Last Updated on August 18, 2026 by Bethany Wilinski
Reflecting on sabbatical, One year out
This week I’m at an academic conference, the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES). It’s my favorite conference, and one that I’ve been attending since 2008, when I was a master’s student. There are around 3,000 attendees, but if you stand still in the conference hotel lobby long enough, you’re bound to run into at least one person you know. (It happened to me just this morning, and I wasn’t even standing still.) I love that about CIES.
As I prepare to present my current work in Tanzania, I’ve been reflecting on the lasting impact of my sabbatical. Two years ago, at this time, I was planning my sabbatical and putting down deposits on an apartment and school in Bordeaux. One year ago, I was back in Ann Arbor, and after having spent 5 months taking time for rest and exploration, I was ready to dive back into my scholarship.
sabbatical allowed me to overcome burnout
The fact that I wanted to get back to my research in the spring of 2024 took me by surprise. When my sabbatical began in August 2023, I was completely burned out and was unsure I even wanted to stay in academia. Yet, because I had taken time in the sabbatical planning process to identify the purpose of my sabbatical, I built in plenty of time for rest, exploration, and family adventures during the first months of sabbatical.
When I stopped feeling burned out, I started getting excited about my work again
Overcoming burnout and starting to feel excited about work again created space for thinking about how I wanted to shape the next phase of my career, post-tenure and post-sabbatical. During the second half of my sabbatical, I spent time reflecting on what I had accomplished in my career and about the lines of inquiry I had pursued. I considered what I wanted to prioritize moving forward, and what I would need to put in place to do that.
Sabbatical reshaped my relationship with work and my family
Because I had taken time away from work, I was able to identify professional priorities and set goals that were aligned with my personal values and priorities. Sabbatical changed the way I think about my work and personal time and allowed me to reconnect with what I value most—my family.
The ripple effects of a life-changing sabbatical
Today, amid a bustling academic conference, almost a year after the conclusion of my sabbatical, I can see so clearly the ripple effects of my sabbatical, which energized me for the next phase of my career.
I was able to get really clear about my research priorities. This has helped me more easily determine how to focus my time and energy and importantly and to identify what I to say no to (which honestly feels great!). There are so many wonderful opportunities out there, but sabbatical helped me realize the value of not overextending myself and how much more effective I am when I’m working in alignment with my priorities.
I’m not waiting to enjoy life until some point when I’m more successful, have more money, etc. Our family values travel and spending time together, and we’re committed to making it happen as much as possible.
My identity is no longer completely wrapped up in my scholarship or academic position. It was striking to me when we were in France that none of my friends really cared or wanted to hear about my work. It may sound silly, but it wasn’t until sabbatical that I had truly made friends as an adult that were not at all related to being an academic. I also explored new hobbies and started this sabbatical coaching business, which provided further evidence that I have skills and interests beyond my research agenda.
There are just a few areas of my life that have truly shifted as a result of my sabbatical. If you have a sabbatical coming up, how are you hoping it will change your life? If you’ve taken a sabbatical, what do you see as the lasting impact of that time away?