Is it possible for school leaders to let go of getting it all done?

📖 I am delving into the book ‘Four Thousand Weeks, Time and How to Use It’ by Oliver Burkeman.

Much of it has made me think about the busyness of school leadership and how, if we are not careful, in our attempts to get through the to-do list we can spend more of our time on jobs that are less meaningful.

I know as a school leader you are pulled in different directions, you may have a to-do list but when you get into school something else entirely unexpected can become a priority.

This constant demand can take us away from what gives us meaning both inside and outside of work.

I know that to feel productive I move the easy, often less meaningful or important jobs to the top of the to-do list which squeezes time for those that are more important.

I am also deep into my research on school leader well-being and the findings of numerous studies is that there are more jobs to do than time to do it in.

So the danger in moving those quick jobs to the front of the queue and putting off the purposeful ones, means that those important jobs may never get done.

I would love to know your thoughts on this quote - how possible is it for a leader in education to let go of the whole list and focus only on doing a few meaningful things well?

If you want support in creating time for what is meaningful to you and for your school then send me a message.