The Work Pause: Free Fall 2025 Retreats
Take an hour and change your week with a 60-minute (free!) retreat in the middle of your work day.
One Year of Pausing Together
This fall marks the one-year anniversary of my free workday retreats. Some of you may remember them by their first name, How’s Work. I’m very proud that over 150 people have signed up for these workshops, which I’ve offered roughly once a month.
Over the past year, I’ve reimagined and refined them into something that feels truer to what we actually need in the middle of our overstuffed days.
Now they’re called The Work Pause—a 60-minute midday retreat designed for busy professionals who don’t have the luxury of disappearing for a weeklong reset, but know they can’t keep running on empty either.
What Happens in a Pause
Each Work Pause is a small group retreat. We gather for one hour, and that hour is fully off the record. The sessions are never recorded, and what’s said in the group stays in the group. That confidentiality is what allows people to finally exhale and bring what’s actually on their minds . . . not just the polished, LinkedIn-ready version.
The format is simple. I guide you through short journaling prompts (things like “What are you avoiding?” or “Where is your energy actually going this week?”) and then we open up space for reflection and coaching feedback.
Writing is just the tool we use to slow down the mental hamster wheel. You don’t need to be a “writer.” You don’t even need to like writing. You just need to show up with a notebook and a willingness to pause. Plenty of people write lists, stream of consciousness, or sometimes journal entries. Whatever works for you works for me.
People often leave feeling lighter, clearer, and oddly energized—like they’ve taken off a weight they didn’t realize they were dragging around all week. And when you come back a few times, the Work Pause can become a monthly anchor. A reset button you can actually count on.
Who Should Come
The Work Pause is for you if any of these resonate:
Successful on paper but sensing something’s missing
Navigating burnout, restlessness, or constant change
Facing a tough decision you’ve been avoiding
Tired of carrying big questions alone
Curious about a safe, structured space to reflect
Craving energy, clarity, and relief from the noise
Open to personal growth, not just professional upskilling
If you’re ambitious, responsible, and secretly (or not so secretly) exhausted—this is for you.
Who Shouldn’t Come
The Work Pause isn’t for everyone. You probably won’t enjoy it if:
You’re looking for a traditional training, webinar, or lecture (there are no slides, no handouts, and definitely no bullet-point frameworks).
You want quick-fix productivity hacks. This isn’t about inbox zero—it’s about what’s underneath the noise.
You’re uncomfortable with reflection or allergic to honesty (yours or other people’s).
You can’t resist multitasking. If you plan to answer emails on the side, better to free up the spot for someone ready to be fully present.
If you want perfectly packaged takeaways you can present to your boss, this probably isn’t your thing. If you want an hour that feels like exhaling—this is.
The Fall 2025 Schedule
All sessions are free and take place on Zoom:
Friday, September 12, 12–1 pm ET
Friday, September 26, 12–1 pm ET
Wednesday, October 22, 1–2 pm ET
Thursday, November 12, 11 am–12 pm ET
Free for Now
For this fall, The Work Pause remains completely free—my gift to you. That said, I’ve noticed attendance rates are higher when there’s some skin in the game. Starting in 2026, I plan to charge a nominal fee. Not to make a fortune, but to help ensure that people actually commit to themselves and show up.
On that note, if you sign up, please show up! These are small cohorts and they always fill up. So if you take a spot and ghost us, you’ve taken a spot that could have gone to someone else. Do you feel sufficiently guilt tripped?
How to Join
Reserve your spot, block your calendar, and bring a notebook. That’s it.
Because this isn’t about becoming a better writer. It’s about becoming more honest with yourself—and giving your workday a rare moment of rest.
FAQ
Can I sign up for more than one session?
Yes. You can come to just one, or you can make this your standing monthly reset. Some people treat it like a massage for their brain. Others drop in when they hit a wall. Both work.
Why do you do this for free?
Two reasons: a virtuous reason and a self-serving reason. The virtuous reason: because I believe ambitious people deserve real support, not just bubble baths and productivity hacks. Right now, this is my way of giving back. The self-serving reason: I am a GTM advisor and executive coach, and sometimes people who attend my free classes decide to hire me for themselves or a colleague. But I promise there is no hard sell.
Do I have to be a good writer?
Absolutely not. This isn’t about writing well; it’s about writing honestly. No one grades you. No one even reads your notebook unless you choose to share. If you can scribble thoughts on paper, you’re qualified.
Do I have to share what I write?
Nope. Sharing is always optional. Sometimes people speak, sometimes they don’t. Either way, the act of writing itself does the work. I do encourage sharing though because some kind of weird alchemy happens when you take something off the page and into a supportive group.
What if I can’t attend after I sign up?
Life happens. But because these groups are tiny, if you cancel late or ghost, you’re taking away someone else’s spot. So if you need to bow out, please let me know as early as possible. Pretty please.
What if I’m nervous about joining?
That’s normal. Most people feel a little self-conscious at first. The group settles quickly once we start, and no one ever regrets showing up.
What do people usually take away?
Clarity on a decision. Relief from carrying something alone. A surprising burst of energy. Sometimes all three.
What if I’m in a different time zone?
Sessions are scheduled in Eastern Time, but we often have people joining from across the U.S. and beyond. If the times don’t work for you this round, stay tuned—I’ll continue offering future retreats at different times.
Can I bring a colleague or friend?
Yes, with a caveat. If you work closely together, you might prefer different sessions so you can speak freely. But if you both want to join, just have them register separately.
What Past Participants Say
Over the past year, I’ve heard a wide range of reflections—some deep, some surprising, some that made me laugh out loud. A few favorites:
“I signed up thinking this was going to be another productivity workshop. Instead, I found myself crying over a question about what I was avoiding. And somehow, that felt better than getting another tip on email hacks.”
“I didn’t expect to enjoy writing anything down. And actually, I didn’t like it. But the prompts pulled out stuff I didn’t know was swirling around in my head. It’s like Sarah tricked me into telling myself the truth.”
“I kept waiting for the awkward icebreaker or PowerPoint slides. They never came. Thank God. Sarah just held the space in a way that made everyone relax—even the introverts like me.”
“The best part? Nobody here was pretending. It’s rare to sit in a professional space and feel like you don’t have to wear armor. I left feeling lighter than I have in months.”
“I feel like I needed this, but I feel like some of the assholes I work with needed it even more. Can I sign them up anonymously?”
Some people laugh, some cry, most do a bit of both. The common thread: everyone walks away clearer, less weighed down, and a little more human than when they arrived.
Who Is Sarah?
I call myself a Work Doula. After 25 years in sales, marketing, and go-to-market leadership roles—from scrappy startups to Fortune 500s—I realized most professionals don’t need more hustle. They need more support.
I’ve been a VP of Sales, a CMO, a consultant, and an executive coach. I’ve worked alongside names you’d recognize—Madeleine Albright, Adam Grant, Sangram Vajre—and just as many brilliant people you’ve never heard of who taught me as much or more.
These days, I help ambitious leaders untangle the messy, magical, often overwhelming world of work. The Work Pause is one of my favorite ways to do that, because it’s simple, honest, and human. No slides. No jargon. Just an hour that gives you back a little bit of yourself.
And for the record: I don’t have all the answers. But I’m very good at asking the kind of questions that help you find yours.
I love that you do this Sarah! This must a welcome respite for those who attend. It's very kind and generous of you to offer this.