Sabbatical Coaching for Academics

10/02/2026

I had a session yesterday with a client whose sabbatical has just begun. She struggled all summer with a long list of to-dos - things she wanted to get off her plate before her sabbatical began.

We spent time identifying a short list of priorities and creating a strategy to get these projects done pre-sabbatical, but the projects still did not get done.

When we met yesterday, my client had great news to share: she finished the projects! She got one article accepted and another one submitted and under review. My client was beaming as she shared this and told me she felt so happy that she was starting off her sabbatical having accomplished all this.

I asked her what had changed. She had been talking about and planning to get this work done for months. What finally allowed her to do it?

The answer was that she let herself rest for awhile. She was busy making arrangements for her family to relocate abroad for sabbatical and she said, more tired that she wanted to admit to herself.

So she stopped trying to work against what her body was telling her. She slowed down and rested.

After about a month, she was able to get back to her projects with renewed energy and focus.

Seeing my client this happy and light was the highlight of my day! I know I say it over and over again, but I keep seeing evidence that it works: sometimes you need to slow down and rest in order to be productive.

And what I keep seeing (albeit anecdotally) is that taking time to rest and then coming back to work often results in greater efficiency. When you're rested and refreshed, you can get more done in less time.

I'm sharing this because it was such a happy moment for me yesterday, and because it might be what you need to hear right now.

If you have the sense that you need to create a sabbatical that allows you to rest, but you're not sure how to do it, let's talk! You can book a free 30-minute consultation here:

Book your free sabbatical strategy call 30 minutes to get clarity on your sabbatical — and a clear next step forward. You’ve got a sabbatical coming up and a nagging feeling that you should be doing something to prepare, but you’re not sure where to start. Maybe you’re worried you’ll waste...

09/30/2026

Ah, sabbatical goals. It's easy to create an ambitious sabbatical plan that looks great on paper. It's much harder to create a set of sabbatical goals that you can actually accomplish in the time you have, while also making time for rest and personal pursuits.

In this slightly longer episode, I discuss the importance of setting realistic goals and walk you through a process for determining whether your goals are realistic. It's hard work, but worth it.

Listen here (or wherever you get your podcasts): https://bethanywilinski.com/podcast/59-sabbatical-soundbytes-how-do-i-know-if-my-sabbatical-goals-are-realistic/

09/29/2026

When I first started my sabbatical coaching business, admitting that I spent a lot of time (~5 months!) resting and not working during my sabbatical felt really vulnerable.

It ran counter to everything I learned about being an academic, where pushing through and doing more and more is the norm (and what gets rewarded).

It's been so gratifying to watch my clients embrace rest as part of their sabbatical and, as Erin went on to say in this testimonial, have a better sabbatical because of it.

I talk a lot about rest, and you can hear more in the latest episode of my podcast, Sabbatical 101: https://bethanywilinski.com/podcast/58-sabbatical-soundbytes-what-should-i-do-if-im-totally-burned-out-and-i-just-want-to-sleep-during-sabbatical/

I also wrote about rest in this blog post: https://bethanywilinski.com/how-to-rest-during-sabbatical/

09/25/2026

Great idea from one of my clients who is currently on a sabbatical away with her family:

To share updates with family and friends at home, create a shared google photos album and add one photo per day.

Easy peasy, and you could even turn it into a photo book at the end of your sabbatical!

Looking for more tips on how to plan your family sabbatical?

Check out this blog post: https://bethanywilinski.com/how-to-plan-a-sabbatical-away-with-kids/

My Family Sabbatical Program: https://bethanywilinski.com/services/family-sabbatical/

09/23/2026

As you talk to friends and colleagues about their sabbaticals and they share their ambitious plans and accomplishments, you might be wondering if there's something wrong with you.

You might be thinking, How did they get all that stuff done, when all I want to do is sleep? What is wrong with me?

I assure you, there is nothing wrong with you.

I've worked with so many clients who arrived at sabbatical completely burned out and exhausted. We created a sabbatical plan that prioritized rest, and that allowed them to reengage with their scholarly work.

In this episode, I make the case for rest as the key ingredient in a successful sabbatical and I give you tips for how to rest if you're someone who feels guilty about it.

Listen here: https://bethanywilinski.com/podcast/58-sabbatical-soundbytes-what-should-i-do-if-im-totally-burned-out-and-i-just-want-to-sleep-during-sabbatical/

09/21/2026

If you're on sabbatical and you've thought, "Is this was sabbatical is supposed to feel like?" or "I thought I'd be more relaxed" or "I don't feel like I'm really on sabbatical," trust me: you're not alone!

It's really hard to break out of our habits and routines, yet a truly transformative sabbatical requires just that.

If you're on sabbatical right now and it just doesn't feel the way you wish it did, it's not too late!

You can get on track in no time with my Sabbatical Rescue Program.

Learn more here: https://bethanywilinski.com/services/sabbatical-rescue/

Schedule a free consultation to see if we're a good fit: https://bethanywilinski.com/discovery-call/

09/17/2026

What do you do for fun?

If you're like my sabbatical coaching clients, you may have a hard time answering that question.

I spend a lot of time helping my clients figure out how they can make time during their sabbatical for the things they enjoy outside of work.

Some people can readily name hobbies they enjoy that have taken a backseat to their professional responsibilities. They enjoy reading for pleasure, cooking, making music, hiking, spending time with friends, etc.

For others, and this was true for me pre-sabbatical, it's hard to name activities they enjoy or even to feel comfortable using free time to do something that is not related to work or supporting their family.

If you have a sabbatical coming up, I encourage you to think about how you want to spend your free time during sabbatical.

One question you can ask yourself is how you like to play.

If you think play is only for kids, is not something you'd enjoy, or isn't something you'd have time for, then I encourage you to listen to this LifeKit episode titled How to Bring More Play Into Your Life.

If you need ideas (and a rationale) for how to unwind, I think you'll find this really helpful!

Listen here: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1190234742

09/16/2026

Ever found yourself wondering what, exactly, you should do during sabbatical?

We often default to thinking that we need to work on a big, ambitious project during sabbatical or that the only work that counts on sabbatical is traditional scholarly outputs like publications or grants.

In this episode I discuss the importance of making time for personal needs and goals during sabbatical and give you ideas for how to do that.

I also walk you through some other ideas for what scholarly productivity can look like during a sabbatical.

Listen here: https://bethanywilinski.com/podcast/57-sabbatical-soundbytes-what-should-i-do-during-my-sabbatical/

09/14/2026

Time for an update!

Wondering if my sabbatical planning program is right for you?

Over the past 2+ years I've worked with 40 academics who represent 24 fields of study and 35 different institutions.

My clients are across all ranks--assistant, associate, full--and one was even retired!

What do they all have in common?

Before we started working together, they were overwhelmed by creating a plan for their sabbatical and unsure how to make the most of their time away.

They all quickly went from overwhelm and uncertainty to clarity and confidence.

They came away from our sessions together with a clear roadmap to help them achieve their unique sabbatical goals.

Read their stories here: https://bethanywilinski.com/testimonials/

09/12/2026

Here's something I've learned about sabbatical planning:

Planning a sabbatical is not just about the sabbatical.

It's about stepping back and crafting the career you want moving forward.

A sabbatical is an amazing opportunity to try out incremental change.

When you step away from the daily grind, it's easier to identify what really matters.

My program helps you create alignment between what matters and what you do on a daily basis.

Once you identify what matters and start making decisions aligned with your priorities, the transformation begins.

It's slow and incremental, but gradually you start to see that you've created a new relationship with work.

Are you in need of a transformation? Do you need to redefine you relationship with work? Do you want help crafting your post-tenure career with confidence?

I'd love to help.

Learn more about my sabbatical planning program, Reignite: Your Life-Changing Sabbatical, and schedule your free consultation today.

https://bethanywilinski.com/services/reignite/