Happy Friday Reader

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You’re exhausted. I know you are.

Term’s been long, the days have been relentless, and despite all the messaging about festive cheer and magical moments, you might honestly just want to collapse on the sofa and not move until January.

That’s completely normal. You’re not failing at the holidays. You’re just human.

I’ve been thinking about how we’re supposed to show up at this time of year versus how we actually feel. School leaders especially carry this weight. You’ve been holding it together for everyone else all term, making sure staff feel supported, students feel safe, parents feel heard. You’ve probably been the steady presence when things got chaotic.

And now you’re meant to switch into festive mode like you haven’t just given everything you had.

You don’t owe anyone a perfect version of this break.

If you celebrate Christmas next week, I hope you enjoy it. But your break doesn’t need to look productive, or restful, or even particularly enjoyable. It can just be whatever it needs to be. Sleeping more than you have in months? Watching rubbish television? Doing absolutely nothing of consequence? All of that is fine.

Some of you won’t be celebrating at all. Some of you will find this time of year really hard: family stress, loneliness, grief, or just the weight of expectations that don’t match your reality. Maybe you’re far from home. Maybe home isn’t where you want to be. Maybe you’re dreading parts of the week ahead while everyone around you seems full of joy.

If that’s you, I see you. Be gentle with yourself. You don’t have to perform happiness for anyone.

There’s no prize for pushing through exhaustion or making everything look effortless. The only thing that matters right now is that you get to the other side of this week without demanding more of yourself than you’ve got to give.

Rest doesn’t have to be earned. You’ve already done enough.

I’ll be back in your inbox on Boxing Day with something simple to take you into the new year. Until then, breathe.

Thank you for reading this year.

Shane