Rest Before You Burn Out
With Jeff and Terra Mattson and special guest Rhonda Began
What if rest isn’t something we earn after we’ve done enough, but something we need in order to lead well? In this conversation, Jeff and Terra Mattson sit down with Rhonda Began, executive and sabbatical coach, to talk about the rhythms of rest that leaders so often ignore until burnout forces them to slow down. Drawing from her own experience with overwork and ministry burnout, Rhonda shares why Sabbath, solitude, and sabbatical are essential practices for living and leading from a healthier place.
We unpack what a healthy sabbatical actually looks like, why preparation and reentry matter, and how stepping away can reveal where we’ve built systems that depend too heavily on one person. We also talk about the unique challenges of rest for ministry leaders, parents, and those who feel like everything will fall apart if they stop. Ultimately, sabbatical isn’t about escaping our responsibilities. It’s about creating space to reconnect with God, renew our minds and bodies, strengthen the people around us, and return with greater clarity for what matters most.
Rest is a rhythm, not a reward. Sabbath and sabbatical are part of the rhythms God designed for human flourishing, not something we should wait for until we're burned out.
Sabbatical can strengthen an organization. Stepping away reveals whether an organization has healthy systems and developing leaders or is overly dependent on one person.
Preparation is essential. A meaningful sabbatical requires planning for the transition out, the time away, and the return to work.
Rest looks different for everyone. What restores one person may exhaust another, so sabbatical planning should account for individual wiring, interests, relationships, and responsibilities.
You don't have to fill your sabbatical with accomplishments. Learning something new can be life-giving, but even a long list of "restful" activities can become another productivity project.
Reentry matters as much as leaving. Returning gradually, allowing time to process what was learned, and protecting space for reflection can help leaders carry the benefits of sabbatical into everyday life.
Healthy leaders build healthy teams. If everything depends on one person, stepping away can become an opportunity to develop others, share responsibility, and create a more sustainable culture.
Rhonda's Website: www.livingwholehearted.com/rhonda-began
Rhonda's Instagram: @RhondaRests
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