About this episode
What happens when you don’t fully step away — but you stop rushing forward?Nadine reflects on the key takeaways from her semi-sabbatical: a year of working part time, studying deeply, and intentionally becoming a beginner again. Instead of chasing output, she followed curiosity. Instead of mastering, she practiced.This episode explores what a slower, experimental year taught her about identity, learning, rest, and growth — and why becoming a beginner might be one of the most transformative choices we can make.If you’ve been craving space to learn, try something new, or rethink your relationship with work and productivity, this episode is for you.Covered in this episode:How jealousy inspired her sabbaticalWhat she scaled back on and give up completelyThe silly and scary things she wanted to try in 2025How she funded her sabbaticalWhat her fears wereThe unexpected experiences that unfoldedWhat changed when productivity wasn't driving everythingThe key lessons she learnedReclaim your writing time in 2026:Publish the Personal (Virtual): Fridays Jan 23-Feb 27Revision Retreat: Craft Your Best Draft (In-person): Aug 2026, Madeline Island School of the Arts, WIAbout Nadine:Nadine Kenney Johnstone is an award-winning author, podcast host, and writing coach. After fifteen years as a writing professor, she founded WriteWELL workshops and retreats for women writers. She interviews today’s top female authors on her podcast, Heart of the Story. Her infertility memoir,
