When I wrote Principal in Balance, it was inspired by a moment in May 2021. I was deep in post-COVID leadership, juggling end-of-year chaos as a principal and the everyday joys (and challenges) of parenting two teenagers, one of whom I was racing to watch at a track meet.

Fast forward to May 2025, and I’m now preparing to say goodbye to that former middle school sprinter—this time as a high school senior.

May has a way of sneaking up on school leaders.

Just when you think the finish line is in sight—final exams, graduation, end-of-year reports—the full weight of the year settles on your shoulders. It’s a season filled with celebrations, goodbyes, deadlines, and decisions.

In the rush to wrap things up, we often find ourselves wrestling not just with responsibilities, but with rest.

We tell ourselves we’ll breathe once the students are gone, the keys are turned in, and the hallways fall quiet.

But real rest—true restoration—doesn’t automatically arrive with the last bell.
We have to choose it, even in the middle of the sprint.

Leadership burnout is real. It’s growing. And it’s personal.
As school leaders, we don’t just manage systems—we hold space for the hundreds of stories that walk our halls every day.

By May, that emotional weight adds up. Without intentional space to reflect, recalibrate, and protect our energy, we risk ending the year depleted and entering summer in survival mode.

The good news?
Rest isn’t something we earn after checking every box.
It’s something we can practice—even in the busiest seasons.

“Seeking balance will require you to use plateaus in the journey more than you think you should.”
— Principal in Balance

Instead of waiting for just one more week or one more crisis, leaders can build intentional plateaus now—simple pauses that protect our purpose and preserve our presence.

Three Small, But Powerful Strategies to Finish Strong

Reconnect With Your Why
Before diving into the to-do list each morning, pause. Why did you choose this work?
Write down one moment this week—no matter how small—where your purpose showed up.

Build Micro-Rest Into the Day
Schedule 5–10 minute breaks on your calendar like any other meeting. Step outside. Stretch. Reflect.
These aren’t indulgences. They’re investments in your leadership stamina.

Celebrate the Small Wins
Don’t let the big moments eclipse the quiet victories.
Each day, name three small wins: a student breakthrough, a well-timed email, a laugh with a colleague. Progress is worthy of celebration, no matter the size.

This year, I challenged myself to honor those micro-plateaus—even amid the chaos of building two high school master schedules, hiring new staff, and preparing to read names at graduation.

And every Friday, I kept one small but sacred commitment:
I ate lunch with my son, a soon-to-be graduate—for 25 minutes before he raced off to his next adventure. That simple pause meant more to my leadership (and my heart) than ten hours behind my desk.

You don’t have to finish the year frayed at the edges.
You can choose presence over pressure, reflection over racing, restoration over relentless productivity.

You deserve to cross the finish line—not just standing, but strong.

Jessica Cabeen

By choosing rest now, however small, you reclaim your joy, restore your purpose, and enter summer ready not just to recover…
but to become.

Here if you need me, 

Jessica
Need a few more tools to finish strong?
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