Teaching Professor and Writer on Motherhood, Work, & Well-Being
I write about the messy, beautiful, and often unsustainable intersection of work, motherhood, and identity.
As a teaching professor who specializes in happiness, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence, I’ve spent years immersed in the science of what helps people flourish. I’ve also lived the tension of knowing those answers while feeling pulled under by modern expectations of motherhood, people-pleasing, and hustle culture.
I took a break from paid work to rethink what it means to live well in a world that rewards burnout, glorifies busyness, and hands mothers an impossible load to carry.
I’m currently writing a book, Out of Office, that blends science, storytelling, and systems thinking to explore the deep-rooted pressures working mothers face and how we might reimagine ambition, rest, and worth beyond the to-do list.
I’d love to connect with you if any of these ideas resonate. You can find my writing and contribute to the conversation at https://tabithakirkland.substack.com
When I’m not writing, you can find me exploring the slow life with my kids, connecting with my students, and going for long runs in the company of a good (or trashy) audio book.