Exploring elusive futures

The research sabbatical – there's something about it that stirs the imagination. The possibilities that go with devoting 100 per cent of your time to research. The new places and people to meet; the space for original thinking; or just simply whiling away the days and weeks with an arcane and rare monograph. For me, the prospect of a research sabbatical represented geeking out on a research area I have been looking at for over a decade – the ability to imagine the future.

In my sabbatical I wanted to explore new directions in future thinking; from using positive future thinking to reduce low mood to looking at how people think of their own and their country's future. In this short reflection, I hope I can use what I have learnt about future thought to give some useful advice to anyone seeking out the elusive research sabbatical.

Unrealistic notions?

My sabbatical was approved in 2021 after submitting my application to a university committee. I had heard of sabbaticals before in my career; I knew my PhD supervisor had a sabbatical after five years as Head of the Psychology Department. My friend and colleague at another post-91 University also had had a sabbatical, by applying after a certain period (around five years of full-time Lecturing). At the time of applying, I had what I now appreciate were unrealistic notions that sabbaticals were attainable and a mainstay of the academic life.

This became crystal clear after telling colleagues about my forthcoming research leave. From the reactions of senior and junior academics I immediately realised that a sabbatical is an elusive entity. Some people are very lucky and have funding schemes to help research careers, but others spend decades without a hint of its existence, often fighting the (uphill) battle to attain research grant funding as their only route to an admin and teaching hiatus. When I first mentioned my sabbatical to a senior colleague at a post-1960s UK University, she was doubly surprised and impressed that my university (a 'new' University, which gained University status in 2005) was able to provide this pure research time – in the 20+ years being at her institution she had not been granted one sabbatical. Another Professor from a UK 'redbrick' – or research-intensive – University provided a more dramatic response to my announcement: 'I've only had one in 20+ years and my next one will probably be in a casket, so make the most of it!'.  Other researchers I met at conferences reacted with surprised expressions when I clarified that my research leave was bonafide – it was free of undergraduate dissertations, tutor meetings or departmental duties. 'You mean to say you have no meetings?!'

In the climate of increased costs at Universities with tighter purse-strings, it is possible that the sabbatical will be a thing of the past. It is probably a concept that developed from a more arcane era of academia when classes were smaller, and the idea of a sabbatical came with different expectations… in the 19th and 20th centuries it was expected that an academic would write a monograph in their sabbatical. In the 21st century, sabbaticals are more likely to spent on writing peer-reviewed papers and grant proposals – things that will lead to esteem and financial rewards for academics and institutions.

However, in my opinion, largely from my own personal experience, I see a powerful yet more intangible value in these periods. It is a time when I could genuinely revisit that feeling of being a PhD student and postdoc, to feel it acceptable (then, after some time, good) about spending a week or maybe two simply reading papers, thinking 'What are the new ideas? Where do they fit into what I would like to do?' To reappreciate and re-evaluate the value of thinking. Fundamentally to enable novel ideas to form; new trails of thought to lead into new places and blossom. Ideas which can reignite enthusiasm, provide many off-shoots for project and can furnish students with exciting projects which can grow, and grow in ways you had never imagined. The value of a sabbatical is in being able to explore not what you already know, but examining paths you had never even considered.

So, here are my top five tips to make the best of a teaching and admin hiatus, in order to reignite your research.

Plan ahead

Sounds obvious, and in many ways it is, but it is always best if you can think about what you want to get out of your sabbatical 6-12 months before it starts. Another thing to consider is how parts of the sabbatical will be funded. If you want to go abroad and visit a specialist lab, or start a new collaboration, you may need extra funding (your salary probably won't cover trips, and it is good experience to apply for funding). Not being worried about funds frees up additional mental space that you will need for important ideas, 'aha moments' and creations!

Out of Office

In your sabbatical your typical relationship with your work practices will change. Think carefully about which tasks you will continue (e.g., meeting postgraduate students) and which you will not (e.g., meeting undergraduates and attending meetings about curricula and exams, meeting tutees), and be clear with colleagues and students where they need to go for support when you are on research leave. A clear and detailed out of office auto-reply is a really good way of; reminding people you are on sabbatical, explaining what this means in terms of your work throughout this period (not everyone will know!), and who to contact for support. Doing this right will make the transition smoother, when going 'away' and when picking up your university roles again.

Be open to possibilities

One thing I noticed in my sabbatical was the amount of positive things that were completely unplanned. Although many of these came from planned events such as conferences and research trips, others came through simply emailing people, and making people aware you have more time to meet and discuss new opportunities. Having this extra time is so valuable and novel, so make the best of it. Email those people who you always wanted to but never had the time. And remember you can always end the message with 'because I'm on sabbatical I would be happy to visit your laboratory at a time of your convenience'. You'll be surprised how positive and open other people are and the kind of opportunities that come your way!

Take time to think

Although it's good to plan trips and conferences to help spark ideas and learn about new research, don't be afraid to take time to simply think. Don't feel bad for letting loved ones know you need to take a week in a writing retreat, even if that's an hour away (getting away is a great way of thinking, as you'll be surprised of the house jobs that 'call for attention' when you are at home!). Read that monograph you always wanted to read from 1880. Look into areas of research techniques you always wondered about. Let yourself absorb all the latest findings. This one may be the hardest to explain to family and friends but do explain to them, that thinking is a big part of your job, and one that is not ordinarily given much time in the busy life of an academic.

Balance

Make sure you have a good balance between the old and the new. It's often very satisfying to finish that project that has been rolling along for years but which keeps getting delayed, for you and your collaborators. So completing old tasks will be one aspect of your sabbatical. However, only doing this will prevent you from creating new directions for your research. By thinking about new areas you can explore, you open yourself to new collaborations which then lead to 'a new idea' or maybe even 'the new idea'! Once you have an idea which you believe is strong and could form a programme of research, you can think about grant funding.

Having a sabbatical provides value by allowing you to see new things to explore, and to identify ways to support that research in the future (e.g., by identifying key funders or supporters and also key benefactors). So, although you'll probably do a mix of completing past projects and developing new ones, you should focus on the latter as that is where the benefits can come. Try this mental exercise: Imagine yourself in the midst of a busy teaching term, e-mails flying in by the hundreds and a full schedule of meetings with students, your academic team and specialist committees. Now also think of the benefit of having a Postgraduate, Research Assistant and Postdoctoral Fellow contributing to these new ideas: turning them from interesting discussions to a collection of convincing data. To have a team supporting you in your new ideas will provide you with confidence and means to follow through with your sabbatical ideas and see where they lead. Hopefully this exercise can provide you with a sense of your possible future. Focusing too much on the past will only bring you back to where you started with no clear future outlook or goal.

So, when planning your sabbatical, skew your thinking toward the future and think compassionately and realistically about your future self.