Executive Women's Networking Blog : Women Executive News & Information : Epstein Becker Green Law Firm : Business Development, Women Lawyers, Female Business Leaders

I was not surprised to see an article in The New York Times regarding the prevalence of insomnia among working mothers.

Last week, I attended a dinner of the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) General Counsel Institute. At the dinner table, I enjoyed interesting conversation with some accomplished women. We shared anecdotes of work, work-related travel, children, homework, and sleep – or, more accurately, our lack of sleep.

Women lawyers are often skilled multitaskers, driven to succeed at work and in their personal lives. Along with the responsibilities of the multiple roles of professional, spouse, and mother (and perhaps caregiver, volunteer, and friend, too), comes stress. Difficulty sleeping is a natural but unfortunate consequence of stress. According to a study cited in the article, 80 percent of women reported “being just too stressed or worried to turn out the proverbial lights.” The irresistible urge to check BlackBerry devices and iPhones before bedtime makes it even more difficult to wind down and fall asleep. (I’m certain that I am not the only one who pretends that I will rest better if I am sure that I have seen every email that may have arrived during the evening hours.) Waking at 3 or 4 a.m. with worries about the day ahead is also common.

Many women are resorting to prescription and over-the-counter treatments for their insomnia. “Nearly 3 in 10 American women fess up to using some kind of sleep aid at least a few nights a week,” The New York Times stated. Among 40 to 59 year olds, twice the number of women than men use prescription sleep aids.

Are professional women destined to a sleepless fate in this hyper-connected, 24/7 world? Are we sufficiently motivated to find solutions apart from pharmaceuticals or wine? The first step may be prioritizing our own well-being, and recognizing that we will be better able to respond to the stresses of the day if we get a good night’s sleep.

Wanted to give a “shout out” to the wonderful work of the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL). On July 20, 2011, the EpsteinBeckerGreen Women’s Initiative was privileged to sponsor a “Night of Giving” in conjunction with NAWL's Annual Meeting. For those professional women who read this blog and who are lawyers, NAWL is an organization that is about us and for us and – another good and professional way to network with successful women! The “Night of Giving” is a way that women attorneys, all of whom are members of NAWL, assist women and girls in various projects and organizations around the country that espouse the cause and champion the efforts of women in various academic and professional disciplines.

This most recent NAWL event was dedicated to benefitting the work of the Young Women’s Leadership Network (YWLN), a nonprofit organization that supports programs focused on helping urban youth break the cycle of poverty through college readiness and college access. Attendees at the event, who had been asked to bring various school supplies – from pens and pencils to thumb drives and phone cards – chatted, laughed, and listened to speakers as they wrapped journals to which they added their personal words of encouragement for the recipients. Speaking at the event, EBG partner Amy J. Traub, expressed the firm’s appreciation for the strong partnership that exists between NAWL and the EpsteinBeckerGreen Women’s Initiative:

It is through the efforts of the Women’s Initiative that EpsteinBeckerGreen was first introduced to NAWL. We stand behind NAWL and have formed our own internal EBG-NAWL Committee to help promote and foster the professional empowerment of women in the law and in the boardroom. We continue to look for ways to support NAWL’s efforts, and tonight is just one way that we can do that.

While some of us demonstrated better-honed wrapping skills than others, there was certainly no disparity when it came to generosity of spirit – just a group of women all giving of their time and energy to help smooth the path for the next generation of professional women – and having a really good time in the process!

During my career, I have encountered many worthwhile non-profit organizations that promote the interests of women. It’s vital that for-profit firms and companies become involved with women’s organizations—especially as event sponsors. Sponsorships not only provide the women's organization with critical financial assistance, but also help in marketing the event. 

I am very pleased that my firm, EpsteinBeckerGreen, has been involved with numerous women's organizations, such as the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) and Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC). NAWL is the leading national voluntary organization devoted to the interests of women lawyers and women's rights. The CCWC promotes the career advancement and success of women attorneys of color, as well as global diversity in the legal profession and workplace. 

EpsteinBeckerGreen has been proud to sponsor programs that enlighten, empower, and encourage women, as well as give back to the community. For example, during the Autumn of 2009, my firm: 

• Sponsored the CCWC's "5th Annual Career Strategies Conference" in Las Vegas, NV (Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2009).
• Sponsored and co-hosted NAWL's National Night of Giving in Atlanta, GA (Oct. 21, 2009). This charitable networking event benefited Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta, an organization that empowers girls to make good decisions and create healthy lifestyles. At this event, approximately 500 items were donated to Girls, Inc. -- ranging from sporting equipment to school supplies.
• Is sponsoring the "Fifth Annual General Corporate Institute" in New York, NY (Nov. 5 - 6, 2009). This NAWL event will provide attendees with a unique opportunity to network with a dynamic group of women in-house counsel from across the country. I, along with my EBG colleagues Lynn Shapiro Snyder and Amy Traub, will speak on topic "Focus on the Fundamentals: Labor and Employment law for the Non-Labor and Employment Lawyer." For more information about this event, click here.
   

Has your firm or company been involved with sponsoring events that promote the interests of women? If no, please encourage it to consider event sponsorships.

Are there any women's organizations that you would recommend to firms and companies for sponsorship opportunities?