While many school leaders across Australia are catching their breath over the Term break, there’s a dangerous temptation to see this as merely a “pause before the next sprint.” But what if rest isn't a passive retreat, but a powerful strategic move — perhaps the most underrated one in your leadership toolkit?

The myth of heroic exhaustion

Somewhere along the way, many leaders adopted the myth that relentless busyness equals commitment. Weariness becomes a badge of honour. Yet neuroscience tells us that chronic fatigue clouds judgment, reduces empathy, and throttles creativity. In short, the more you grind, the duller your strategic edge becomes.

Rest activates your hidden superpowers

When you rest, genuinely disconnecting from the immediate noise, your brain’s default mode network (DMN) kicks into gear. This network is responsible for deep introspection, future planning, and creative problem-solving. It’s the quiet space where the best ideas sneak up on you while you’re gardening, walking along the beach, or losing yourself in a novel.

Leaders often pride themselves on “always being on.” Ironically, it’s in those off moments that the most profound insights usually surface. As Walter Issacson identified in his book The Innovators, Bill Gates takes two “Think Weeks” a year in a cabin, away from all distractions. These weeks have been credited with some of Microsoft’s most transformative ideas. School leaders might not have a secluded cabin handy, but the concept is powerful: a deliberate, structured pause to read, reflect, and think big.

Modelling rest as a cultural signal

Your executive team and middle leaders watch you more than you think. When you model visible rest — when you step away and return with renewed clarity — you permit them to do the same. This isn't indulgence; it's leadership. A rested culture is a resilient culture. When staff feel they can prioritise wellbeing without guilt, they’re more likely to stay creative, engaged, and loyal.

Imagine encouraging your leadership team to create their own mini–Think Weeks — perhaps a few days during the term break, completely off-grid, or a personal retreat for creative pursuits. By explicitly sharing these plans, leaders make rest a shared expectation rather than a silent hope.

The power of strategic solitude

During the Term break, many leaders instinctively reach for professional reading lists or schedule catch-ups with other principals. But what if you flipped this? Instead of filling the time, intentionally create white space: no meetings, no strategy sessions, no urgent decisions. Choose activities that restore rather than drain. Play with your kids. Plant a tree. Take a long, meandering walk without podcasts. These are not distractions — they are investments in your future clarity and impact.

Arianna Huffington shared her experiences in her book, The Sleep Revolution, where she pivoted towards sleep and wellbeing after collapsing from exhaustion, illustrating just how transformative this shift can be. Her experience underscores that real leadership impact often starts with the courage to slow down and listen to oneself.

Nine practical ways to rest this Term break

1. Schedule a 'technology sabbath' day — no email, no school-related calls.
2. Spend a day alone in nature without an agenda (think of it as your own mini Think Week).
3. Dedicate a morning to creative play, such as painting, music, or gardening.
4. Try a full day of silent reflection or journaling.
5. Read a book purely for pleasure, not for professional development.
6. Plan a slow family meal or picnic without checking your watch.
7. Take a long walk without headphones or podcasts to let your mind wander.
8. Have a 'no-commitment' day with no meetings, tasks, or errands.
9. Create a personal retreat day focused on sleep, good food, and simple joys.

These practical ideas move rest from an abstract ideal to a deliberate, empowering act of leadership.

The impact on your school

When leaders rest well, schools reap the benefits. Rested leaders make better decisions, inspire confidence, and create stability that filters down through the entire community. Staff feel more secure and engaged when their leaders show up calm and clear-minded. Students benefit from a more grounded, present school culture. Families sense the positive energy and trust in the school’s direction. In this way, rest isn’t just self-care — it’s a powerful investment in the whole ecosystem of your school.

Carrying rest into the following Term and beyond

Rather than returning to old habits of constant urgency, consider weaving rest into your weekly and daily schedule. Protect white space in your calendar as fiercely as essential meetings. Create regular 'buffer blocks' for reflection and decompression.

To embed these habits long term, establish accountability structures. Invite your executive team to set individual rest goals and discuss them openly. Consider adding 'wellbeing check-ins' as a standing agenda item in leadership meetings. Track progress collectively, celebrate when team members successfully protect their restorative time, and problem-solve together when challenges arise.

Encouraging shared responsibility not only keeps everyone aligned but also strengthens trust and psychological safety within the team. Over time, rest transforms from a private luxury into a visible, strategic pillar of your school’s culture — a foundation for clearer thinking, better decisions, and more human-centred leadership throughout the year.

As you prepare to step back this break, ask yourself: What if doing less now means achieving far more later?