included:

• Let go of what you don’t need. 
• Keep only what adds value or purpose. 
• Maintain a clear, uncluttered workspace. 
• Streamline decisions to preserve mental energy. 

We build resilience, she emphasized, by leaning into what energizes us. What creates “flow” for one person may drain another, so understanding our own tendencies is key. When we invest in what naturally engages us, we are more productive and more fulfilled.

Energy, in Dr. Wood’s view, is a valuable currency. Spend it wisely. If you do your best thinking in the morning, protect that time for high-value work. If your energy peaks later in the day, structure your schedule accordingly. Aligning our work with our natural rhythms allows us to perform at our best.

One of the tips I loved was to “keep your eye on the why.” We do this work because we care—about justice, about the courts, and about the people we serve. While the day-to-day can be demanding, staying connected to that purpose helps us maintain perspective, set priorities, and move forward with intention. Planning things to look forward to and celebrating successes along the way will reinforce that sense of purpose. I find the why to be a touchstone that grounds me, and it lifts me on the toughest days.

Finally, Dr. Wood encouraged us to take smart, focused action: center on clear goals, break them into manageable steps, and look for small, consistent improvements. Progress doesn’t require sweeping change, just steady effort. And, like any athlete, we improve with practice.  

Dr. Wood welcomed continued conversation and can be contacted for follow-up at amywood@amywoodpsyd.com. Her book, Lawyer Like an Athlete: How to Up Your Game at Work and in Life, is available through the American Bar Association.  https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/444221770/  Her handout (below) contains great tips that you can apply now to clerk like an athlete!

Many thanks to President Scott Mitchell (AL) for organizing the mid-year meeting and to President-Elect Colette Bruggman (CA) for bringing such an engaging and inspiring speaker to the program.  I am reminded with this presentation of the gratitude I feel for our wonderful community of colleagues, where we can share ideas like these in an organization that values our well-being as much as the technical excellence of our work.  And I can’t wait to be with everyone in Austin!