From Surviving to Thriving: Practical Strategies for School Leaders During the Holidays

Let's be real: The holiday season is exhausting. Between wrapping up the semester, managing staff morale, and keeping students engaged, school leaders are running on fumes. Here are five no-nonsense strategies to help you not just survive, but actually manage these final weeks with your sanity intact.

1. Simplify Your Commitments

Action Steps:

• Cancel one unnecessary meeting
• Delegate two tasks you'd normally do yourself
• Block two hours of uninterrupted work time on your calendar
• Say no to at least one holiday event or obligation

2. Staff Morale Boosters (That Don't Cost Much)

Quick Wins:

• Send five personalized thank-you notes to staff members
• Create a "treatment box" in the staff lounge with free coffee, snacks, and basic self-care items
• Implement a 15-minute "no-meeting" buffer between classes to give teachers breathing room
• Share a Google Form where staff can anonymously share their end-of-semester challenges or suggestions

3. Student Engagement Strategies

Practical Approaches:

• Design low-stakes, high-engagement activities for the last weeks
• Create structured breaks that allow movement and social connection
• Implement a "kindness challenge" that gives students positive goals
• Use project-based learning that allows creativity but maintains academic focus

4. Personal Energy Management

Survival Tactics:

• Schedule 30-minute blocks for actual lunch breaks
• Keep healthy, quick snacks in your office
• Use a 5-minute meditation app during transition times
• Set a hard stop time for work emails and stick to it

5. Strategic Planning for January

Must-Do Prep:

• Create a one-page reset document for January priorities
• Identify three key goals for the next semester
• Batch-prepare communication templates for staff and parents
• Do a quick inventory of resources and potential challenges

The Reality Check

You're tired. Your team is tired. The students are tired. This is normal. The goal isn't perfection—it's forward momentum.

Final Thought

Take care of yourself first. Everything else follows.

Personal Reflection

For me, Christmas is a profound reminder of God's love—a celebration of hope embodied in the birth of Jesus, and a blessing I'm grateful to share with my husband and two boys.

~Michelle