How to get the most out of your sabbatical 

There are many ways in which modern culture has moved away from organized religion, but one vestige of it that remains in the academy is the concept of the sabbatical. Based on the biblical idea of the sabbath, it is meant as a day of rest, or, in the university, a year of rest.   

The modern sabbatical is not all rest, but it gives us a reprieve from the grind of committee work and teaching, which, although it can be deeply rewarding, takes us away from full-time scholarship. Sabbaticals are not automatic at all institutions, but in Canada, after four to six years of full-time teaching, most of us can enjoy this respite for what it is: a wonderful opportunity to renew and refresh. Because it is such a precious thing, we need to make the most of the time, and that starts with planning in advance. 

The first thing you must do, usually the year before the break takes place, is to put together a sabbatical application. Although this application should not be overwhelming, it is a moment to take stock of what is realistic in a six- or 12-month timeframe. It is also the time to map out what each task or project will be, and how long it will take. We often come up with grand ideas for what we will accomplish, only to be humbled, in our end-of-leave report, by how little we got done compared to our aspirations.  

I recommend taking a few weeks at the beginning of the leave to regroup and recalibrate before diving in. You will be coming off of a few years of intense labour, and you will need a chance to catch your breath. A vacation is also a must, and this is different from the initial breather. Schedule your vacation for a time that suits your energy, family commitments and travel plans.  

Years ago, faculty were expected to travel to another location for their sabbaticals, and if you are doing this, you must make any necessary academic connections and accommodation arrangements at or before the time of your sabbatical application. If you are visiting an archive or other research site, plan this out in advance, and don’t go right at the beginning of the sabbatical. Try to do some outlining and writing on your project ahead of time, so you know exactly what you are looking for and where the new information will fit. Then you will spend less time, and perhaps less money, at the site, while getting exactly what you need. After these pieces are in place, arrange for house-sitting, pet-sitting, or whatever other services you might need, as well as schooling and other needs of family members who may be travelling with you.  

The best way to plan a project on sabbatical is on a weekly basis. Months can go by unproductively with vague plans, but planning week-by-week allows you to concentrate on a particular part of your project(s) and gives you enough leeway to make changes on the fly, as parts of your writing and research change. 

Take the time to sit down and estimate how long it usually takes you to complete work. We are always optimistic about what we can get done, and you never know when a new idea or discovery will change what you are planning on doing. Therefore, build in a few catch-up or slack weeks within your weekly plan to accommodate unforeseen intellectual (and life) events. 

A change is as good as a rest. If you are working on more than one project, alternate your focus every few weeks. Going back and forth week-to-week can disrupt your flow, but spending three weeks at once to address one chapter or piece of your project, and then switching for one week to something related (or completely different), will be like a cleansing tonic for your mind. Consider adopting a four-day workweek, if possible, to give yourself time to think and to pursue other interests. (I do this when I am on sabbatical, as I am at the time of this writing.) Grinding away at one thing wears you down, even if you are enthusiastic about your work. If you plan these mini-mind-breaks in advance, it gives you something to look forward to. 

Halfway through the sabbatical, take stock at where you are and what still needs to be done and adjust accordingly.  Don’t beat yourself up; change is inevitable in any creative endeavour. At the end of the sabbatical, don’t fret if your final report doesn’t match your original plans.  No doubt a year or two have gone by since that application, and administrators understand that change is a natural part of the process. 

At the end, if you have planned well and taken enough rest, you should be justifiably proud of what you’ve accomplished in your time away, and you will be ready to leap back into your regular schedule.