Hey Team,

As leaders, we're constantly bombarded with questions from everyone, expecting us to answer them on the spot to the best of our abilities. We give everything we have to others, but where does that leave us? Just like the flight attendant instructs, prioritize yourself first by putting on your air mask before helping others. It's not selfish; it's crucial for the well-being of the organization.

I understand that doing this can be challenging. I'm not one to take my own advice, but I urge you to make an effort over the next few months. This time of the school year is really tough, as you're planning for the end of the current year while also preparing for the upcoming one. It feels like an endless cycle, where finding time to step off the hamster wheel seems impossible. We encourage our staff to recharge and stay present, but as leaders, we struggle to find the right time for ourselves. We keep lying to ourselves about taking breaks, staying present, doing things we enjoy, disconnecting from work emails, and the list goes on... but do we ever do it? Many of us are wired this way, but at what cost?

If we honestly assess our current state on a scale of 1-10, how well are we performing both at work and at home? For me, I used to wear being overworked and exhausted as a badge of honor, without realizing the toll it took on my loved ones. I had nothing left to give because I was constantly drained. Despite claiming that my family was my top priority, my actions didn't align. I knew all the right things to say about wellness and self-care, but I never practiced them. I resembled a never-ending iPhone with every app running, never shutting down.

People in your life will tell you to slow down, not to stress, and to take time for yourself. However, if you're a leader, you know that taking much-needed time off often results in more work down the line. It's a vicious cycle that many of us struggle with and often lose. One eye-opening thing I read once was this: "They will have your job posted before they run your obituary." It's sad, but true!