School leadership is demanding work. 

Between managing staff, supporting students, navigating parent concerns, and meeting district expectations, leaders often run from crisis to crisis with little time to catch their breath. 

In this relentless environment, the concept of renewal can feel like a luxury rather than a necessity.

As a school leader in my second decade, I have faced just about every pitfall, dilemma, concern, and challenge out there

My first five years of school leadership felt like my hair was on fire all the time

Man, my first three months of school leadership just about did me in with one of the biggest dilemmas I’ve faced since

Finding some sense of renewal is key if you are going to survive and even flourish over the long haul

I’ve come to believe that the most effective school leaders understand that renewal isn't optional—it's essential for sustained impact. 

Without it, even the most passionate educators risk burnout, diminished decision-making capacity, and decreased effectiveness. 

Here are three renewal practices that school leaders consistently undervalue, along with practical ways to integrate them into the demanding rhythm of school life.

Most school leaders pride themselves on being accessible.

They respond to emails at all hours, take calls during dinner, and keep their phones nearby on weekends "just in case."

This constant availability feels responsible, even necessary. After all, schools are communities, and communities need responsive leaders.

The problem is that this approach is unsustainable. 

Research consistently shows that the absence of recovery time between work demands leads to chronic stress and impaired cognitive function. 

When leaders are always "on," they never allow their nervous systems to fully rest, which ultimately compromises their ability to think clearly and lead effectively.

Strategic boundary-setting doesn't mean becoming inaccessible or uncaring. 

It means creating structured communication windows that protect both your capacity and your team's autonomy. 

In my first five years of school administration, I was available pretty much 24/7, answering every email, every text, every call no matter the hour or day

That led to me being constantly “on” and constantly stressed with everything coming at me all the time

I made a firm commitment about three years ago to not answer any emails, texts, or phone calls after 8pm 

I tell our faculty, staff, and families that I am unavailable during that time and can only be reached if the emergency is Threat Level Midnight

I give the rest of our staff and faculty the same permission and invite them to communicate that to families as well

When you demonstrate that not every issue requires immediate response, you give others permission to do the same—and you create space for the deep thinking and reflection that complex leadership decisions require.

One other practical approach that has helped me:

Designating specific times for checking and responding to non-urgent communications. I set specific windows of time to sit down and dig through emails and communications and designated times when I am out in the building, greeting at the front door, listening in on classes, and being present with our learning community

You're responsible for the adults in your building, which means you can't always be vulnerable with them about your struggles or uncertainties. 

Yet without safe spaces for honest reflection and learning, leaders often repeat the same patterns and miss opportunities for growth.

Many districts offer principal meetings or professional development, but these gatherings often focus on compliance updates or district initiatives rather than substantive leadership challenges. 

What gets overlooked is the power of regular, ongoing peer learning communities with leaders from other schools or districts.

These communities work best when they're small, meet regularly, and establish clear norms around confidentiality and mutual support. 

I am fortunate enough to have two “Communities of Trust” with other school leaders from around the country that recenter me to the deeper purpose, meaning, and joy in the work

These communities are not for venting

The real value comes from collaborative problem-solving, exposure to different approaches, and the accountability that comes from articulating your challenges and commitments to peers who understand your context.

I meet with both groups through Zoom, and they are not only life giving, they are often life saving!

This kind of peer learning serves as professional renewal by reminding you that you're not alone, exposing you to new possibilities, and creating space for the kind of reflective thinking that daily operations squeeze out.

It's also where some of the most innovative solutions emerge—not from consultants or research studies, but from practitioners solving similar problems in real time.

In both groups, we set aside time to “chop up” problems or needs others are having in real time, and this has been some of the value-rich time I spend in personal and professional development

***HINT: This is the work I do for school leaders!!! If you are longing for a circle of trust within a community of practice, hit me up!!

And, if you want a real deep dive, I’m taking 15 school leaders on a pilgrimage to Ireland to create the next RecenterED School Leader Cohort. Check this out for more information: 

Most school leaders think of renewal in terms of vacations, weekends, or perhaps a rare morning without early meetings. These larger breaks matter, but they're insufficient on their own. 

The daily accumulation of stress requires daily practices of renewal—what are commonly called "micro-renewals."

Micro-renewals are brief practices that help reset your nervous system and restore your capacity for focused attention.

They might include a two-minute breathing exercise between meetings, a short walk around the building, stepping outside for fresh air, or even mindful transitions while moving from one location to another.

This practice taps into what author Eckhart Tolle calls the power of now. Most of us live too much in the past or future to really absorb the gratitude that exists in the NOW.

Cultivating a rhythm of practicing gratitude, extending thankfulness, and savoring the moments that drew us into education and leadership in the first place are powerful reminders of all that is Good and Praiseworthy in this work

The key is consistency and intentionality.

A five-minute practice done daily has far more impact than an hour-long yoga class you manage once a month.

These small practices work because they interrupt the stress response before it becomes chronic, allowing your body and mind to return to baseline rather than operating in a constant state of activation.

These three practices share a common thread: they all require intentional choices that may feel countercultural in environments that often equate busy-ness with commitment. Implementing them means recognizing that your capacity to lead effectively depends on your ability to sustain yourself.

The resistance to these practices often comes from internal narratives about what good leadership looks like. 

Many school leaders carry beliefs that accessibility equals caring, that struggling alone demonstrates strength, or that pausing means falling behind. 

Challenging these narratives is itself an act of renewal.

Start small. Choose one practice and commit to it for a month. Notice what changes—not just in how you feel, but in the quality of your decisions, your relationships with staff, and your capacity to handle the inevitable challenges that arise.

School leadership requires tremendous energy, emotional resilience, and cognitive flexibility. None of these are infinite resources.

The question isn't whether you can afford to prioritize renewal. 

It's whether you can afford not to

Did you know that everything I'm sharing in this newsletter series is also drawn out in robust detail in my resource: The Flourishing School Leader's Field Guide?

This field guide unpacks my personal operating system and walks you through proven strategies to rekindle passion, restore purpose, and create an ecosystem of hope and flourishing in your school community.

It’s essentially everything I cover in my executive coaching sessions in a DIY guide for ONLY $40 bucks!! 

Whether you’re feeling inspired and want to sustain your momentum—or exhausted and in need of renewal—this field guide is your companion for leading with courage, clarity, and care.