Letting Go of Perfection: Ending December with a Mindset Shift
Permission to do less—and why it’s better for students and teachers
December in schools is heavy.
The days are shorter. Everyone is tired. Schedules are unpredictable. Behavior feels louder. Paperwork still exists. And somehow, the pressure to finish strong shows up louder than ever.
For special education teachers, December often feels like a sprint to the finish line—while carrying everyone else’s needs on your back.
This is your permission slip to stop chasing perfection and start choosing sustainability.
1) Perfection Is Not the Goal—Presence Is
Somewhere along the way, many educators internalized the belief that good teaching means doing more:
More data
More lessons
More documentation
More interventions
More energy, you don’t actually have
But perfection is not what your students need right now.
They need regulated adults.
They need predictability.
They need connection.
And none of those require a perfectly executed December.
2) Doing Less Is Not Failing—It’s Strategic
When you intentionally do less, you’re not lowering expectations. You’re making room for what matters most.
Doing less in December might look like:
Repeating familiar activities instead of introducing something new
Collecting just enough data to stay compliant
Prioritizing student regulation over academic output
Letting go of “extra” tasks that don’t serve students right now
Ending the day with energy left instead of depletion
This is not laziness.
This is professional judgment.
3) Your Nervous System Sets the Tone
Students with intensive needs are deeply impacted by adult stress—whether we say it out loud or not.
When teachers are overwhelmed:
Classrooms feel tense
Behaviors escalate
Decision-making becomes harder
When teachers are regulated:
Students feel safer
Routines feel predictable
Small moments become teachable moments
Letting go of perfection allows you to stay regulated, which directly supports your students.
4) December Is for Maintenance, Not Mastery
December is not the month to overhaul systems, introduce complex goals, or prove your effectiveness.
December is for:
Maintaining routines
Reinforcing expectations
Strengthening relationships
Observing patterns
Taking mental notes for January
Progress does not disappear because things slow down. In fact, slowing down often leads to better outcomes long-term.
5) Modeling Healthy Boundaries Is Powerful Teaching
When you choose not to overextend yourself, you’re modeling something students rarely see:
Rest is allowed
Effort does not equal exhaustion
Boundaries matter
This is especially important for students who struggle with emotional regulation, anxiety, and burnout themselves.
Your choice to do less teaches them more than another worksheet ever could.
7) Ending December Without Guilt
You are not behind.
You are not failing your students.
You are not “less than” because you’re tired.
You are human—doing meaningful work in a demanding profession.
Let December end gently.
Choose what is essential.
Release what is not.
Trust that rest is part of good teaching.
January will come soon enough.
And you—and your students—will be better for it.
Nicolette Lesniak is a seasoned special education leader and IEP Educational Coach, passionate about empowering teams to create meaningful, defensible, and student-centered plans.
If this topic sparked ideas, questions, or a desire to deepen your practice, Nicolette would love to continue the conversation. You can reach her directly at hello@nicolettelesniak.com.
