When Jonathan White, a Massachusetts-based estate planning attorney and former college hockey player, felt the pressure of his expanding practice and the pandemic’s toll on his well-being, he returned to a familiar ally: exercise.

On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Steve and Jonathan’s conversation dives into Jonathan’s path from grappling with the anxiety of hiring his first employee to re-embracing fitness routines that brought balance back into his life. We unearth the moments where he chose health over more billable hours, demonstrating that prioritizing personal well-being is necessary for sustained professional success.

Steve recounts his fitness odyssey that began during the lockdowns of COVID-19, transforming an overloaded work schedule into a 209-week streak of Peloton workouts. Jonathan and Steve dissect the trade-offs between potential billable hours and physical and mental health benefits. We connect the dots between smaller fitness goals and bigger professional achievements, outlining how mental fortitude developed through exercise can positively ripple through every aspect of life.

Jonathan’s anecdotes underscore how structured exercise routines influenced significant business decisions, like shedding less rewarding parts of his practice to focus on what matters. We wrap up the conversation by exploring the broader implications of exercise in combating depression and anxiety, the power of gratitude journaling, and the essential role of setting and achieving big goals.

Join us for an episode that reveals how integrating physical fitness can elevate your professional and personal life.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Jonathan White's path from college hockey player to estate planning attorney

• The impact of COVID-19 on Jonathan's well-being

• The role of exercise in regaining balance

• How structured exercise routines influenced significant business decisions

• The trade-offs between billable hours and the benefits of physical and mental health

• The correlation between physical fitness and professional success, including increased income and improved decision-making

• Some practical tips on goal setting, consistency in exercise, and leveraging physical fitness for personal and professional growth

• The broader implications of exercise on combating depression, anxiety, and maintaining long-term mental health

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Supporting Resources:

Law Firm Coaching Program: atticusadvantage.com/coaching/ 

The Path to a Great Practice & Great Life: atticusadvantage.com/workshops/the-path-to-a-great-practice-great-life/ 

My Great Life Planner: atticusadvantage.com/books/my-great-life-planner/ 

Great Practice. Great Life. by Atticus – 048: Overcoming the Challenges of Making Your First Hire with Victor Medina and Johnathan White: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/overcoming-the-challenges-of-making-your-first-hire-with-victor-medina-and-jonathan-white/ 

Jordan & White, LLC: jordanwhitellc.com

The Five Minute Journal: a.co/d/0hzRmu6

Effect of Exercise for Depression: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-075847

Is Exercise More Effective than Medication for Depression and Anxiety: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/is-exercise-more-effective-than-medication-for-depression-and-anxiety

Effectiveness of Physical Exercise in the Treatment of Depression in Older Adults as an Alternative to Antidepressant Drugs in Primary Care: bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-018-1982-6

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.