A major premise of our ethics programs is that stress negatively impacts ethical decision-making, and that personal and professional stressors build on each other to the point where we are negatively impacted in both worlds. During a presentation of "Practicing Dirt law and Keeping Your Nose Clean" several years ago in Raleigh, North Carolina, we were discussing the various ways that participants "leave work at work," so as to be present with their loved ones and friends.

One participant shared a technique that works for him. He said that he always crosses a particular set of train tracks on his way home from the office. As he crosses the tracks, he imagines throwing a huge duffle bag full of the "stuff" from his day (problems, issues, pressures, deadlines etc.) by the side of the tracks. He imagines leaving them there for the night, and picking them up on his way back to the office the next day.

Although he acknowledged that it was not a perfect solution, and there were times that he needed to bring some of what's in the bag home, he reported that the technique helped him set stronger boundaries between his work and personal lives. I (Michael) do programs for mental health therapists, as well as lawyers, and have frequently shared this technique with them. (Lawyers sharing wisdom with therapists, how about that?!)