Sabbatical Coaching for Academics

10/16/2026

"How do I structure my sabbatical days without recreating the grind I'm trying to escape?" 🤔

If you've asked yourself this question, you're not alone.

This is a huge tension for sabbatical. You want to rest but you also want to be productive. You're excited about having so much control over your time, but you also thrive with a bit of structure and external accountability.

The good news is that you can create a flexible structure that gives you just what you need.

Like everything that helps support a successful sabbatical, it just takes a bit of intentionality.

In this blog post, I share 5 flexible approaches that give you the structure you want without the overscheduling of a regular semester.

Read the post here: https://bethanywilinski.com/finding-your-sabbatical-rhythm-how-to-create-a-flexible-structure/

10/14/2026

So you decided you're going to go away for sabbatical, but you're unsure how to fund it. In this episode I discuss strategies for making a sabbatical away affordable, from trying to hold some of your expenses constant if you don't have external support to applying for external fellowships to fund your sabbatical.

Listen to the episode here (or wherever you get your podcasts!): https://bethanywilinski.com/podcast/61-sabbatical-soundbytes-how-can-i-afford-a-sabbatical-away-from-home/

And check out the show notes for additional resources related to funding an international sabbatical!

10/13/2026

The Family Sabbatical Program takes the guesswork out of planning so you can spend less time searching for answers and more time making memories.

Here's how it works:

Get inspired and discover your family's sabbatical "why"

Choose your perfect destination

Master the logistics (the stuff that usually stops people!)

Access everything through our easy online platform

Work at your own pace with kid-friendly activities

Ready to stop dreaming and start planning?

https://bethanywilinski.com/services/family-sabbatical/

10/09/2026

One of the most pivotal moments in my sabbatical-planning process was when I realized that the sabbatical I thought I should take (a year in Tanzania, starting an ambitious new project) was not the one I needed.

I'm so glad I had that realization because, while I love being in Tanzania and working with colleagues there, this shift in perspective allowed me to take a sabbatical (in Bordeaux) that allowed me to overcome burnout and get excited about my work again (and eat all the baguettes, of course!).

I was reminded of how critical this shift was when I received a lovely note from someone who read my article in Inside Higher Ed, in which I described this process. They said it was helpful to realize they weren't the only one feeling uncertain about their plan to do something new and ambitious during sabbatical.

Here's the article: https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/advancing-faculty/2025/01/28/planning-sabbatical-you-need-opinion

10/07/2026

You may be thinking ahead to an upcoming sabbatical and wondering whether it’s better to go away or stay home. Or, you may have always envisioned going away for sabbatical, but you’re realizing, now that it’s here, going away won’t be as straightforward as you imagine.

Determining whether to go away or stay home for sabbatical isn’t just a logistical puzzle or a simple question of what would be best for you professionally. It’s a question of what’s best for you and those in your ecosystem, in your current season.

In this episode, I walk you through the questions you should be asking and give my perspective on when you should keep pushing and when you should revise your expectations. I don’t have the answer to whether you should stay or go, but I will give you a set of questions you can ask yourself as you consider what makes the most sense for your sabbatical.

Listen to the latest episode in the Sabbatical Soundbytes series here: https://bethanywilinski.com/podcast/60-sabbatical-soundbytes-should-i-travel-for-my-sabbatical-or-stay-home/

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/