In November of 2018 I got stuck - literally. I got out of bed and was unable to move. The slightest effort sent electric shocks up and down my back. The eventual MRI revealed two ruptured disks from which a small piece had broken off and was pressing on a nerve cluster.
Could it have been prevented? Absolutely! I had been having back pain for months, but I was too busy to do anything about it. Instead, what followed were almost eight weeks of bed rest, nerve blockers, and cortisone shots until my body could heal. A good portion of that time was spent bargaining with God, making all kinds of promises to take better care of myself. Slowly but surely, my back did heal. And I did keep my promises.
Then came March 2020. The world was in crisis, and schools right along with it. Governments closed schools and we, fearless school leaders, were left to pivot to online learning, to become experts on the pandemic, and to develop health and safety protocols. Emergency calls and meetings with all levels of community and government became the norm. Along the way, the mental health of our students, our faculty, our staff, our parents, our families and our communities became our primary concern.
We are ambitious, overachieving, take-charge people. We fix problems–other people’s problems. But what good are we if we ourselves end up out of commission, laid out because our bodies finally tell us “Enough is enough?” Below are a few of the lessons I learned the hard way.
Limit Stress.
When you are done laughing at this one, please hear me out. I am referring to self-imposed stress, the “I shoulds,” as in “I should be doing [fill in the blank].” Over the past two and a half years, while trying to keep all the plates spinning at once, a good number of those plates crashed to the floor. Amazingly, no one noticed. There will be time for them eventually, but for now, stick to what must be done.
Don't skimp on sleep.
Sleep is a basic human need that is important for stress management, memory, weight management, reduced inflammation and to stave off depression. Sleep deprivation affects your mental health and wellbeing and your overall ability to cope. Go to bed at a decent hour and catch your zs.
Decide on a cut-off time and stick to it.
Select a time when you will end your workday. This means no more checking email, texts, or WhatsApps, having your work bag packed for the next day, and pushing away from your desk. Whatever work did not get done will still be there waiting for you in the morning. Odds are it will be easier to tackle after a good night’s sleep. I hate to break it to you, but you are not an ER doctor on call; even they get breaks.
Exercise daily.
In 2022, this one does not need further explanation. Still, do not create artificial obstacles for yourself. Stop researching the best exercise location or routine or equipment. Get up off the sofa, get out of bed, and go for a walk in whatever you are wearing–don’t even bother changing. It doesn’t matter what you do, just move. The fewer the obstacles, the more likely you are to get moving. Believe it or not, you may even come to enjoy it!
Join the 5am club.
Not to cram in more work, rather just to have a quiet moment in the day to be alone with your thoughts. We work in schools, those wonderful, noise-filled institutions. Having some time in the morning to sit with a warm drink cradled between your hands and just listen to the silence and hear yourself think can be quite restorative.
Rediscover your hobbies.
School leaders are ambitious and driven individuals who likely took part in all kinds of extracurricular activities when they were younger. When is the last time you played piano, painted or picked up some needlework? Having a hobby can have wonderful health benefits, and you don’t even have to be good at it. You enjoyed them once; why not give them another try?
Lean on others.
The desire to be strong or at least to be perceived as strong often prevents leaders from allowing themselves to be vulnerable. Find a trusted someone with whom you can openly discuss your challenges and concerns. Just being able to articulate our problems lessens their burden. Sometimes, a fresh perspective from a caring individual can make all the difference.
Reconnect with family and friends.
The past couple of years has shot our jobs into overdrive. We jump from one crisis to another and always seem to find the time to do so. Don’t keep putting your family on the back burner. Remember that these are people you love. Make time for them as well.
Breathe.
Take a few moments here and there in your day to inhale deeply and exhale deeply. No special technique required. It can be quite surprising to notice how shallow many of us are breathing throughout the day. A few slow, deep breaths can lower your heart rate and help focus your thoughts.
Show yourself some grace.
There is enough pressure for school leaders without us piling on more stress. Gentle that inner voice.
There is no script for leading schools in 2022. One thing is for sure: today, the job of school leadership is not what any of us signed up for. We have entered a new era of education where the old rules no longer apply. Embrace the freedom that this brings and rewrite the script. Your schools need you. Take the time to care for yourself, and put your oxygen masks on first. Right now, it’s the best investment you make for yourself and your schools.