Walking towards a sustainable pace for productivity: one academic's experience

Purpose The expectation for faculty to excel in multiple demanding roles and the normalization of overwork have created a modern academic workload that is often unsustainable. Recognizing the increased expectations for communication and collaboration in the Internet age, which prevent faculty from distancing themselves from work, I was Intrigued by the potential professional benefit of both walking and natural spaces. The purpose of this autoethnographic study was to investigate the professional impact of unplugging to walk in nature during my sabbatical leave in Norway. Design/methodology/approach I am a White, heterosexual, middle-class female in my fifties, who has been working in American higher education for three decades. While on sabbatical in Norway, I deliberately made time to connect with natural environments by walking alone in nature away from technology. Journal entries served as data in this study autoethnographic study. Findings Like studies by Sengers (2011), Lucero (2018) and Willis et al. (2025), my systematic analysis of personal experience contributed to my understanding of broader cultural themes. Findings are presented as three “lessons learned” (Willis et al., 2025, p. 590) as an academic walking in nature for professional benefit. Research limitations/implications Further study could focus on fostering collegial growth by walking in natural environments through the promising methodology of collaborative autoethnography (Tight, 2024). Another possibility could be to investigate the relationship between long-distance walking and scholarly productivity, since writing for publication requires the same skill – setting goals, monitoring progress and persevering – necessary for completing a walk of over 20 miles. Practical implications Unplugging provided the needed break from day-to-day distractions and stressors, while walking outdoors provided revival through the increased sensory awareness and attitude of gratitude manifested in a natural environment. My examination of unplugging to walk in nature as a catalyst for professional gain, increased my awareness of the need for sustainable ways of working in higher education. This awareness is an essential step in understanding and addressing the need for healthier, more supportive academic environments. Originality/value My findings illustrate the disparity between university system requirements and the basic human need for periods of revitalization and connection with nature. I intend that this narrative will inspire other academics to reflect on the role of technology in their work and to investigate how being unplugged and walking can influence their professional lives.