Leadership and Life: Exploring the School Administrators’ Experiences on Work-Life Balance

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of secondary school administrators in Surigao del Norte Division in balancing professional responsibilities and personal life. Anchored in Husserlian descriptive phenomenology and guided by Moustakas’ modified Van Kaam method, the study involved nine purposively selected school administrators who participated in semi-structured interviews. Data analysis revealed six emergent themes: navigating the interwoven demands of leadership and life, unsteady balance between work and life, coping anchors in managing stress, sources of strength amid leadership demands, guiding schools through calm and storm, and preserving balance through quiet wisdom. Findings indicated that school administrators face persistent challenges in maintaining work-life balance due to workload, accountability pressures, and limited institutional support, but rely on personal resilience, family support, and professional networks to cope. The results highlight the importance of policy interventions such as flexible work arrangements, leadership training focused on stress management, and strengthening support systems to foster administrator well-being.