How to recharge your leadership energy before the summer term arrives 

The holidays are just around the corner and for a lot of you, they probably can’t come soon enough. I wonder how many of you will reach the end of the break still feeling tired, already anticipating (perhaps with a hint of dread) the sprint to summer? 

If your leadership battery is running low, simply having time off won’t necessarily recharge it. The real difference comes from how you switch off and what you do with the time you have. 

Why waiting for summer to reset is risky 

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking, I’ll just push through until the summer, then I can properly recharge. While this might work in the short-term, leadership is a long game and burning yourself out now only makes the final term feel even heavier. 

The good news? You don’t need a long holiday to start feeling more energised. Small shifts in how you approach your time off can have a lasting impact, helping you return after the break feeling lighter and clearer. 

Chargers vs drainers: what really restores your energy? 

Not everything that feels like a ‘break’ is actually recharging. Some activities genuinely refuel you, while others just pass the time. 

Take a moment to reflect: 

• What do you normally do during a school holiday? 

• What actually leaves you feeling refreshed? 

• What tends to leave you feeling just as drained or maybe even more tired? 

This isn’t about packing your holiday full of ‘self-care’ activities, it’s about making space for the things that genuinely restore you; whether that’s proper rest, time with people who lift you up or activities that bring you joy. Maybe it’s even as simple as having time without any demands being made on you or your time. 

Three simple ways to recharge over Easter 

1. Switch off properly – Set clear boundaries for work. If you need to check emails, give yourself a strict time limit rather than keeping an eye on them all week. 

2. Do more of what truly restores you – Identify at least one activity that actually makes you feel better (not just one you think you ‘should’ do). 

3. Drop one energy drain – Notice what’s quietly exhausting you, even during the holidays. Can you give yourself permission to step away from it? 

The leadership long game 

School life, with its intense bursts of pressure and focus makes switching off and truly relaxing challenging for a lot of school leaders. But it’s important to remember that your energy levels aren’t just about getting through the next half-term and crawling into the next holiday, they shape how you show up, how you lead and how much you enjoy the job. 

So, before the break starts, consider taking a moment to decide:

What’s one thing I can do differently this time to make sure I come back feeling truly refreshed?