Managing Stress and Anxiety at Work
Welcome to Note #1 from a Principal.
Each week, I share one honest reflection from life inside school leadership — to help you lead others without losing yourself.
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Stress and anxiety are part of a school leader’s everyday life—but they don’t have to take control. With reflection, openness, and smart strategies, we can build a more sustainable work environment—for ourselves and our schools.
The Impact of Stress in the Workplace
Work-related stress doesn’t just affect daily tasks—it often spills over into personal life. Many experience strained relationships with colleagues, reduced work quality, and a sense of not performing at the level they want. For school leaders juggling complex responsibilities, this can lead to a constant feeling of being behind, or the pressure to always be available.
Common Causes of Stress
Typical stressors include tight deadlines, quick decision-making, interpersonal tensions, and challenging personnel issues. In a school setting, these pressures are often intensified by sudden events—student issues, parental concerns, or unexpected organizational changes.
Strategies for Managing Stress and Anxiety
Here are some practical ways to respond to stress in the school environment:
Promote Openness Many avoid discussing stress or anxiety out of fear of seeming weak. As a leader, you can set the tone—talk about stress in a normal way and show that it’s okay to ask for help.
Provide Support and Tools Offer practical resources to manage stress—such as workshops, coaching, or mentorship for staff. It’s easy to forget what it’s like to be new in a role, and new colleagues often need more support than we realize.
Encourage Recovery Rest and recovery are essential. Build a culture where taking breaks is respected. Don’t normalize working while sick—encourage using sick leave, and let staff plan substitute-friendly lessons during in-service days.
Adapt Work Practices Flexibility reduces stress. Allow staff to shape parts of their day around their own rhythm and needs. Frameworks are good—but balance is better.
Automate and Prioritize Reduce unnecessary workload. Instead of voicemail, consider setting up an automatic SMS reply, such as:
“Hi! I’m currently unavailable. Please send a text or email me at [your address], and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you!” This lets you respond on your own terms and minimizes the feeling of always being “on call.”
Long-Term Sustainability
Stress may be part of the job—but it doesn’t have to dominate it. By actively managing your stress and creating systems that support wellbeing, you contribute to a healthier school culture. It’s not just about putting out fires—it’s about long-term change.
Acknowledging stress and managing it well isn’t a weakness. It’s leadership.