The Weight of Pro Staff Summer Trainings: How to Protect Your Peace as You Gear Up for the New Year

Summer training season has a way of sneaking up on us. One moment it's quiet on campus, and the next your calendar is packed with all-staff meetings, campus partner meetings, crisis simulations, DEI workshops, endless prep work. 

There’s team bonding, ice breakers, policy refreshers and a whole lot of pressure.

Pressure to be ready.

Pressure to lead with clarity.

Pressure to support others before the academic year even begins.

And while these trainings do matter… they can also feel heavy.

For many student affairs and higher ed professionals, summer isn’t a break. It’s the busiest time of year.

The demands are constant.

The expectations are high.

The hours are long.

And the emotional energy it takes to hold space for others? It’s a lot.

If you’re feeling the mental fog, fatigue, or the creeping anxiety about what the school year will bring, then this article might be helpful.

Before You Pour Out, Fill Up

It’s easy to show up for training season on autopilot: powering through meetings, over-prepping for sessions, and being overly available to everyone but yourself. But peace isn’t something you “find” once the semester calms down, it’s something you protect, even in the busy seasons.

Here are a few reminders as you move through summer trainings and prepare for the new year ahead:

1. You don’t have to be “on” all the time.

Just because it’s training season doesn’t mean you need to perform or prove your worth. Show up authentically, not performatively. Rest when you can. Speak up when needed. Silence does not mean disengagement, and participation doesn’t always mean overextending.

2. Pace yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

August will turn into September. The academic year will unfold. You cannot solve every team dynamic, fix every policy gap, or perfect every system in one month. Let training be the starting line, not the finish line.

3. Name the tension, normalize the emotion.

It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. It’s okay to have moments where you’re over it. You are human. Normalize saying things like, “Today felt heavy,” or “I need to reset.” This allows your team to be human too, and that’s what makes a sustainable work culture.

4. Protect your transitions.

Build in soft moments between training and the school year. Take the walk. Close your laptop. Eat lunch without multitasking. Say no when it’s needed. You don’t have to earn rest, you’re already worthy of it.

5. Anchor yourself in your “why.”

When the days feel long or disjointed, return to your purpose. Why did you say yes to this work? Who are you hoping to impact this year? Let that guide how you lead, not urgency or fear.

6. Take care of the body that holds the stress.

Deep breathing in between sessions. Stretching after sitting. Ice water in the heat. Movement when you feel stuck. Burnout starts in the body before it shows up in the mind. Don’t ignore what your body is trying to tell you.

7. You deserve joy even in busy seasons.

Go to your favorite coffee shop. Send the funny meme. Dance in your office. Do something each day that feels like you. You don’t have to wait until move-in is over or your first conduct case to stabilize. Joy is a part of wellness too.

Final Thought: Let Peace Be Your Strategy

The beginning of the academic year sets the tone. You deserve to start this year feeling steady, not just prepared. The more grounded you are, the more sustainable your leadership becomes. So don’t just gear up, fill up. Protect your peace like it's part of your professional development…because it is.

You can do meaningful work and be well.

You can lead others and care for yourself.

You can start strong without burning out by October.

Take what you need. Release what you don’t.

And may this year be led with intention, not just urgency.