I used to wake up at night worrying. Then I Started Doing This.
Written by Andrew Murray, former Principal and Director, Lumina Consulting
Health & Wellbeing in Education
Leadership in education is often equated with constant availability. Be present. Be accessible. Keep your door open. Yet, at what point does this expectation shift from dedication to depletion?
The 2019 Teacher and Principal Health and Wellbeing Survey highlights the growing strain: 75% of school leaders work more than 50 hours per week, with 27% exceeding 60 hours. Educators report higher rates of burnout, stress, and depressive symptoms than the general population, with administrative responsibilities, student welfare, and school culture pressures compounding into chronic exhaustion.
I know this reality well. For years, I woke up at 1 AM, my mind racing—anxious about staff well-being, school outcomes, and an ever-expanding to-do list. My leadership had become reactive rather than strategic. My energy was scattered rather than focused.
Then, something changed.Not another leadership framework. Not another professional development course. The turning point? I closed my door. Not all day. Not even for half the day. Just one hour. That hour became my sanctuary—a space to reflect, recalibrate, and lead with greater clarity and intent.
The most effective school leaders don’t simply react; they respond with wisdom. And wisdom requires space.
Schools are complex, adaptive systems where leadership is not about control but about cultivating an environment where people thrive. The strongest school leaders are not merely decision-makers; they are connectors who cultivate trust, stability, and collaboration. Leadership that prioritises deep thinking and systemic trust-building creates the conditions for sustainable success.
Closing my door was not about isolation—it was about creating the conditions for focused, deliberate leadership. It was the habit of building intentional space
What if your leadership wasn’t defined by overwhelm? What if, instead of waking at one in the morning, burdened by worry, you woke each day with a sense of clarity and direction?
The key is establishing a leadership habit of intentional space. It starts with one protected hour—your time to think, plan, and recenter.
If you commit to this practice, consider where you might be in six months: your decisions will flow from wisdom, not worry, as you shift from reacting to daily crises to making choices with strategic clarity. Your team culture will radiate energy, not exhaustion, as setting the tone for balance and sustainability encourages your staff to follow suit. Most importantly, your impact will deepen while your stress diminishes, allowing you to focus on what truly matters—your people and your mission.
Traditional leadership models often take a linear approach—identify a challenge, apply a solution, move forward. But real leadership is not mechanical; it is organic.
Recently, I have been thinking of a more adaptive, ecosystemic approach:
Cultivating relationships. Leadership starts with trust, empathy, and shared purpose. Closing the door allows school leaders to reset, reconnect, and reinforce relational integrity.
Facilitating systemic change. Effective leaders do not chase short-term solutions—they design conditions for lasting impact. Protected time is essential for deep thinking and long-term visioning.
Thriving ecosystems. Leadership is not about pushing harder—it’s about leading smarter. When school leaders operate with intentionality, their entire school community flourishes.
A school leader I worked with understood this well. Rather than constantly firefighting, he took a step back, reflected, and began to weave a school culture that balanced innovation with well-being. The result? A thriving, engaged leadership team, reduced burnout, and improved decision-making.
Many school leaders resist this idea because they equate availability with effectiveness. Yet, research and experience suggest otherwise. A constantly reactive leader is not an effective leader. In contrast, a leader who creates space for deep thinking leads with clarity, purpose, and impact.
Closing the door isn’t just a physical act—it is a strategic leadership discipline. It’s about protecting time for high-level decision-making, creative problem-solving, and personal renewal. By closing your door—even briefly—you are not shutting people out; you are creating the conditions to be fully present when you engage.
It’s time to lead differently. If you’ve ever woken up at 1 AM, your mind racing with concerns, this is your opportunity to change the way you lead. Start today—protect 30 minutes, make it a habit rather than an afterthought, and observe how your leadership transforms.
The best school leaders don’t just manage the moment—they create the space to lead with clarity, confidence, and impact. And if today feels overwhelming, remember: the sun will rise again tomorrow, and with it comes a new day—a fresh opportunity to lead with intention.
Join Andrew at the Wellbeing for Future Focused Schools Conference, where he will share practical strategies to help school leaders thrive—without burnout.
📍 Brisbane: 31 July - 1 August 2025 | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
📍 Melbourne: 28 - 29 August 2025 | Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre