Leadership is one of my favorite topics to explore—I love learning about it, discussing it, and coaching my students to develop their own leadership skills. However, leadership isn’t just rewarding; it’s also challenging. The mental load that comes with leading is heavy, and as the co-founder of Coastside Leadership Academy, running a startup non-profit has sometimes felt all-consuming. To maintain balance, I have developed strategies that help me set boundaries between Claire the leader and Claire the person. The following three strategies are instrumental in protecting my mental health and sustaining my leadership journey.
At the end of every school day, the first thing I do when I get home is wash my hands. This simple act serves as a physical ritual that marks the end of my workday. As I wash, I imagine rinsing away any lingering energy I may have picked up—whether from student interactions, phone calls, emails, or even traffic. Once my hands are clean, I make a conscious effort to leave work behind until the next morning.
At first, I had to train myself to do this consistently, but after about a month, it became a habit. Physical rituals like this are a powerful way to mentally transition from work to personal time. Other options include changing clothes, having a snack, drinking a glass of water, or taking a short walk. Each of these small actions serves as a signal that it’s time to put down the mental load and shift gears for the rest of the day.
As a school leader, I have experienced many sleepless nights filled with what I call “3am thoughts”—when my mind won’t stop racing about work. Journaling often helps me process these thoughts, but sometimes I need a different way to set them aside.
To manage this, I use a visualization technique during meditation. I imagine placing my thoughts into “containers” outside of my mind, giving them a safe place to rest. For example, when I am preoccupied with CLA, I picture putting those thoughts into the chestnut tree to hold for me. If my thoughts are about softball or pitching lessons, I place them in my softball bucket and close the lid. Sometimes, the thoughts try to escape, but when that happens, I gently remind them to return to their container for the night.
Once my thoughts are stored away, I focus on falling back asleep. The first time I did this, I felt an unexpected sense of emptiness—without my worries, to-do lists, and mental noise, it was just me. At first, this felt unsettling, but I soon realized it was exactly what I needed. With a few deep breaths, the discomfort faded, and I was finally able to rest.
Another strategy that helps me maintain balance is scheduling time for fun, play, or rest on my calendar. Since I rely on my calendar to manage my busy schedule, anything I add to it becomes a priority. For example, I enjoy a Thursday night yoga class, so I make sure to schedule it every week, ensuring that I protect that time for myself.
As a leader, I have learned that to effectively serve others, I must first take care of myself. The three strategies I have adopted—using a physical ritual to mark the end of my day, visualizing a thought container to help me sleep, and intentionally scheduling time for myself—are crucial in maintaining balance and protecting my well-being. By prioritizing these practices, I am better equipped to lead with clarity, energy, and purpose.
