What if your sabbatical wasn’t about accomplishing more, but about creating the space you actually need to recover, reflect, and reconnect with your work?

In this episode of Academics and Their Money, we sit down with Bethany Wilinski, professor, researcher, and sabbatical coach, to talk about burnout, money mindset, and how academics can design sabbaticals that truly support the life they want to build.

Bethany shares her journey from elementary school teacher to professor at Michigan State University, including how her own experience with burnout after earning tenure changed the way she approached her sabbatical. Instead of pursuing the ambitious research plan she originally envisioned, Bethany realized she needed to ask a different question: What does she actually need from this time away?

That shift led her to create a sabbatical focused on rest, family, and renewal, including spending part of her sabbatical in Bordeaux, France with her family. After seeing how transformative that experience was, she created her sabbatical coaching business to help other academics plan intentional breaks that balance personal priorities with professional goals. 

We also talk about the financial side of academic life, including how Bethany’s perspective on money evolved, why academics often struggle to prioritize financial security, and how earning more money can coexist with wanting to make a meaningful impact.

Bethany shares practical advice for academics preparing for a sabbatical, including:

  • Why trying to maximize productivity can lead to sabbatical regret
  • How to set boundaries with colleagues, students, and service commitments
  • Why rest can actually make you more effective in your career
  • How to redefine what “productive” means during a sabbatical
  • How to create intentional breaks even when a formal sabbatical is not available

Whether you are planning your own sabbatical, feeling burned out, or simply looking for ways to create more space in your academic career, this episode offers a thoughtful conversation about money, work, rest, and designing a life aligned with your values.

Learn more about Bethany here:

Website: https://bethanywilinski.com
Podcast: Sabbatical 101: https://bethanywilinski.com/sabbatical101/