3 Ways to Sustain Joy in School Leadership

My first year as school principal started at the onset of a global pandemic, and it came with an immense weight that I never could have imagined. I felt this constant pressure to be “on,” to answer every email, join every virtual meeting, and solve every problem the moment it happened. The lines between my work and personal life blurred until they disappeared entirely. My phone was always in my hand, and the sound of every new work notification ping sent a jolt of anxiety through me.

One night, I was working on an Excel document well past 11:30 p.m. and realized that I hadn’t stopped to eat lunch or dinner that day. I was exhausted and felt like I was failing everyone, including myself. My passion for education, the very reason I became a principal, was being snuffed out by the never-ending demands.

As I talk with school leaders across the country, I know that my experience with burnout isn’t unique. Nationally, leaders are grappling with the same intense pressures every day. The work-life balance challenges I experienced years ago taught me a lot about the importance of setting boundaries, rediscovering my joy as a leader, and reclaiming my personal time.

1. Set Boundaries That Protect Your Energy

One of the biggest myths we buy into is that being a “good leader” means being available all the time. But here’s the truth: When you’re always accessible, you’re rarely fully present. We need recovery time, just like athletes. Without it, we make reactive decisions, feel resentful, and lose sight of why we loved this work in the first place. Setting boundaries doesn’t make you less committed; it makes you more sustainable.

Here’s language you can use when setting gentle, firm boundaries:

• “I’m currently with my family. I’ll follow up tomorrow during school hours.”
• “Thank you for considering me for this opportunity. Unfortunately, I cannot commit myself to it right now.”
• “This is a priority, but I can’t give it my best tonight. Let’s reconnect tomorrow.”

When leaders model this kind of clarity, it gives our teachers and staff permission to do the same. The culture shifts from burnout to balance.

For example, when our staff returned to full-time in-person instruction, I held a staff meeting to discuss expectations for work, especially after hours. I shared that while we all worked hard to be there for each other during virtual learning, many of us were feeling burned out and were unable to sustain that intense level of work. Therefore, I proposed a new schoolwide boundary. I told our staff that I would no longer send or respond to emails after school hours. I shared that my after-work hours were dedicated to my family and friends, and I encouraged everyone to adopt this new mindset. Initially, there was silence, but soon there was a collective sigh of relief and a high level of excitement among our colleagues.

2. Create Joyful Moments During the Day

We often think we need a vacation or a long weekend to recharge, but small moments of joy throughout the school day are powerful and much easier to access. Here’s a mindset shift: You don’t need to add anything new to your plate. You need to do more of what already brings you joy.

For me, it’s walking through classrooms without a specific agenda to see teachers and students. It’s laughing in the hallway with a staff member about a funny moment from the day. These are not distractions from leadership. They are needed for great leadership.

This past year, I transitioned to a new school and made it a priority to get to know all of our students. One group shared that they were starting a cheerleading club at recess to practice routines with their friends. Once I told them that I’d never been a cheerleader but always wanted to learn, they immediately invited me to join their club! Whenever I had a few minutes to spare between meetings or when I needed a mental reset, I went outside to recess to practice with the cheerleaders. By the end of the year, I learned several new cheer routines and  shared some wonderfully fun recess memories!

Joy is a trust-builder. It lowers stress. It reminds us that our job is to create schools where people want to be, and that starts with how we show up. What brings you joy during the day? Do more of that. It’s not extra—it’s essential.

3. Prioritize People You Love Without Guilt

Here’s the hardest truth I’ve had to learn: Schoolwork will always be there, but my time with the people I love isn’t guaranteed. If we want to stay in this work long-term, we must stop seeing our families and friends as something we fit in after everything else is finished. They are not separate from our work as school leaders. They help sustain us.

Here are a few shifts I’ve made:

• Blocking off evenings for our family activities and treating that time as nonnegotiable. Time with those we love the most is always well spent. Every year, school leaders are inevitably faced with scheduling conflicts that force us to make decisions between prioritizing work or prioritizing personal time. In those moments, it’s critical to remember that while there will always be school events, we cannot guarantee that there will always be time with our family and friends. Early in my leadership career, I never would have considered taking a day off from work to chaperone a field trip at my children’s school, but now I know that spending a fun day with my kids and their friends is always worth the quality time and memories!
• Choosing not to respond to work emails after 6 p.m. unless it’s an emergency. In the case of emergencies, staff know to call me directly.
• Giving myself permission to say “no” to another committee or optional event and “yes” to more time to rest. When we say “no,” we are creating space for the things we enjoy doing the most.

Boundaries like these are not signs of selfishness. They are signs of strength. You are modeling balance when you make healthy choices for yourself and your family. More important, you give others in your care permission to do the same.

Burnout is real, but it’s not inevitable. This job can be all-consuming if we let it be. As school leaders, we have the power and the responsibility to lead in ways that are sustainable and joyful. Boundaries aren’t barriers to doing our jobs; they are bridges that allow us to stay in the work, love the work, and lead well for the long haul. The next time you are faced with a decision to either spend more time hammering away at work-related tasks after school hours or spend more time with your family, make the choice to be with your family. When we lead from a sustainable place of joy, everyone wins.