A gap year isn’t the sole right of students. Older people can take a year out too. Here are five reasons for taking a break:
1 – The state of the economy
Let’s face it, the economy is in a pretty poor state right now, and we’re all growing tired of waiting for things to improve. If you’ve just finished your studies, the chances of finding a job are looking pretty grim, so you might just as well take the time to travel, learn a new language, volunteer for work and gain a real life experience while others are scouring the job market without much success.
2 – Discover who you are
Getting away from the cocoon of family and friends can give you a chance to discover more about yourself. Facing up to different experiences while travelling will teach you all sorts of things about yourself that you didn’t know. Learning how to deal with different cultures and environments and being thrown into sometimes bizarre and crazy situations and coming out the other end unscathed, are all skills that can’t be taught in the classroom. From experiences such as working with monkeys on a gap year in Tanzania to skiing in Whistler, you will come out a more rounded person.
3 – Learn about the world
Although you may be aware of poverty nothing puts things into perspective like seeing it through your own eyes. Volunteering to work with a charitable organization such as in an African hospital gives you the chance to see it as it really is. Also, with the world of technology expanding at a fast rate, we are communicating and working side by side with people from all over the world so it’s vastly important to become global citizens.
4 – Discover what you want to do with your life
Taking a gap year can give you the opportunity to pursue a dream that you’ve always had or develop a hobby that you’ve long been interested in. If you’re young it gives you a chance to work your way around the world, seeing what makes you tick. If you’re miserable in your job or think there must be more to life than this, taking a year off can give you time to think about what you want from life, and come back refreshed and with a new outlook on life.
5 – Do away with regrets
There’s no better time to take a gap year than before you’re settled down, saddled with a mortgage, and loaded down with responsibilities. Go travelling, try new things, eat different food and live! You only get one shot at life and laying on your death bed regretting that you hadn’t travelled or taken a few risks, is nowhere near as good a feeling as thinking , “Well, I’ve had a great life and grasped every opportunity that came my way, so I’ve no regrets”.
About the augthor: Tom Mcloughlin blogs about his travels at Top Backpacking Destinations. You can follow his tales on Twitter by following @BackpackerBoy.