At 16, Alysa Liu was the future of U.S. women’s skating. She was at the top of her game. And then… she walked away.
Critics called it a waste of talent. Burnout, they said, had no place at the 2026 Olympics.
She didn’t push through. She paused.
Alysa enrolled in college. She played sports just for fun. She tried skiing. She played piano. She explored photography and sewing.
These seemingly frivolous “time wasters” didn’t slow her down – they fueled her joy, perspective, and ultimately, her skating success.
My friend Jennifer Brigati took a sabbatical from her job at Maryville College after teaching for ten years:
“No matter how much you love what you are doing, after ten years there can be a long list of things that frustrate and annoy you. The sabbatical gave me a chance to do something different for a year. After a year away, I came back with fresh perspectives and a much better attitude about my job.”
During her sabbatical she also pursued a favorite hobby and ran 14 marathons in 12 months.
Dave Shrunk lead pastor of Church of the Redeemer, shared a similar insight:
“The biggest way sabbaticals help is not in what is done, read, or achieved during that rest-time, but in how my character is grown by regular resting. When I take the time on my day off to walk in an unhurried fashion, I am more attentive to nature and to what God is doing in me. When I return, I am slower to speak, longer to listen, and more attentive to the rhythms of my community. Attention is the real growth.”
Across disciplines – sports, teaching, ministry, and leadership – strategic pauses reshape performance, perspective, and character.
So why don’t more leaders step away when they feel burned out? Often, it’s fear:
· Being seen as replaceable
· Losing influence
· Appearing weak
In a “total work” culture:
· Rest must be earned
· Worth equals output
· Silence feels unproductive
· Contemplation feels indulgent
German Catholic philosopher Josef Pieper warned that this mindset leads to burnout and spiritual emptiness. He believed that culture, art, and human dignity flourish only when leisure – not just work – is valued.
Alysa’s pause created longevity. Jennifer’s pause restored perspective. Dave’s pause improved leadership effectiveness.
And it can do the same for you.
Whether you are a C-suite executive, a pastor, a professor, an entrepreneur, or a young athlete, taking a strategic pause isn’t indulgence – it’s a performance multiplier.
Step back. Recharge. Reflect.
Your next level of success depends on it.
