Mid-Sabbatical Coaching for Academics Who Need a New Plan
Your sabbatical hasn't gone the way you hoped. That doesn't mean it's over.
You had a plan, but then life happened.
Maybe your research stalled, someone got sick, or you needed more rest than you anticipated. Perhaps you just got to month three and realized you’d been saying yes to everything except the things that actually mattered to you. Or maybe you were too overwhelmed to make a plan before sabbatical began, and now you’re realizing you need one.
You may be feeling anxious, behind, or worried you’re not making the most of your sabbatical. It may be hard to admit that you’re struggling with an academic milestone that’s supposed to feel like a privilege.
The truth is, a derailed sabbatical is more common than you think, and it is absolutely not too late to create a new plan.
Sabbatical Rescue
Sabbatical Rescue is my intensive, one-on-one coaching program for academics who are currently on sabbatical and need a new plan — fast.
In 4 focused sessions over the course of two to four weeks, we’ll figure out exactly what went sideways, rebuild your sabbatical around what’s actually possible right now, and get you moving again. You’ll come away with clarity, a concrete, actionable plan, and the support to implment it.
Here’s how Sabbatical Rescue works:
We start with a free 30-minute discovery call so I can hear what’s happening and understand your situation. If it’s a good fit, I’ll put together a proposal for you.
From there, we’ll move quickly. We’ll meet for 4 coaching sessions over two to four weeks. Before each session, you’ll complete a short activity, which creates the framework for our discussion. After every session, you’ll receive a recap email with a summary of what we covered and your next steps.
You’ll come away with:
A realistic, rebuilt sabbatical plan grounded in where you are right now
Strategies for prioritizing what matters most and releasing what doesn’t
Tools for course-correcting if things shift again
Confidence that you can still make this sabbatical count
Is Sabbatical Rescue right for you?
This program is for you if:
You’re currently on sabbatical and things are not going as planned
You had a strong plan that’s gone sideways, due to illness, a family change, a research pivot, or just life
You went into sabbatical without a solid plan, and you just realized you need one
You’re partway through your sabbatical, haven’t accomplished what you’d hoped, and you’re afraid the rest of it will just slip away
You want support — not just a pep talk, but an actual plan — from someone who understands academic life from the inside
This is not a program for academics who are still in the planning phase. (That’s what Reignite: Your Life-Changing Sabbatical is for.)
Investment
Sabbatical Rescue is a personalized, one-on-one program priced at $1800. Most clients are able to use research or professional development funds to cover the cost.
The first step is always a free 30-minute discovery call — no pressure, no commitment, just a conversation to see if we’re a good fit.
What Past Clients Have to Say
"I was feeling lost about moving forward with my book project during my sabbatical and felt like I was drowning in a million other tasks. Working with Bethany helped me reset my sabbatical, take a step back and look at the bigger picture as I'd been wanting to do. All of the modules had useful worksheets to help break down larger ideas into doable chunks. Articulating my thought processes during our coaching sessions and reading her summary of our conversation really helped to crystallize some important insights. I have come away with a plan in hand for tackling the task. I am grateful to have had the chance to work with Bethany, who has given me hope again that all is not lost!"
"I found Bethany through a post in a tenure track moms Facebook group, and I’m so glad I happened to stumble upon that post! I had just started my sabbatical and was feeling really anxious and stressed about it (which is the opposite of how I wanted to feel). I had a lot of goals for my sabbatical and I wanted to make sure I made the most of it, but I felt the time pressure of a one semester sabbatical and was just stagnating and flailing. Working with Bethany was awesome. She helped me prioritize and get clarity about what I really wanted to do during this time. We developed a plan for my daily sabbatical routine as well as weekly and monthly calendars. She helped me clarify my “guiding principles” which I now have taped to my computer monitor, and we discussed how I can use these to set boundaries and continue to say no to things that don’t fulfill these principles (both during my sabbatical and hopefully after it’s over too!). I will highly recommend Bethany to any colleagues who are preparing for a sabbatical!"
Your sabbatical isn't over yet.
If you’re ready to stop spinning and start making the most of the time you have left, I’d love to talk.
Yes, I need help rescuing my sabbatical →
The discovery call is free, 30 minutes, and there’s no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
This program is for anyone who is currently on sabbatical but feels like things are not going as they had hoped. Whether you had a great plan going into sabbatical and now things are going sideways, or you never really had a solid plan in the first place, we can work together to figure out what’s possible and get things moving again.
Sabbatical Rescue is fully individualized and one-on-one. There are no cohorts or group sessions. We’ll start with a free discovery call so I can learn about your sabbatical and your current pain points. If we decide we’re a good fit, I’ll put together a custom proposal for your Sabbatical Rescue.
From there, we’ll meet for 4 sessions over two to four weeks, moving quickly so we can get your sabbatical back on track as soon as possible. I’ll ask you to complete a short activity before each session to structure our conversation. After each session, I’ll send a recap email with what we covered and your next steps.
Depending on my availability, I can usually get you started within a week. The first step is to book a 30-minute call so I can learn about your situation and we can figure out the best path forward together.
Sabbatical Rescue is priced at $1800. Most clients use research or professional development funds to cover the cost.
I’m Bethany Wilinski, a tenured Associate Professor at Michigan State University and a sabbatical coach for academics. After taking a life-changing sabbatical of my own, I created my signature program Reignite: Your Life-Changing Sabbatical to help academics plan deeply meaningful sabbaticals. I created Sabbatical Rescue because I know that even the best plans can unravel — and because no one should have to watch their sabbatical slip away without support.
I’ve worked with academics across disciplines and career stages, and I bring both my own sabbatical experience and years of coaching experience to every client engagement. You can learn more about me here.
You still have time to make your sabbatical count.
You don’t have to figure this out alone, and you don’t have to settle for a sabbatical that passes you by. Let’s get you a plan, and get your sabbatical back on track.
Questions? You can also reach me directly at bethany@bethanywilinski.com.