Free Sane Semester Checklist

Protect Your Writing, Priorities, and Time This Semester

A 30-minute checklist to help faculty start the semester with more clarity, focus, and intention.

The Sane Semester Checklist is a free NCFDD resource designed to help faculty pause before the semester accelerates. Use it to clarify what matters most, protect your writing time, set boundaries early, and create simple structures that support steady progress.

What You’ll Get

• A short planning exercise you can complete in about 30 minutes
• Five steps for creating a more focused and manageable semester
• Prompts to help you protect writing time and prioritize key projects
• Guidance for setting boundaries before new requests multiply
• A practical framework for building accountability, support, and flexibility

Download Your Checklist

First name *

Last name *

Institutional Email *

Title * — Please Select — Full Professor Associate Professor Assistant Professor Adjunct Faculty Clinical Faculty Library Faculty Research Faculty Teaching Faculty Lecturer Post-Doc Graduate Student Department Chair Administrator President / Chancellor Provost / Vice Provost Associate Provost Vice President Dean Director / Associate Director Staff Executive / Administrative Assistant

What would you most like help with? — Please Select — Improving my productivity Staying accountable and on track Finishing a specific writing project or manuscript Securing research funding and grants Preparing for tenure or promotion Achieving better work-life balance Managing competing demands (teaching, research, service) Connecting with a supportive academic community Finding mentorship outside my institution Reducing burnout and reclaiming my sense of control

What is your biggest faculty development priority? — Please Select — Improving faculty productivity Supporting faculty work-life balance Reducing faculty burnout Improving faculty retention Increasing tenure and promotion success rates Supporting faculty writing and publication output Increasing research output and grant success Building a scalable, sustainable faculty development program Better supporting faculty at every career stage

Current Institution *

Pick from the list, or if not found, you’ll be able to enter it below.

Your institution (not listed)

Submit

Who This Guide Is For

This guide is for faculty who want to begin the semester with more intention instead of letting urgency set the pace. It is especially useful for faculty balancing writing, teaching, service, research, and the many unexpected demands of academic life.

Why NCFDD

Trusted by more than 500 colleges and universities.
NCFDD has supported over 150,000 faculty and academic leaders nationwide. Our programs, including the Faculty Success Program and the Department Chair Success Program, are designed to promote:

• Inclusive, thriving academic environments
• Faculty productivity and retention
• Leadership confidence and clarity

About NCFDD

NCFDD is an independent professional development center dedicated to supporting faculty, postdocs, and academic leaders across all disciplines.