Leading Through Burnout: What Principals Can Do When You’re Exhausted

Are you leading your school while secretly running on empty? In this episode, we’re diving into what principal burnout really looks like—and what you can do when you’re exhausted but still expected to lead with clarity, confidence, and calm. Whether you’re already feeling the weight of constant interruptions, decision fatigue, and emotional exhaustion, or you want to prevent burnout before it takes hold, this episode will help you reset. Barb breaks down burnout warning signs, the six burnout profiles she sees most often in principals, and three high-impact resets you can implement this week to reclaim your energy and protect your time.

You’ll learn how to set simple, realistic boundaries, build protected work blocks into your day, and use the TEA Cycle to shift the thoughts fueling your overwhelm. Barb also shares strategies for rebuilding your mental and physical energy—so you can reconnect to the parts of leadership you actually love. If you want practical tools for recovering from or preventing burnout, this episode is your roadmap back to feeling grounded, capable, and in control again.

Check out The Principal's Burnout Toolkit