First, thank you for noticing the weight of this season and naming it out loud. The holidays bring moments of beauty and connection, but also reminders of loss, loneliness, and exhaustion. As educators, we often hold both realities for others while trying to manage them within ourselves.

In my own leadership, I’ve learned that this time of year requires a rhythm of both holding and releasing:

• Hold space for students who need extra care. A quiet check-in, a note of encouragement, or a few extra minutes of grace can mean more than you’ll ever know.
  
  
• Release the need to make everything perfect—whether that’s the classroom celebration, your email inbox, or the holiday plans at home. Perfection isn’t the goal; presence is.

As you move through the next few weeks, consider a few small practices to stay grounded:

1. Create small pauses in your day. A brief prayer between classes, a walk after dismissal, or a moment of stillness before you start your car can reset your spirit.
   
   
2. Keep perspective. Students may act out more when routines shift or emotions run high. Respond with empathy first, correction second.
   
   
3. Anchor in gratitude. Notice the positive moments—a student’s smile, a kind word, a shared laugh—and let them remind you why you’re here.

When the season feels overwhelming, I often return to this reminder from Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 

Rest isn’t a reward for getting it all done; it’s a rhythm of grace we’re invited to enter.

How do you care for yourself while caring for others during this time of year?

Share your thoughts below—your rhythm of rest might become someone else’s reminder of hope.