Ep. 4 “Am I letting people down?” | Navigating Expectations and Other People’s Feelings About Your Time Away

This pop-up podcast is only available until February 1st!

Download the free Sabbatical Toolkit, including a roadmap, planning checklist, financial guide, and quiz to determine the best way to spend your time off: youneedasabbatical.com/toolkit

Taking a sabbatical can bring up unexpected worries about how the people in your life will react. Clients, collaborators, friends, and family may have strong opinions or concerns, and it’s natural to wonder how your decision will impact them.

For solopreneurs who care deeply about others, these reactions can feel heavy. You’ve built a reputation for reliability and hard work, and stepping away challenges how people see you. At the same time, choosing rest is an important act of self-care and boundary-setting.

In this episode, Maegan guides you through preparing for conversations about your sabbatical, communicating your plans with confidence, and maintaining your relationships while protecting your time and energy. You’ll leave with practical strategies and a new perspective on navigating expectations.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why people react the way they do and what those reactions reveal about their own relationship to rest and responsibility. [02:49]
• How your sabbatical ripples through your relationships, from full support to anxiety to projections of judgment. [04:20]
• How anchoring into your personal and systemic “why” helps to stay grounded when others question or misunderstand your decision. [06:53]
• Identifying who needs to know, communicating clearly and kindly, and setting compassionate boundaries. [08:03]
• Reflecting on which relationships will support you, where challenges might arise, and what support you need to stay anchored. [09:39]
• How Sabbatical School supports you through this process with community, templates, exercises, and guidance. [00:10:46]

Sabbatical School is a seven-month program designed to help solopreneurs prepare their business and nervous system for a real month-long sabbatical. The third month focuses on navigating relationships, expectations, and communication around your sabbatical. You’ll receive scripts, templates, and strategies for communicating boundaries clearly and compassionately, and we’ll hold space for the emotional side of this process.

Join Maegan’s full Sabbatical School program → youneedasabbatical.com