TL;DR:
- Being an administrator is hard.
- Mindfulness takes time but provides significant benefits.
A school leader’s day may begin with a 5:30 am alarm. Bus duty and car rider duty are usually in full swing by 7:30 am, earlier in some schools. Before the first bell rings, a principal may have an email from the central office, a phone call from five concerned parents, and a question from a department chair. During the 2021-22 school year, the complexity has multiplied. This school year, a principal may have three bus routes that are canceled due to a shortage of drivers, fifteen substitute teacher positions unfilled, a reduction in staff in the cafeteria which slows the breakfast serving line, and a front office administrative assistant who is in quarantine. Once the day begins, the administrator may serve as a substitute teacher or may supervise five classes at one time in the cafeteria.
Morning Mindfulness
Some administrators may laugh at the thought of mindfulness before work begins or taking time to pause during a school day that is filled with uncertainty and complexity. Graduate school may have provided administrators with leadership skills, the ability to serve as an instructional leader, and communication skills. However, graduate school did not prepare most administrators to practice mindfulness in the midst of a global pandemic. Goleman (2013) wrote, “A leader tuned out of his internal world will be rudderless; one blind to the world of others will be clueless; those indifferent to the larger systems within which they operate will be blindsided.”
You cannot effectively lead and support others if you have not practiced mindfulness. Click To TweetMindfulness Practices for School Administrators
Morning Routine
One part of the day that administrators can improve is the pre-game ritual. What is your morning routine? Do you spend the first hour of the morning scrolling through social media? Is the snooze button hit three times, waiting until the last minute to get ready for a new day? Do you exercise or meditate? Some leaders begin their day with a journal or time for reflection. A healthy breakfast and time to pause before the school day can kickstart an administrator’s day! Routines are important and your morning routine should not be left to chance. Analyze your morning routine to determine if you are more focused on mindfulness or mindlessness.
Breathing Routine
There are multiple strategies for breathing routines while you are in the car rider line, substitute teaching, in between meetings, during lunch duty, and before you make a phone call. Seaver (2020) shares 5 Mindfulness Breathing Exercises You Can Do Anywhere, Anytime. Administrators discuss feelings of stress, anxiety, sadness, and frustration. If these emotions go unchecked, it can lead to headaches, heart attacks, and illness. When you are intentional about breathing, you will have more focus, feel recharged, and ready to serve.
Create a Playlist
Athletes have a playlist that they listen to prior to the game. There are multiple options for creating a playlist. Administrators can create a calm playlist using songs or instrumental music on their phone or other device. Some days, you may need to get hyped and may benefit from songs that make you feel like you are running out of the tunnel with your name announced as a starter for the Super Bowl.
In addition to musical playlists, consider a visual playlist. A visual playlist can include your favorite quotes, verses, family photos, childhood memories, YouTube videos, and vacation photos. When you create a playlist, you can revisit it before an important meeting, during a five minute break, or before the faculty meeting. A playlist should provide inspiration and encouragement. This practice can remind you of the positive things in your life.
Write a Thank You Note to a Staff Member
Pausing to write a thank you note can take less than five minutes. This practice allows you to focus on others and it takes your mind off the challenges you are currently facing. The act of gratitude can be a game-changer for an administrator. You may find that you have time to write two additional notes before your next meeting. Showing gratitude is a form of mindfulness. Count your blessings and let a staff member know how much you appreciate their contributions to the school and to students.
Journaling
In a world filled with alerts and disruptions on our phones, devices, email alerts, and voicemails, it is easy to see how administrators cannot find time for mindfulness. Journaling supports self-reflection. If you are unable to journal during the school day, you may choose to block time on your calendar to reflect one night per week or every weekend.
Some basic prompts include the following:
- How did I add value to others this week?
- What were the highlights from this week?
- Did my calendar reflect my priorities and goals?
- Which hurdles need to be addressed or cleared in order for future success?
- How can I show grace and empathy to students and co-workers?
- What is one new thing I learned this week?
Drink Plenty of Water
This may seem trivial, but most administrators do not drink enough water throughout the day. Coffee, diet drinks, hot chocolate, tea, sports drinks, and energy drinks may be good for the 8:00 – 9:00 am sprint, but they cannot replace the nourishment needed for the daily marathon. Administrators need to be focused and present in meetings. They need to remain calm under pressure and seek first to understand. Try to keep a journal and monitor your daily water intake. Are you taking care of yourself so you can take care of others?
Body Scan
Body scan meditation can relieve physical tension experienced by administrators. A body scan involves paying attention to parts of the body. This simple activity can help you pause and focus on self-care. By bringing awareness to every single part of your body, you can better manage stress, anxiety, frustration, and pain. Stop Breathe Think (2017) provides a video on YouTube that helps you practice a Body Scan. Administrators spend their day focusing on the needs of students, staff, families, community members, and duties as assigned by their supervisor. Most administrators neglect their own health and emotions and this can lead to additional stress and fatigue.
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Ten Ways Mindfulness Supports Administrators
- Reduces Stress
- Improves Focus
- Increases Self-Awareness
- Improves Decision-Making
- Increases Creativity
- Boosts Concentration
- Provides Clarity
- Increases Empathy
- Boosts Energy Level(s)
- Increases Cognitive Flexibility
Jon Kabat-Zinn (2005) wrote, “Mindfulness practice means that we commit fully in each moment to be present; inviting ourselves to interface with this moment in full awareness, with the intention to embody as best we can an orientation of calmness, mindfulness, and equanimity right here and right now.”
Administrators may find it challenging to be present and practice mindfulness during the school day. School administrators often focus on data walls, classroom walk-throughs, the weekly newsletter, lunch duty, listening to staff, communicating with families, implementing district priorities, and supporting the whole child. You cannot effectively lead and support others if you have not practiced mindfulness.
“For leaders to get results they need all three kinds of focus. Inner focus attunes us to our intuitions, guiding values, and better decisions. Other focus smooths our connections to the people in our lives. And Outer Focus lets us navigate in the larger world” (Goleman, 2013). Mindfulness allows us to pause, reflect, and reset.
About Steven Weber
Dr. Steven Weber is the Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning with Fayetteville Public Schools (AR). His areas of research include curriculum design, formative assessment, professional learning, and school leadership.
