Nagpur: Psychologist and life coach Dr Rajiv Mohta on Saturday urged school principals to consciously work towards balancing professional responsibilities with personal well-being, warning that unchecked stress and constant work pressure could affect both leadership effectiveness and family life.Addressing delegates at Principals Conclave, Dr Mohta said educators were not merely administrators but builders of individuals and global citizens. He noted that the role of a principal often extended far beyond school hours. “You start in the morning, and even in your dreams your school comes with you,” he said, pointing to the constant mental engagement demanded by school leadership.He said principals function as leaders of individuals, operating within defined protocols, and must accept that there are limits to what 1 person can do. Dr Mohta described inner panic masked by outward calm as a strength, but stressed the need to nurture oneself into a calmer person over time. He said crying was a natural reflex that helps de-agitate the mind and enables clearer thinking.Highlighting the importance of delegation, Dr Mohta warned that failure to delegate work would turn leadership into “hell”. He said “Principals must learn to delegate, follow up on assigned work, and also learn to say no when required. If you cannot manage something, you call it a crisis. You need to know your weaknesses and, more importantly, your difficulties.”Dr Mohta said stress was widespread, citing that 86% of people experience stress and anxiety, 46% suffer from insomnia, and 45% face concentration difficulties. He linked mental health to thought patterns and spoke about the role of “happy hormones” — dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin — in emotional balance.He also urged principals to bridge the gap with younger generations, describing today’s students as highly intelligent, and reminded educators that solutions exist for every problem, medical or psychological. “Remember,” he said, “there is a life beyond school.”
