Dear Jessica,

Summer is the first chance I’ve had to catch my breath. How do I use this time wisely without jumping straight into planning for next year?

Dear Catching My Breath,

First, let me offer a different perspective. The purpose of summer is not to maximize every available minute before August arrives. The purpose of summer is to create enough space to think clearly again. Many leaders spend the school year reacting to what is immediately in front of them. Meetings. Emails. Staffing. Student needs. Deadlines. By June, they’ve been running for months. Then summer arrives, and the instinct is to start running in a different direction. Planning. Organizing. Preparing. Improving.But before you jump into next year, start with the first rhythm of The Drip Effect:

Pause.

Not because you’re done leading. Because you’re creating space to lead better.

Ask yourself:

• What gave me energy this year?
• What drained it?
• What should we continue?
• What no longer deserves my attention?

Only then move to the second rhythm:

Clarify.

Before building a plan for next year, identify the two or three priorities that matter most. Not ten. Not twenty. Two or three. Once you know your priorities, take a hard look at your calendar. Because your schedule is often the clearest reflection of what you value. If your calendar is filled with commitments that don’t align with your most important goals, no amount of planning will create the focus you’re looking for. That’s one of the reasons I created the Master Your Schedule course. After working with school leaders across the country, I’ve learned that sustainable leadership isn’t about finding more time—it’s about intentionally aligning your time with what matters most. The leaders who feel the most in control of their work aren’t necessarily working fewer hours. They’re making deliberate choices about where their time and energy go.

Your Next Drip

Before opening your school improvement plan this week, spend thirty uninterrupted minutes reflecting on the year that just ended.

Then review your calendar for the next month and ask:

Does my schedule reflect my priorities, or just my obligations?

Jessica Cabeen

The most strategic thing you do this summer may not be planning for next year. It may be creating enough space to learn from this one.

Small Actions. Steady Pace. Lasting Impact.

— Jessica

Ready for Your Next Drip?

If this resonated with you, remember: sustainable leadership isn’t built through dramatic change. It’s built through intentional choices repeated over time.

→ Master Your Schedule
Align your time with what matters most and create a calendar that supports your priorities, not just your obligations.

→ Principal in Balance
Practical strategies for leading well at work and living well beyond it.

→ Speaking, Workshops & Coaching
Support for leaders and teams ready to move from hustle culture to sustainable impact.

---

Have a Leadership Question?

Leadership is rarely as simple as it looks from the outside.

If you’re carrying a challenge, wrestling with a decision, or simply looking for a fresh perspective, I’d love to hear from you.

Submit your question here: Question for Dr. Cabeen