The Hidden Burnout Trap: Why Education Leaders Need a Balance Check Before the New Year

It’s December, which means I’m running on a cocktail of holiday adrenaline, strategic planning energy, and the creeping realization that something’s got to give. .

Can you relate?

Here’s my mid-year truth: I’m tired. Not the “I need a vacation” tired. The “I’m not sure this pace is sustainable” tired.

And the tricky part is, some things are lighting me up right now. Real, genuine fuel. But other things are quietly draining me, and I’ve been pretending they’re not. Sound familiar?

Mid-year is when the cracks start to show. Not because you’re failing, but because you’ve been running full speed since August, and nobody can sustain that pace without checking in on what’s actually working.

So I’m taking my own medicine. I’m doing the reflection I ask other leaders to do. And I’m sharing it here because I have a hunch you might need this checkpoint too. Let’s talk about balance, not as a buzzword, but as a strategy.

What’s Draining You? (And Why You Need to Name It)

Leadership isn’t just about what you’re doing. It’s about how you’re doing it and whether you can keep it up. Here’s what’s been draining me lately:

Professionally

Carrying workload that should be distributed. I know I need to delegate more. I know my team is capable. But in my head, I convinced myself it was easier (or kinder) to just handle it myself. But that’s not leadership. That’s martyrdom. And it doesn’t serve anyone: not me, not my team, not the work.

Personally

The holiday “extra-ness.” I love this season. I love the magic, the traditions, the planning. But somewhere along the way, I started believing that everything had to be done right now and done perfectly. My youngest still believes in Santa, and I want to soak up every second of his wonder. But I don’t need to stress myself into the ground to make that happen.

And here’s the kicker: I’ve been feeling guilty about taking care of myself.

• Guilty about meal prepping instead of answering one more email.
• Guilty about protecting my workout time.
• Guilty about organizing my space so I can think clearly.

But I know you can’t pour from an empty cup. And you’re not selfish for refilling yours.

If you’re carrying too much, running yourself ragged, or feeling like you have to do it all, this is your permission slip to stop. Name what’s draining you. Write it down. Look at it honestly. Because you can’t fix what you won’t name.

What’s Fueling You? (And Why You Need to Protect It)

Now here’s the good stuff. Even in the chaos, there are things lighting me up right now:

Personally

Watching my youngest son’s eyes light up during the holiday season. He still believes, and his big brothers are in on it. They’re planning Elf on the Shelf ideas, pretending to believe too, and keeping the magic alive. That wonder is contagious, and it reminds me why slowing down matters.

This is also the time of year my husband and I usually sneak away for a night to see our favorite band, Tropidelic. One night. No kids. Just music, connection, and a reminder that we’re more than just parents and professionals.

And if you know me, you know I LOVE football! IU is having another incredible season, and the Colts are playing better than they have in years. As season ticket holders, game days are more than entertainment; they’re an experience.

Professionally

My people. My community. My fellow change-makers.

Strategic planning with CoSN, building new partnerships with the Indiana CTO Council, dreaming big with the Ed-Fi Alliance Governance Advisory Team, making lists and checking them off with my team: this is where I come alive. I’m a planner and a people person, and when I get to do collaborative planning, dreaming, and moonshot thinking with smart, mission-driven leaders? That’s the fuel that sustains me.

These aren’t distractions from my leadership. They’re what make me a better leader.

Because balance isn’t about work-life separation. There is no such thing! It’s about integration. It’s about protecting the things that fill you up so you can keep showing up for the things that matter.

The Leadership Lesson: Balance Is a Strategy, Not a Luxury

Here’s what I’m learning (again) this mid-year:

Your Mid-Year Balance Check

So here’s my challenge for you: Take 5 minutes right now. Grab a notebook, open a doc, or pull up the notes app on your phone. Answer two questions:

• What’s draining me right now? (Be specific. Get honest. No one’s grading this.)
• What’s fueling me right now? (What lights you up? What do you need to protect?)

Don’t skip this. Don’t tell yourself you’ll do it later. The leaders who finish the year strong aren’t the ones who power through. They’re the ones who pause, assess, and adjust.

What’s Next?

This is just one checkpoint in the Mid-Year Mirror, my free reflection guide for education leaders who want to finish the year with clarity and purpose.

One Last Thing

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I don’t have time to reflect right now,” I get it. But the honest truth is you don’t have time NOT to. The pace you’re running right now is probably not sustainable. And if you don’t pause to check what’s fueling you and what’s draining you, you’ll hit February running on fumes and burning out.

You deserve better than that. Your team deserves better than that. So take the pause. Do the work. Lead forward, on purpose.