Last Updated on May 13, 2026 by Bethany Wilinski
What are sabbatical “shoulds”?
It’s so common to approach your academic sabbatical with your mind cluttered with “shoulds.” Do any of these sound familiar?
I should submit X articles during my sabbatical.
I should apply for that grant during my sabbatical.
I should use my sabbatical to collect data.
I should write a book during my sabbatical.
Your sabbatical “shoulds” are a set of stories you’ve acquired over time. They’re drawn from messages you’ve gotten ever since you were in grad school–about being productive all the time, always striving for the next grant or high-impact publication, and never letting an opportunity pass you by. By the time you finally get to your sabbatical, you start to think that there’s a set formula for what a sabbatical looks like, and that a sabbatical should center around research productivity.
What does a good sabbatical look like?
The truth, which may feel slightly discomfiting, is that there’s no formula for a successful sabbatical. A sabbatical can look so many different ways, and the best sabbatical for you is the one you need, right now.
The sabbatical you need may be one that is focused on pushing out a few publications or finally digging into that analysis you’ve been meaning to get to.
It’s just as likely that the sabbatical you need is one that allows you to slow down and rest so you can overcome the burnout that’s plagued you since you started your tenure-track position.
Guess what? Both of these sabbatical options are completely valid. Both options “count” as successful. It’s also easy to imagine a sabbatical that incorporates both rest and work; one that allows for a slower pace and a balancing of personal and professional goals.
How to identify (and move beyond) your sabbatical “shoulds”
As you consider your upcoming sabbatical, what are the stories you’re telling yourself about what you “should” do during your sabbatical? When you step away from your sabbatical “shoulds” and envision how you want to feel during and after your sabbatical, what do you picture? What does the version of sabbatical that’s attuned to your current needs and realities look like? What are you doing? Are you resting? Working less, but with greater intentionality? Learning something new? Enjoying more time with friends and family?
Getting really clear about what you need from your sabbatical–about your priorities–is the first step to planning a truly transformative sabbatical. So, let go of all the “shoulds” and start tuning in to your needs and desires.
Get more support
If you’d like more guidance on how to do this, feel free to download my free Sabbatical Clarity Toolkit. Listen to a short audio lesson and then work through 6 quick and easy steps to ditch your sabbatical “shoulds” and connect to your authentic sabbatical vision.