Navigating Tough Days As An Administrator

I’m sure we have all heard the saying “ fake it until you make it”. Some days are harder than others to make it through. The day to day demands of work can take its toll. When you are a campus leader sometimes it’s best not to show exactly how you feel.

Everyone has an off day from time to time. Balancing dealing with life’s issues while being productive at work can be a challenge. How do you take care of the people you are called to lead when you are not feeling like yourself?

There are some staff members that will notice that something is not right with you. They might even offer an encouraging word or offer to bring you something to cheer you up. There are others that take the stance that “you chose to be in a leadership role, so deal with it.” There are usually more people that are empathetic than those that are indifferent to your plight.

School leadership is hard. There are some things that school leaders deal with that will make your spirit heavy. There are waves of overwhelming sadness that can make you feel as though there is no hope.

When these feelings come over you, there has to be something that provides comfort. If possible, one may need to take some time to refocus. Listening to your favorite songs, meditating, or a quick phone call to a trusted friend, family member, or significant other sometimes does wonders for your mental health.

I often remind myself of the reason I do what I do. My reason for coming to work everyday is the success of our students. Their future depends on the efforts of the adults in the building. There is no time to waste.

A close second are teachers and staff that support our students. I enjoy engaging in conversation, whether it’s about academics or aspects of teachers personal lives that they choose to share. Offering suggestions and a listening ear help to enrich my experience.

Being a school leader comes with great responsibility. You have to have conviction about what drives you to want to come to work everyday. Hopefully, you have a mentor or a network of people that are doing similar work to you that you can confide in. Take care of yourself and keep things in the proper perspective. Our students, teachers, and parents need you.