Bethany Wilinski Coaching

Sabbatical 101

A How To and Education podcast

#194 in How To · 🇦🇺

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About the show

Insight and inspiration for planning your academic sabbatical

Newest episodes

65. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "How do I manage kids and caregiving during sabbatical?"

Nov 11, 2026 18 min

Caring for kids, aging parents, and others in your ecosystem doesn't stop during sabbatical. So how do you balance those responsibilities with your sabbatical goals and priorities? In this episode, I provide you with a framework for thinking about how caregiving will intersect with your sabbatical and tips for setting boundaries around caregiving. Listen to this podcast episode about how to talk to your family about your sabbatical. Read more about balancing caregiving for kids during sabbatical in this blog post: How to create structure when sabbatical and caregiving collide. Need more support for planning your sabbatical and navigating caregiving responsibilities? Schedule a free consultation to learn more about my sabbatical planning programs or to book a one-time intensive problem-solving call.

64. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "How do I create structure for my sabbatical?"

Nov 4, 2026 11 min

Does the idea of having no structure during your sabbatical feel exciting or daunting? Perhaps a bit of both? In this episode, I share concrete tips for creating structure during an unstructured time. Learn more about how to create a flexible structure for your sabbatical in this blog post. Still unsure what to prioritize during sabbatical? Download my free Sabbatical Clarity Toolkit for a step-by-step guide to determining what matters most for your sabbatical. Need more support? Schedule a free consultation to learn how we can work together! Learn more about my sabbatical coaching services.

63. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "How do I protect my time during sabbatical?"

Oct 28, 2026 18 min

Your sabbatical is a rare opportunity to step away from the day-to-day demands of academe and focus on your priorities. Once you've determined what you want to prioritize for your sabbatical, the last thing you want is constant interruptions that take away from your focus on those goals. Setting and communicating boundaries in advance is like creating guardrails for your sabbatical. Instead of putting up an email away message and hoping for the best, you can head into sabbatical confident that you're protecting your time. You may be nodding along but also wondering, How do I do that? Fortunately, I have answers. In this episode, I walk you through a 3-step process for setting boundaries to protect your time during sabbatical. You can read more about boundaries in this blog post. If you haven't gotten enough on the boundary front, you can listen to this podcast episode on setting boundaries. If you're thinking, "Boundaries for what? I don't even have a plan!" then this episode titled "What should I do during my sabbatical?" is a good place to start. Need more support determining your sabbatical boundaries? I'd love to work with you! Schedule a free 30-minute consultation to learn how we can work together.

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All episodes

65. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "How do I manage kids and caregiving during sabbatical?"

Nov 11, 2026 18 min

64. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "How do I create structure for my sabbatical?"

Nov 4, 2026 11 min

63. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "How do I protect my time during sabbatical?"

Oct 28, 2026 18 min

62. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "What should I do about email during my sabbatical?"

Oct 21, 2026 10 min

I don't know about you, but I struggle to disconnect from my work email. Disconnecting from email during sabbatical is one way you can make sabbatical feel different from a regular semester. You may agree with this, in theory, but wonder how to put that idea into practice. In this episode, I discuss the three approaches to email during sabbatical and give you tips for managing email during your sabbatical. One key takeaway? An email away message is not the same as creating a boundary around email.

61. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "How can I afford a sabbatical away from home?"

Oct 14, 2026 8 min

So you decided you're going to go away for sabbatical, but you're unsure how to fund it. In this episode I discuss strategies for making a sabbatical away affordable, from trying to hold some of your expenses constant if you don't have external support to applying for external fellowships to fund your sabbatical. Here are links to the resources I mention in the episode: Read this blog post about How to fund an international sabbatical for more information about fellowships available and how to apply. Listen to this podcast episode to learn more about the Fulbright Scholar Program and get tips for applying. Check out these blog posts to learn more about choosing a destination for your sabbatical and planning a sabbatical away with kids. There are many episodes of Sabbatical 101 focused on taking a sabbatical away, which feature stories from faculty, sabbatical spouses, and kids on sabbatical. You can find those episodes here.

60. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "Should I travel for my sabbatical or stay home?"

Oct 7, 2026 15 min

You may be thinking ahead to an upcoming sabbatical and wondering whether it's better to go away or stay home. Or, you may have always envisioned going away for sabbatical, but you're realizing, now that it's here, going away won't be as straightforward as you imagine. Determining whether to go away or stay home for sabbatical isn't just a logistical puzzle or a simple question of what would be best for you professionally. It's a question of what's best for you and those in your ecosystem, in your current season. In this episode, I walk you through the questions you should be asking and give my perspective on when you should keep pushing and when you should revise your expectations. I don't have the answer to whether you should stay or go, but I will give you a set of questions you can ask yourself as you consider what makes the most sense for your sabbatical. If you choose to stay home, here are some ideas for making your time feel different than a regular semester. If you're thinking about going away, here's my take on how to choose the right location. And if you're planning a sabbatical with kids, here are some tips to get you started.

59. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "How do I know if my sabbatical goals are realistic?"

Sep 30, 2026 19 min

Ah, sabbatical goals. It's easy to create an ambitious sabbatical plan that looks great on paper. It's much harder to create a set of sabbatical goals that you can actually accomplish in the time you have, while also making time for rest and personal pursuits. In this slightly longer episode, I discuss the importance of setting realistic goals and walk you through a process for determining whether your goals are realistic. It's hard work, but worth it. If you're struggling with sabbatical goals, maybe you need to step back and let go of all the "shoulds." Read this blog post to learn how to do that. This blog post is about planning summer like a mini-sabbatical, but it's relevant - In it, I describe why we so often fall into the trap of thinking we can accomplish more than what we have time for, and how to plan differently.

58. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "What should I do if I’m totally burned out and I just want to sleep during sabbatical?"

Sep 23, 2026 10 min

If you're so burned out that you can't even imagine working during your sabbatical, this episode is for you. I'll tell you why you should lean in to your instinct to rest, and give you some tips for how to do it. Here are some additional resources about the importance of rest during sabbatical: How to Rest During Sabbatical blog post Sabbatical As Rest article by Amanda Grieme Bradley

57. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "What should I do during my sabbatical?"

Sep 16, 2026 13 min

If you've been wondering what you should do during your sabbatical, you're in the right place. In this episode, I talk about the importance of creating a sabbatical plan that prioritizes your personal needs and goals, and I give you ideas for professional projects that go beyond traditional research outputs. Here's a link to the Bruce Macfarlane article about the changing purpose of the academic sabbatical that I mention in the episode. If you need help figuring out your sabbatical purpose and priorities, download my free Sabbatical Clarity Toolkit. Prefer to read about what you should do during sabbatical? Check out this blog post.

56. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "Should I take a full year or a one-semester sabbatical?"

Sep 9, 2026 10 min

If you're looking ahead to an upcoming sabbatical, you may be wondering whether you should try to take a full year or a semester-long sabbatical. In this episode, I discuss the financial implications to sabbatical length, and I provide you with ideas for how you can make a full year sabbatical at reduced pay work financially. Here are a few related blog posts and podcast episodes that will be helpful as you think through this question: How to fund an international sabbatical When should I take my sabbatical and how do I apply for one?

55. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "When should I take my sabbatical and how do I apply for one?"

Sep 2, 2026 6 min

Wondering when you'll be eligible for sabbatical and how to navigate the application process? This episode provides insight and guidance into sabbatical eligibility and things to consider as you prepare to apply for sabbatical. Learn more about how to navigate sabbatical eligibility and the application process in this blog post. Looking for sabbatical planning support? Learn more about my signature program, Reignite: Your Life-Changing Sabbatical, and get in touch!

54. Signing off for summer

May 13, 2026 15 min

In this last episode of Sabbatical 101 before I take a break for the summer, I review the most common questions I get about sabbatical planning and reflect on what I've learned over two years as a sabbatical coach. I hope you have a restful summer. I know I'll be slowing down and scaling back. If that sounds appealing to you, but you're not sure how to do it, check out my Summer Reset Workbook. It's full of prompts and guidance to help you identify what's most important this summer and set realistic goals. Read more about the Top 5 Sabbatical Questions I encounter and my tips for navigating them. If you have a fall sabbatical coming up, now is the time to get in touch. I have just a few spots left in my sabbatical planning program for summer. Schedule a free 30-minute call to learn more!

53. The importance of planning a sabbatical with intention and flexibility: The view from Sabbatical #3

May 6, 2026 26 min

In this episode, I talk to Rea Dvakos, an academic librarian at the University of Toronto, about how to intentionally craft a sabbatical that supports personal growth, research breakthroughs, and even retirement planning. Rea’s experience is firsthand evidence that a sabbatical can be more than just a break, but only if you plan it with intention. She shares how her sabbaticals were opportunities to reimagine routines, explore new behaviors, and make space for what truly matters. Rea describes the strategies that have worked for her over three sabbaticals including how to set meaningful personal goals, craft daily routines that match your energy levels, and use sabbaticals as testing grounds for new behaviors or career directions. You'll learn how to reframe setbacks, stay flexible in your plans, and build habits that carry forward long after your time away. If you've ever felt overwhelmed planning your time away or worried about losing momentum, this episode offers practical insights from someone who’s been there multiple times. Feeling overwhelmed or stuck planning your own sabbatical? Learn more about my sabbatical planning program and schedule your free consultation. Listen to these episodes for more about sabbatical planning:

52. Getting ready to plan your sabbatical: Navigating eligibility and university deadlines

Apr 29, 2026 17 min

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.

51. Live coaching: Reframing sabbatical expectations with Kaitlin Clinnin

Apr 15, 2026 36 min

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Kaitlin Clinnin, Associate Professor of Writing and Rhetoric at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. We discuss Kaitlin's ambitious sabbatical goals, in the process, reframe her expectations for what productivity will look like during her yearlong sabbatical. Listen in to learn how we approach structuring sabbatical time, balancing productivity with rest, and reframing sabbatical “success” from high-stakes output to foundational learning, fieldwork, and engagement with a new disciplinary area. If you're wondering what counts as "productivity" during a sabbatical or worried that the work you plan to do to read and learn about a new research area or think deeply about your current projects will "count" as a sabbatical output, then I encourage you to listen. I think you'll find Kaitlin's reframing about what "counts" as work during sabbatical very insightful. 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, check out my website: www.bethanywilinski.com. If you'd like to talk more about your sabbatical and learn about how I can help, you can schedule a Free Consultation here.

50. Why you should plan your summer like a mini-sabbatical

Apr 1, 2026 27 min

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.

49. Live coaching: Time management during a sabbatical with Courtney Burns

Mar 18, 2026 34 min

This episode is a live coaching session with Dr. Courtney Burns about planning a year-long sabbatical at home. Courtney is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Bucknell University and plans to use her sabbatical to submit journal articles, make progress on a book manuscript, and get back in touch with her hobbies. We talk about how to intentionally design a sabbatical at home (instead of letting it “just happen”), balancing personal needs with professional pressure to produce, common challenges faculty face on sabbatical, including guilt, overcommitment, and unclear goals, and Courtney’s experiment with structuring her year as a series of focused writing sprints followed by true rest. If you’re a faculty member heading into a sabbatical—or dreaming of one—this episode will give you ideas for creating a sustainable, satisfying balance between your personal life and your writing goals. To learn more about my signature coaching program, Reignite, check out my website: www.bethanywilinski.com. If you'd like to talk more about your sabbatical and learn about how I can help, you can schedule a Free Consultation here.

48. Tips for getting a Fulbright to fund your sabbatical

Mar 4, 2026 54 min

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.

47. Live coaching: Making time for all the things during sabbatical with Allison Bloom

Feb 18, 2026 34 min

Allison Bloom is an Associate Professor of Anthropology in the Sociology and Anthropology Department at Moravian University. She is a medical and feminist anthropologist and her research centers around social services and gender-based violence, particularly for marginalized populations. Allison has a yearlong sabbatical coming up, and in this episode, we discuss her plan to pursue a professional licensure program, finish a book, and determine her future research directions during her sabbatical. If you’re wondering how you’ll make time for all your sabbatical goals while also making time for rest and self-care, you’ll want to listen to this conversation. We talk about how to prioritize sabbatical goals, how to create buffer in your daily schedule, and how create a plan that feels balanced and not just like you’re trying to cram everything into your sabbatical year. To learn more about my signature coaching program, Reignite, check out my website: www.bethanywilinski.com.

46. How to set boundaries for your sabbatical

Feb 4, 2026 35 min

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.

45. Live coaching: Multiple sabbaticals, competing priorities with Kathryn Temple

Jan 21, 2026 51 min

In this live coaching session, I’m joined by Kathryn Temple, professor of law & humanities at Georgetown University, to explore the practical and emotional dimensions of sabbatical life. Drawing from her extensive experience, Kathryn shares why it’s crucial not to romanticize sabbaticals as total escapes from life’s responsibilities. We talk candidly about planning for disruptions, setting priorities, managing boundaries, and embracing the messiness of the process. Kathryn also shares what’s on her plate for her upcoming sabbatical—including an academic book, a poetry collection, and a new writing coaching venture to support non-traditional students. Whether you’re planning your first or fifth sabbatical, this conversation offers grounded insights for making the most of your time away. If you’re wondering how to figure out what to prioritize during your sabbatical, click here to download my free Sabbatical Clarity Toolkit!

44. How to make the most of a pre-tenure sabbatical

Jan 7, 2026 34 min

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/

43. From sabbatical to CEO: My sabbatical coaching journey

Dec 22, 2025 41 min

Wondering why I became a sabbatical coach and how I started my business? I was a guest on the podcast Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor with Paulina Cossette, PhD, and today I'm re-airing that episode. If you're curious about working with me, this episode will give a behind-the-scenes glimpse at why I do what I do. If you're thinking about starting your own academia-adjacent side-business, you'll get insight into how I started my business, including: -how I defined my niche and identified the problem I solve for clients, -how I found my first clients, -when and how I created my website, -and how I've continued to attract clients (over 30 as of this broadcast!) while balancing my business with my academic job and life as a mom-without getting burned out. To learn more about my signature coaching program, Reignite, check out my website: www.bethanywilinski.com.

42. Live coaching: Creating structure and connection during sabbatical with Paul Fleming

Dec 10, 2025 39 min

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.

41. When sabbatical leads to a career change

Nov 26, 2025 31 min

My guest for this episode is Tom Mullett, a former UK record label manager turned passionate foreign language teacher. Tom took a sabbatical in South America in 2018 and never left. He developed a love for teaching English during sabbatical, so much so that in 2023 he designed his own accredited TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course, and now trains budding TEFL teachers from around the world. In this episode we talk about what drove Tom to his sabbatical, how he found purpose during his sabbatical teaching English, and why he ended up staying in Colombia instead of going back to his previous life in the UK. Even though Tom isn't an academic, there's a lot in this conversation that will resonate with academics. Tom's sabbatical gives us a firsthand view of the importance of knowing the purpose of your sabbatical and underscores the importance of developing the elements of your identity that are not connected to your work or career. You can learn more about Tom's TEFL course here: https://precisiontefl.com/ If you’re wondering how to figure out what to prioritize during your sabbatical, click here to download my free Sabbatical Clarity Toolkit! If you're planning a family sabbatical away from home, check out my Family Sabbatical Program. It's a step-by-step guide that will take you through all the steps you need to plan and prepare for your time away!

40. Live coaching: Pivoting your sabbatical plan with Jamie Lawler

Nov 12, 2025 31 min

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.

39. Running a lab during a research leave or sabbatical

Oct 29, 2025 27 min

Monika Gulia-Nuss is an Associate Professor in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular biology at the University of Nevada – Reno. In the spring of 2025, she had a Fulbright and spent 3 months in Urugay. Monika used her time to collaborate with colleagues around the study of ticks that affect the cattle population in Uruguay. In this episode, we talk about the impetus for applying for a Fulbright, how Monika managed her lab of 16 people while she was away, and how being away from home and her lab helped her reflect on her career and realign her work with her personal and professional priorities. If you’re someone who runs a lab and you’re wondering how you might be able to leave your lab during sabbatical, I think this episode will give you hope and some good ideas for how to make it happen. Learn more about the Fulbright Scholar Program: https://fulbrightscholars.org/ Learn more about my sabbatical planning programs: https://bethanywilinski.com/services

38. Writing academic articles doesn't have to be a mystery

Oct 15, 2025 30 min

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

37. Live coaching: Structuring time during a sabbatical away with Elizabeth Canning

Oct 1, 2025 32 min

In this live coaching session I’m talking to Elizabeth Canning. Elizabeth is an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at Washington State University. This fall she will begin her first year-long sabbatical in Berlin, Germany with her family. Elizabeth is fortunate that a lot of the logistics associated with moving abroad for sabbatical are being coordinated by the fellowship. Even so, she’s been busy working on all the arrangements for sabbatical and hasn’t had a lot of time to think about what she’s actually going to do while she’s in Berlin. What Elizabeth was most concerned about is how to create structure in her days to ensure she uses her sabbatical time well. Her goals are to rest and recover from burnout, finish a few writing projects, and spend some time reading and generating a list of possible new projects. If you’re wondering how to create structure in your days or how to balance personal and professional goals during your sabbatical, then I think you’re going to find this episode really helpful! 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’re wondering how to figure out what to prioritize during your sabbatical, click here to download my free Sabbatical Clarity Toolkit!

36. Sabbatical away from a spouse's perspective

Sep 17, 2025 32 min

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!

35. Welcome back! Summer break, back to school, and what's ahead for Sabbatical 101

Sep 3, 2025 17 min

Welcome back to Sabbatical 101! I’m so excited for the new academic year and looking forward to sharing new episodes with you! As you’re easing out of summer and getting into new school year routines, you may be thinking about your sabbatical. In this episode I share a few prompts for reflection that can help you start to identify what you need from your sabbatical. If you’re looking for more like this, check out my Sabbatical Clarity Toolkit, which you can find on my homepage, and here: https://bethanywilinski.com/freebies/ This season I’ll be dropping new episodes every other Wednesday, so be sure to subscribe! I’m really excited to share the 7 live coaching sessions I recorded this spring with faculty who are at different stages of sabbatical planning. I hope you enjoy them! If you like what you hear on the podcast and you’re looking for more support, please reach out to me using the contact form on my website (https://bethanywilinski.com/contact/) or grab a spot on my calendar for a free, no pressure, consultation (https://bethanywilinski.com/discovery-call).

34. What I've learned from a year of sabbatical coaching

Apr 23, 2025 12 min

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!

33. Breaking out of the cycle of perfectionism with The Academic Imperfectionist

Apr 16, 2025 40 min

Rebecca Roache is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of London. She’s also a coach who helps academics ditch perfectionism. Rebecca’s coaching business is called The Academic Imperfectionist, and she also hosts a podcast under the same name. Join us for this conversation about what perfectionism looks like in academia, what causes it, and how it holds us back as academics. We also talk about how to set reasonable expectations for doing a good enough job, how the culture of academia keeps us in pursuit of perfectionism and ways to recognize and interrupt that trap, including helpful mindset tips. You can learn more about Rebecca’s coaching work and find her podcast at: http://www.academicimperfectionist.com Just a quick reminder that this is the second to last episode of the podcast before I take a break for the summer. Next week I’ll talk about how to come back from sabbatical, and I hope over the summer you’ll revisit past episodes or read my blog for even more sabbatical ideas and insight. As always, you can find me at http://www.bethanywilinski.com.

32. Sabbatical rescue with Amy Belfi

Apr 9, 2025 19 min

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!

31. The lasting impact of a life-changing sabbatical

Apr 2, 2025 16 min

If you’ve been listening to this podcast or checking out my website, you know that I talk a lot about life-changing sabbaticals. And yes, I know, that sounds trite to many academics, who tend to be skeptical of such claims. That’s totally fair. And yet… I had a life-changing sabbatical, and I’m convinced that it’s possible. In this episode I talk about some of the lasting effects of my sabbatical and how, exactly, it changed my life and the way I approach my work. If you’d like to talk more about how your sabbatical can be life-changing, book a Free Consultation to learn more about my signature program, Reignite: Your-Life Changing Sabbatical! You can also read more the Reignite program here.

30. Balancing rest and productivity during an academic sabbatical

Mar 26, 2025 19 min

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!

29. How to write more during sabbatical

Mar 12, 2025 42 min

This week my guest is Professor Leslie Wang, an award-winning author, writing coach, and publishing strategist. She designed Your Words Unleashed to help women scholars develop the practical strategies and unshakable self-confidence to become a published author – one who thrives every step of the way. In this episode, Leslie shares tips for getting more writing done during sabbatical and provides insight into how working with a coach can help support your sabbatical writing goals. You can find Leslie and learn more about her programs at https://yourwordsunleashed.com/. Leslie offers private coaching for scholarly authors and career coaching for overwhelmed academics. She is also host of the Your Words Unleashed Podcast, which has great tips for creating a sustainable writing practice, identifying ideal readers, finding your authentic voice, and getting published by an academic press.

28. A peek into my sabbatical coaching business

Mar 12, 2025 6 min

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!

27. What should I actually do on my sabbatical?

Mar 5, 2025 11 min

Have you ever wondered how much work is enough for an academic sabbatical or what types of projects academics typically work on during sabbatical? In this episode, I talk about how to rethink what counts as a productive sabbatical and walk you through a list of the possibilities you might consider as you think about the professional projects you’d like to focus on for your sabbatical. If you want to see that list, check out this blog post. If you need help determining your sabbatical purpose, check out this worksheet. And finally, if you’d like to chat about what it’s like to work with me to plan your sabbatical, I’d love for you to book a discovery call.

26. What to do when your sabbatical goes sideways

Feb 26, 2025 15 min

If you're a few months (or maybe even a semester+) into your sabbatical and you're realizing that things are not going as planned, then you need to listen up. In this episode I share the 5 steps you can take right now to start getting your sabbatical back on track. I hope you'll find these strategies helpful. If you'd like even more support, check out my program, Sabbatical Rescue! Through a combination of activities you complete on your own and one-on-one coaching sessions, this intensive program will help you get your sabbatical back on track in two weeks or less! If you'd like to talk more about your sabbatical and learn about how I can help, you can schedule a Free Consultation here. www.bethanywilinski.com

25. How to publish more during your sabbatical

Feb 19, 2025 37 min

My guest on this episode is Paulina Cossette, owner of Acadia Editing. Throughout her 12 years in academia as a graduate student and tenure-track political science professor, Paulina struggled to find joy while working 7 days a week. She finally found the courage to leave the academy in 2019 and became an academic copy editor. Since then, she has built a thriving six-figure editing and coaching business that allows her to live and work wherever and whenever she wants, take real vacations without any guilt, and collaborate with kind, brilliant clients all over the world. Paulina now shares what she's learned through her digital course and group coaching program, Becoming an Academic Editor. The program teaches burned-out academics how to build a profitable and rewarding academic editing or coaching business so they can have true time freedom and a stable income--without the stress of a toxic work environment. In this episode, Paulina shares more about what it’s like to work with an academic editor and provides insight into the process of becoming an academic editor if you’re looking to start a side-business or thinking about creating a full-time business. If you’re planning a sabbatical (or already on sabbatical), I think you’ll want to seriously consider working with an academic editor after you listen to this episode! To learn more about becoming an academic editor, you can sign up for Paulina’s free video series here: https://acadiaediting.com/becomeaneditor You can also find Paulina on social media: IG: https://instagram.com/acadiaediting FB: https://facebook.com/acadiaeditingservices LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/paulinacossette To learn more about my signature coaching program, Reignite, check out my website: www.bethanywilinski.com. If you'd like to talk more about your sabbatical and learn about how I can help, you can schedule a Free Consultation here.

24. How to set boundaries for your sabbatical

Feb 12, 2025 12 min

Setting clear boundaries for your sabbatical is critical to ensuring you’ll have time to achieve what you set out to accomplish during your time away. In the episode, I discuss the importance of sabbatical boundaries and outline four steps you can take to set boundaries, whether you’re planning your sabbatical or already on sabbatical. I love helping clients figure out their sabbatical boundaries; this is one of the most important things we do in my sabbatical planning programs. To learn more about my signature coaching program, Reignite, check out my website: www.bethanywilinski.com. If you'd like to talk more about your sabbatical and learn about how I can help, you can schedule a Free Consultation here.

23. Margaret's sabbatical with kids in the UK

Feb 5, 2025 34 min

Margaret Sallee is a professor of higher education at the University at Buffalo. She's taken two sabbaticals—one at home and one away with her two children. In this episode we talk about Margaret’s sabbaticals and she shares insight and advice about taking a sabbatical away with kids. You’ll find this episode helpful if you’re considering taking a sabbatical away with kids or if you’re in the midst of planning one. Margaret shares her experience arranging all the logistics – housing, schools, visas, insurance – and all about what she and her daughters loved about their sabbatical. Margaret’s sabbatical is also a great example of how to pivot and make the most of a sabbatical when things don’t go as planned, both personally and professionally. If you want to learn more about planning a sabbatical away with kids, I talk about this in Episode 5. You can also hear about Kristine's experience in Episode 10 and Courtenay's story in Episode 15. 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! To learn more about my signature coaching program, Reignite, check out my website: www.bethanywilinski.com. If you'd like to talk more about your sabbatical and learn about how I can help, you can schedule a Free Consultation here.

22. How to plan your academic sabbatical

Jan 29, 2025 19 min

In this episode I share three steps you can take to start planning your academic sabbatical. Following these three steps is going to help you get clarity about what you want to get out of your sabbatical and more confident in your sabbatical plan. So, pull up a comfy chair, get out a pencil and paper, and start making your sabbatical plan now! If you’re wondering how to figure out what to prioritize during your sabbatical, click here to download my free Sabbatical Clarity Toolkit! 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! To learn more about my signature coaching program, Reignite, check out my website: www.bethanywilinski.com. If you'd like to talk more about your sabbatical and learn about how I can help, you can schedule a Free Consultation here.

21. Sabbatical away from a kid's perspective, Part 2

Jan 22, 2025 12 min

Here's another take on going away for sabbatical, this time from my daughter, Clara. Clara was 5 when we went to Bordeaux and started kindergarten in France. In this episode, she shares her favorite things about living in France (spoiler alert: it's mostly food-related!). If you want to hear more about kids' experiences on sabbatical, check out Episode 6. If you want to learn more about planning a sabbatical away with kids, I talk about this in Episode 5. You can also hear about Kristine's experience in Episode 10 and Courtenay's story in Episode 15. 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! To learn more about my signature coaching program, Reignite, check out my website: www.bethanywilinski.com. If you'd like to talk more about your sabbatical and learn about how I can help, you can schedule a Free Consultation here.

20. Alison's stay-battical plan to rest and reset

Jan 15, 2025 17 min

Alison is recently tenured associate professor who worked with me to plan her first sabbatical. In this episode, Alison talks about what she has planned for her Spring 2025 sabbatical, and about which aspects of the Reignite program were most beneficial to her as she created her sabbatical plan. One of the things I love about this conversation is that Alison talks about the specific steps of the program she found most useful. These included creating a calendar for her sabbatical, which is something we do in Week 5 and setting boundaries, which we do in Week 6. Alison also talks about going back to her Guiding Principles, which she created in Week 2 of the program, and using them as a guide to determine what to take on and what to say no to during her sabbatical. Identifying the purpose and priorities of your sabbatical is such a critical starting point, but most people skip over this step when they plan their sabbatical. If you’d like to learn more about how to do this, you can download my free Sabbatical Clarity Toolkit and listen to Episode 14 of the podcast. To learn more about my signature coaching program, Reignite, check out my website: www.bethanywilinski.com. If you'd like to talk more about your sabbatical and learn about how I can help, you can schedule a Free Consultation here.

19. Starting the new year with a solid sabbatical plan

Jan 8, 2025 9 min

And we’re back! I’m kicking off 2025 with an episode about how you can gift yourself a solid sabbatical plan for the new year. If you’re someone who’s thinking about planning a sabbatical, or if you’re already on sabbatical and it’s not going well, then this episode is for you. I mention a lot of different links and resources in the episode, and here they are: My website: www.bethanywilinski.com Book a Free Consultation here: 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. Learn more about Sabbatical Rescue Read my blog

18. What even is a sabbatical coach?

Dec 11, 2024 14 min

Whether you’ve been listening for awhile or this is your first episode, you may be wondering what a sabbatical coach does, and why someone would want to work with one. In this episode, I tell you all about what it’s like to work with me and why my clients have found it beneficial. I give concrete examples from my clients’ experiences so you can see exactly what I’m talking about. In the episode, I mention links and free guides, so here they are: To learn more about my signature coaching program, Reignite, check out my website: www.bethanywilinski.com. To schedule a Free Consultation, click here. Listen to this podcast episode to learn more about identifying your sabbatical purpose, and this one for an example from Beth, one of my clients. If you’re wondering how to figure out what to prioritize during your sabbatical, click here to download my free Sabbatical Clarity Toolkit!

17. Becoming a poet on sabbatical

Dec 4, 2024 49 min

My colleague Janine Certo is one of the most graceful and put-together people I know. She has such a calming presence, and I think that sense of calm comes through in this episode. Janine is an associate professor in the department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University and an award-winning poet. In this episode, Janine talks about her two year-long sabbaticals and her plans for her next one. She describes leaning into her work as a poet during sabbatical and how she has developed a writing and reading habit that supports her scholarly and personal pursuits during her sabbaticals. Finally, Janine shares some great ideas about setting boundaries for sabbatical and about how to navigate coming back to work after sabbatical. 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, check out my website: www.bethanywilinski.com. If you'd like to talk more about your sabbatical and learn about how I can help, you can schedule a Free Consultation here.

16. How to talk to your family about your sabbatical

Nov 25, 2024 9 min

This episode is a pre-Thanksgiving/holiday season primer for talking to your family about your current or upcoming sabbatical. Before I went on sabbatical I thought a lot about setting boundaries at work, but I didn’t give much thought to setting boundaries with my family for my sabbatical. If you’re planning a sabbatical right now or in the middle of one, I’m guessing you may not have given this much thought either, and I hope I can share some helpful ideas and insight. These come from my own experience and from what I’ve learned from my clients since launching my sabbatical coaching business 6 months ago. Need boundary-setting support? To learn more about my signature coaching program, Reignite, check out my website: www.bethanywilinski.com. If you'd like to talk more about your sabbatical and learn about how I can help, you can schedule a Free Consultation here.

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65. Sabbatical Soundbytes: "How do I manage kids and caregiving during sabbatical?"

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Created by: Bethany Wilinski Coaching
Status: Active
Latest episode: Nov 11, 2026
Episodes: 65
Release period: Weekly
Avg. episode length: 24 min
Explicit: No
Language: English

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