Sabbatical 101

When it comes to planning a sabbatical there are a lot of logistics to be aware of. This information is often not clearly laid out on institutional websites or faculty handbooks. In this episode, I go over six things you should know about before you start to plan your sabbatical. I discuss: eligibility, sabbatical timing, the application process and deadlines, understanding how to fund your sabbatical, and when to start applying for fellowships. I hope this episode will help you understand when you'll be eligible for sabbatical and will help you understand the requirements at your institution. You can learn more about the Summer Reset Workbook here. And purchase your copy here. Learn more about funding your sabbatical here.

Does this sound familiar? It's the start of summer and you feel like you have nothing but time ahead of you, time to finally get all those things on your to-do list done. Fast forward to August and you feel overwhelmed by how much you still need to get done and vaguely guilty that you didn't get more accomplished. This episode is your invitation to break that cycle. In it, I teach you how to approach the summer like a mini-sabbatical, and how to use the strategies I teach my sabbatical coaching clients and apply them to your summer. Planning a summer with intention involves: 1. Identifying your priorities (and being honest with yourself about what really matters) 2. Having fewer goals (only 2-3, max!) 3. And mapping your projects to your calendar to see if your plan is realistic (and then getting rid of projects or making them smaller if not). If you need this summer to be different, you need to listen to this episode. At the end of the episode, I talk about the Summer Reset Workbook, a planning tool that walks you through the steps I describe in the podcast, and much more. It's only $20, and it's your guide to planning a summer with intention, so you can feel great in August. Until April 11, 2026, you can save 25% on the Summer Reset Workbook using this link. Learn more about the workbook here.

Do you want to spend your sabbatical living abroad? Figuring out all the logistics of moving away for sabbatical can be challenging. One of the biggest questions I get is how to find funding for a sabbatical abroad. If funding a sabbatical abroad is on your mind, then this episode will give you tons of information and insight into one option that might work for you. This episode will help you think about and navigate the process of applying for a Fulbright Scholar award. My guest is Mark Lilleleht, Fulbright Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mark brings deep knowledge of the Fulbright program to this conversation, in which he shares information about the types of Fulbright awards available, his recommended strategies for navigating the Fulbright Scholar Award Catalog and building relationships with potential host institutions, and so much more. If you're interested in Fulbright, you might also want to listen to these Sabbatical 101 episodes, which feature interviews with scholars who have gotten Fulbright awards: Courtenay's Fulbright semester in Ireland (Courtenay took a semester leave for her Fulbright) Planning a sabbatical away with Kristine Bowman (Kristine had a Fulbright in Australia for her sabbatical) Running a lab during a research leave or sabbatical (Monika had a 3-month Fulbright in Uruguay) You can also read this blog post I wrote about How to Fund an International Sabbatical for more ideas and funding opportunities. Are you planning a family sabbatical away from home? My Family Sabbatical Program is a step-by-step guide that will take you through all the steps you need to plan and prepare for your time away! If you'd like to talk more about your sabbatical and learn about how I can help, you can schedule a Free Consultation here.

Setting boundaries is definitely not the most fun part of sabbatical planning, but it's incredibly important. Boundaries are the guardrails that help you preserve your time and energy on sabbatical, so you can accomplish the goals you set and not get bogged down in with meetings and other commitments. In this episode I share why setting boundaries before your sabbatical starts is so important, and I give you strategies for determining your boundaries, communicating those boundaries, and holding your boundaries. Setting and communicating boundaries is a critical part of planning a successful sabbatical and requires some time and thought. If you're on sabbatical and haven't set boundaries or if you're planning a sabbatical, I encourage you to listen and follow these steps for setting and communicating boundaries. Need more support? I can help! Learn more about my sabbatical planning services here and schedule your free consultation today! If you'd prefer to read about boundary-setting, check out this blog post.

In this episode, I talk with historian and Denison University assistant professor Julie Mujic about her pre-tenure sabbatical—and how she designed it during a moment of deep burnout and family transition. Julie shares how she balanced the pressure of moving her scholarship forward on a tight tenure timeline while staying present for her high-school–aged daughters. We discuss the boundaries she set, the opportunities she learned to say no to, and how she reconnected with her identity as a writer. Julie also reflects on what it looked like to recover from burnout while still making meaningful, decisive progress on her work. This conversation is especially for scholars who are pre-tenure, caregiving, or simply exhausted by the grind of academic life—and looking for a more sustainable way forward. Looking for sabbatical planning support? Whether you have a pre- or post-tenure sabbatical, I can help you figure out your sabbatical priorities and build a plan that combines restoration and productivity. Learn more and book a free consultation here: https://bethanywilinski.com/services/reignite/

Paul Fleming is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He partners with community based organizations to work on projects that help identify the root causes of racial health inequities and how to address pressing health issues. He is a father of three and his new book is titled Imagine Doing Better: Why policies backfire and how prevention thinking can change everything. In this live coaching session, we discuss: -Balancing multiple priorities during sabbatical -Creating a structure for sabbatical that allows time for writing and creating as well as more focused connection with family -How identifying a vibe you want for your sabbatical can help support the planning process -Being intentional about our habits and the ways they do (and do not) support our personal and professional priorities I think you’ll find a lot in here that will help you think about your own sabbatical. I hope you enjoy the episode! If you'd like to talk more about your sabbatical and learn about how I can help, you can schedule a Free Consultation here.

Jamie Lawler is a clinical and developmental psychologist with expertise in early life stress, self-regulation, and mental health interventions for children. She is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Eastern Michigan University. Jamie's research program is grounded in developmental psychopathology and focuses on the impact of early life stress on the socio-emotional development of children and on interventions to promote resilience. Jamie was awarded her first post-tenure sabbatical and decided to apply for a Fulbright to go to Greece, where she had made connections with a psychology department that was interested in her expertise. However, changes in her personal life and the ever-changing political climate in early 2025 made her increasingly less confident that she would be able to spend her sabbatical in Greece. In this episode we discuss why she needs to pivot her plan and how she can make the most of a sabbatical at home that she wasn't planning to take. For more about having a transformative stay-battical, check out this blog post: https://bethanywilinski.com/cultivating-new-rhythms-during-a-stay-battical/ If you need to re-think your sabbatical plan, I'd love to support you. Click here to schedule a free consultation.

This episode is all about writing, something I know many of us have goals of doing more of during our sabbatical. My guest is Dr. Anna Clemens, an academic writing coach who runs the Researchers' Writing Academy. In this conversation, Anna talks about how she helps academics in the natural sciences write better articles through the use of storytelling techniques. Dr Anna Clemens is an academic writing coach who runs the Researchers’ Writing Academy, an online program for researchers who want to develop a structured writing process to get published in top-tier journals. It’s her company’s mission to make academia a more diverse and joyful place for researchers from all backgrounds. Here are all the ways you can get in touch with Anna and learn more about her programs: Free 1h writing training: https://www.annaclemens.com/training Website: https://www.annaclemens.com/ YouTube: The Researchers’ Writing Academy Researchers’ Writing Podcast: on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts BlueSky: @annaclemens.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclemens/ Threads: @researcherswrite

This is a special episode today because it’s one I recorded with my husband, Daniel, about his experience as the trailing spouse on our sabbatical away in France. These episodes with my family are, I hope, helpful to you, but honestly one of the reasons I love them is because I’m creating this record of my sabbatical and getting to hear more about the sabbatical from the perspective of my family members, whose experiences were in some ways very similar to mine but in other ways quite different. The purpose of this episode is to help sabbatical-goers and sabbatical spouses or partners think about what a sabbatical looks like from the other side. We talk about what it was like for Daniel as I was planning our sabbatical, how he deliberately chose to follow my lead and not get too attached to any one outcome, what Daniel’s day to day experience was like on sabbatical – living in a new place and working remotely, and how Daniel thinks it’s changed him and our family. I think this conversation is really rich and insightful, but I’m also biased, so I’ll let you be the judge of that. I hope you take some insight away from it that will help you think in new and different ways about your sabbatical. Are you planning a family sabbatical away from home? My Family Sabbatical Program is a step-by-step guide that will take you through all the steps you need to plan and prepare for your time away!

In this final episode before I take a break for summer, I’m reflecting on a year of sabbatical coaching—what I’ve learned, what surprised me, and what I think every academic should know about planning a life-changing l sabbatical. Whether you’re dreaming about your first sabbatical or actively planning one, this episode is full of insights to help you make the most of your time away from the day-to-day grind. Plus, I’m sharing a sneak peek at what’s coming this fall: a series of live coaching sessions with academics who are facing real-life sabbatical planning challenges. You won’t want to miss it! Here are the key takeaways from my first year as a sabbatical coach: There’s No “Right” Way to Sabbatical Forget the one-size-fits-all model. Sabbaticals don’t have to mean moving abroad or doing research in a specific location. Your sabbatical should reflect your goals and circumstances. Your Sabbatical Application Is Not Your Sabbatical Plan Submitting your application is just the beginning. A truly restorative and productive sabbatical starts with identifying your purpose—and letting that purpose guide your decisions. Sabbatical is a time to Reconnect with Your Whole Self Sabbaticals are a powerful opportunity to rediscover non-academic interests and parts of your identity that often get sidelined. A Sabbatical Can Be a Turning Point The boundaries, habits, and insights you develop during sabbatical can shape your work and life long after it’s over—if you let them. If you’re wondering how to figure out what to prioritize during your sabbatical, click here to download my free Sabbatical Clarity Toolkit! To learn more about my signature coaching program, Reignite: Your Life-Changing Sabbatical, click here. You can also schedule a Free Consultation with me here. I hope to hear from you soon!

Amy Belfi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Science at Missouri University of Science and Technology. When her sabbatical began in January 2025, she had no idea how to make the most of it, and no solid plan in place. Fortunately, Amy and I connected, and she enrolled in my Sabbatical Rescue program. Two weeks later, Amy was ready to head into sabbatical feeling confident in her plan. Learn all about Amy’s sabbatical in this episode! If you’re listening to think and thinking, “hmmm, maybe my sabbatical needs to be rescued,” please get in touch! I’d love to hear what’s going on and share more about how I can support you in making the most of your sabbatical, whether you’re just getting started or halfway through. As Amy mentions in the episode, she also has a side business! Amy is a travel planner specializing in Disney destinations. Learn more at https://www.amydoesdisney.com/ or follow Amy on Instagram @thetravelingdisnerd!

This episode is inspired by a topic that comes up time and again when I talk to my clients and prospective clients: How to create a balance between rest and work during sabbatical. If you’ve ever wondered about this, then you’re going to find this episode helpful. While no two sabbaticals are going to look the same, and the balance between rest and productivity depends so much on the person and what they need from their sabbatical, in this episode I share 3 tips that will help you think about how to strike the right balance for your sabbatical. Here are the resources I mention in the episode: Episode 27: What should I actually do on my sabbatical? Blog post: How to rest during sabbatical Information about my sabbatical program: Reignite: Your Life-Changing Sabbatical Link to book a Free Consultation with me: https://bethanywilinski.com/discovery-call/ If you’re wondering how to figure out what to prioritize during your sabbatical, click here to download my free Sabbatical Clarity Toolkit!

I wasn’t going to record this week, but I couldn’t resist. I launched my business about 10 months ago, and I’m so proud of what it’s become. Every day I’m inspired by the academics I work with, who are planning transformative sabbaticals that will help them continue to do work that matters. This episode is a really quick recap of what I’ve been up to over the past 10 months and where I’m headed. I hope you’ll listen in to hear how many clients I’ve worked with, what disciplines they’re in, and which colleges and universities they represent. To learn more about my signature coaching program, Reignite: Your Life-Changing Sabbatical, click here. You can also schedule a call with me here. If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email: bethany@bethanywilinski.com. I hope to hear from you soon!