Trust me when I say this: gap years are no longer just for college students transitioning into adulthood! If you’re at a turning point in your career, craving a reset on your life, or simply looking for a new adventure, a gap year could be the perfect solution for you.
Not only have gap years proven to be beneficial for adults (and yes, companies are taking note!), but we are seeing more and more people from all walks of life normalize extended time off through their social media posts, their books, and their opinion pieces. In my immediate circle, I know a friend in her early 30s who quit her job to study yoga in India for a few months and a married couple in their 40s who left their location-dependent lives behind for a full year to backpack through Europe and Asia.
A gap year is a unique opportunity to rediscover yourself and explore who you become when you break free from routine and dance with freedom. But if this concept is new to you, don’t worry. It’s new for most people, especially those with already established careers! While there is no hard and fast rule for how or when to take a gap year, there are many things you should consider to make the best decisions for your own personal goals and circumstances.
This guide will break down exactly what a gap year is, and how you can take one, so you can start planning your career break, with confidence!
What is a Gap Year?
A gap year is an extended career break where one takes several months to do something other than work full-time. Although the word “year” is in the title, a gap year can be as short as a few months or as long as several years, depending on your preference, resources, and lifestyle.
Gap years used to be most common for students taking a break between college and entering adulthood. But, they are becoming more and more common across all walks of life as people get more comfortable with the idea of prioritizing time for self-discovery and exploration.
People use their gap year to do anything from taking a class to learning a new language to traveling and exploring a new hobby or interest and even simply just recharging and working on themselves. It’s really up to you how you would like to spend your gap year!
Are Gap Years and Sabbaticals the Same Thing?
While a sabbatical can be a gap year, a gap year is not typically a sabbatical (though… it could be. Hear me out).
While both involve taking an extended break from work or school, sabbaticals are traditionally a period of paid, semi-paid, or unpaid extended leave from work in order to travel, study, conduct research, volunteer, or pursue hobbies. When done through your employer, sabbaticals allow you to take time off while continuing to remain employed and with the expectation that you will return to work post-sabbatical.
Learn more about sabbaticals by reading my guide to travel sabbaticals next.
The core difference between a sabbatical and a gap year is that gap years will always involve having “no strings attached” (read: quitting your job).
That said, your gap year could be considered a DIY sabbatical if you want to spend the time learning or achieving a personal goal on your own! In fact, your gap year can even be something you include on your resume once you reenter the working world.
How Can I Take a Gap Year?
If you’re wondering how to take a gap year and worried you might be too late to jump on this concept, let me stop you right there. Gap years are possible no matter where you’re at in your studies, your career, or your life!
There are some slight nuances to consider if you’re a student, if you’re employed, and if you’re unemployed. Let’s unpack these below.
If You’re a Student
Gap years are great for pre-grad, post-grad, or even in-between years. Education gap years are undoubtedly the most common gap year there is, so if you’re a student looking to take a gap year, don’t be scared. It’s super exciting to be able to take some time for yourself after spending your entire life thus far following a rigid schedule revolving around studies and degrees!
Now, what do you want out of your gap year? Do you want to switch, or figure out, your major? Do you want to take a break and spend your time traveling before going back to your studies? Or do you want to discover a new passion, focus on a hobby you’ve been putting off, or explore new cultures to expose yourself to new possibilities?
It’s common to feel apprehensive, as a gap year could bring big changes to the course of your education. After all, you will be away from your college friends, your studies and possibly life as you know it. While lots of students and young adults look at gap years as a fun way to escape school for a little while, if you take a moment to explore your “why” and ask yourself what you want out of this experience, you’ll be better prepared to make the most of it and see this as an opportunity.
Things to Keep in Mind as a Student Looking to Take a Gap Year:
- Reach out to your counselor or advisor to make sure you don’t go against any policies and you are still able to graduate!
- Read up on the requirements or restrictions for any scholarships or financial aid you might have received for your studies. Make sure you can still get your funding even if you defer or take a year off.
- Look at what you will gain from this experience and what you might miss out on. Are the cons worth the risk?
- Look into gap year programs that may be offered by your school.
- Make a plan for when you return so you know where you’ll be picking back up with your courses, credits, exams, and other aspects of your life as a student or recent grad.
If You’re Employed
A gap year can be a great way to break away from the grind of professional life, learn a new skill, or pivot into a new industry.
While taking a gap year as an adult with an established (or establishing) career might turn a few heads, it’s becoming more and more culturally accepted, and it’s honestly a perfect time in life to give it a try. You may be more financially secure, more experienced in traveling, more in tune with what you want to get out of this break, and more focused on how a gap year can fit into the trajectory of your career or your life.
If you are unable or not ready to walk away from your job, you may have options that’ll help you create a safety net with your career when you are ready to return.
Things to Keep in Mind if You’re Employed and Pursuing a Gap Year:
- If you feel comfortable, talk to your employer or a trusted peer at work about taking a break, and/or review your company policies to see what the company allows. If the company can’t offer a full year, they might still be able to offer an extended break or sabbatical.
- If your company doesn’t allow extended breaks, start to consider when the right time would be to put in your notice. Consider your financial situation, the projects you’re working on, and the timing of your desired gap year.
- Make a rough plan for when you return from your gap year. Will you apply for new jobs immediately or will you pursue other goals? Do you have a safety net of money saved for when you return from your gap year, in case employment isn’t immediate?
If You’re Unemployed
Gap years aren’t just for people seeking a break from their careers or their studies. They’re for anyone seeking a reset, a turning point, or a new chapter. This could be an opportunity to expand your horizons and add depth to your experiences, which could lead to clarity around what to do next with your life or career.
Your gap year could be about exploring new places, volunteering with communities in a different country, signing on for an internship, learning a new skill, or simply taking an intentional break to reflect on what your next move will be in your career.
Things to Keep in Mind if You’re Unemployed and Pursuing a Gap Year:
- Be honest about your financial situation and what you can comfortably afford. If your gap year is better served as a half year or even a 3-month stint, that can be just as beneficial without driving you into debt.
- Be prepared to explain your gap year to future employers during interviews.
- Plan a realistic budget and be sure to buffer additional funds for emergencies and post-gap year reintegration.
- Consider freelance and remote jobs to supplement your gap year budget, if needed.
No matter what your current situation is, you can make a gap year work for you with a little careful planning and consideration!
Things to Consider When Taking a Gap Year
Preparing to take a gap year looks different for everybody, depending on where you are in life and what your goals are. However, there are some things everyone will need to consider when taking an extended break away from normal class, work, or day-to-day schedules.
Ask Yourself These Questions:
- Do you have enough savings? How long will that last you at your current cost of living? Do you have a financial cushion to fall back on once your gap year ends?
- If employed, how and when can you quit your job?
- If in school, how and when can you take a break without impacting your studies?
- Will you need to sublet your apartment or house?
- Do you have a partner who will come with you or do you plan on doing long distance during this time?
- Take a look at your current responsibilities – what will you need to leave behind? What do you need to plan for?
- What do you want to do?
- Where do you want to go?
Once you’ve taken stock of all of this, you can start planning your timeline, financials, and other logistical details.
Let’s dive into each of these things to consider when taking a gap year.
Financial Preparation for Taking a Gap Year
As you prepare to take a gap year, you first want to make sure that you’re financially secure enough to do so without setting you back substantially.
Do an honest audit of what you have in the bank, any debts you need to pay off, and any expenses you can cut to save money. An easy way to do this is to look at your credit card and bank statements and see how much on average you spend per month over the last 6 months.
From there, take away any bills or financial commitments that won’t be applicable anymore during your gap year (example: cancelling your gym membership while on your gap year).
The remaining balance is what you spend, roughly, on a monthly basis. Taking this into consideration with wherever it is you plan to travel or live during your gap year, you can start to calculate a loose budget which you can then multiply times the number of months you’ll be on your gap year. You’ll also want to factor in a budget for emergencies and runway for when you return.
Example:
- $4,000 current monthly living expenses at home
- $2,500 rough monthly living expenses in Central America (lodging, food, activities, travel insurance), x12 for the 12 months you’ll be away
- 3x months of runway when you return, minimum
- Emergency fund (let’s say 1 more month of living expenses abroad, or $2,500)
= $44,500
This may sound expensive because you’re looking at a lump sum across 12 months. But, if you look at your current living expenses at home, that adds up to $48,000! In this example, taking a gap year can possibly save you money and make it stretch to last you longer if you set, and stick to, a budget.
If, however, the thought of spending this much money makes you nervous, or if you don’t have enough saved up, you can always look into offsetting your gap year with freelancing, remote work, gig work, and trade jobs (like working at a hostel in exchange for a free stay) along the way.
Deciding the Right Time to Take a Gap Year
There is most likely never going to be one perfect, idyllic break in your life to take a gap year. You’ll need to really sit with this for a bit and consider what will be impacted by your gap year, what you’re willing to give up, what you’re seeking, and then give yourself a hard deadline to make things happen (otherwise, you might always put your gap year off for “someday!”).
Most Common Times to Take a Gap Year:
- Before, during, or after school
- Between jobs
- When taking a career break
- When starting a new chapter
- When pursuing a transformative experience
- When you want to learn something new
- When seeking a change of scenery or situation
- Due to a personal financial situation
Remember, everyone’s situation is different, so what works for somebody may not be the right move for you.
If you’re currently employed, deciding on the right time comes down to determining when you feel comfortable quitting and coming to terms with the fact that there will never be a ‘perfect’ time. You may be doing great in a career you love, but if something doesn’t feel right and taking a gap year may help you figure out if this is the path you want to stay on. Or maybe, you simply want to make a change and need to pull the trigger so you can find out what else is out there.
A critical factor in timing is also determining whether you can financially support yourself during your gap year (see previous point above!). Once you’ve calculated your target budget for your gap year, when will you have your savings in a good place? You can use that as a proxy indicator of the right time to take the plunge!
Reasons for Taking a Gap Year
Gap years are all about taking intentionally designed time off to focus on yourself and your life. The reasons for taking a gap year are personal, but there are some common reasons many people do consider taking a gap year. Here are just a few!
Main Reasons to Take a Gap Year:
- Wanting to travel and increase your confidence, explore different cultures and languages, be exposed to new types of people, and get out of your comfort zone.
- Fighting burnout by giving your mind time to rest for a while, which in turn improves your mental and emotional health and your career long-term.
- Wanting to relocate to a place where your friends or family are.
- Wanting to take a break to return to work feeling more creative, fulfilled, and balanced.
- Deciding whether you want to change career paths completely! By picking up new skills, volunteering, and exploring your interests, gap years can help you try different career paths on for size to see what feels right for you.
What to Do with Your Home or Apartment While Taking a Gap Year
If you own your place, will you rent it out or list it for a home exchange? If you rent, can you get out of your lease early or find a subletter? If you want to stay local, you can look into repurposing some of your space for a new hobby, a study space, or whatever else you may need during this time away from work.
Companies to Look Into:
- For homeowners looking to rent their space: Airbnb, VRBO, Sabbatical Homes, Furnished Finder
- For homeowners looking for housesitters, pet watchers, plant waterers, etc: Trusted Housesitters, Nomador, Rover
- For renters looking for subletters: Facebook Marketplace
- For homeowners looking to make additional income from their space: Peerspace, Giggster
No matter what you do, you will want to make sure you have a plan in place with your current living situation to avoid any financial and legal issues prior to, during, and after your gap year.
Preparing to Quit Your Job
Deciding to quit your job to take a gap year isn’t a decision to be made lightly. And, as gap years aren’t a common or widely established practice in the corporate world (yet), you’ll want to make sure your departure is planned strategically. The goal is to quit on a positive note, because even if you don’t ever plan to return to your old employer when your gap year is finished, you never know where your other coworkers, bosses, and clients may end up in the future. Keeping your connections strong is the name of the game, after all.
Consider the Following:
- Decide on a timeline and stick to it. Give your management and team members an early heads-up so that they know they’ll have enough time with you to formulate a transition plan. While the 2-week courtesy notice is still fine, I personally believe more time is appreciated. As you’re taking a gap year and not running off to work for a client or competitor company, your employer doesn’t need to really worry about there being any malintent.
- Make an action plan of the projects you plan to complete and the projects you plan to transition. Have transition documents ready to go for all of your core responsibilities and make yourself available for trainings, office hours, and 1:1s with those who will be taking your tasks from you when you leave.
- Offer to help replace your role and/or train your replacement(s). Anything you can do to help ease the transition will reinforce your character as a team player even as you prepare for your gap year departure.
- During your final weeks at the company, ask for recommendations from trusted colleagues and managers.
- Throughout the whole resignation process, be gracious and respectful of how your company manages the news.
Deciding What to Do about Dependents When Planning for a Gap Year
Beyond bills, mortgages, and two-week notices, you’ll need to figure out what to do about your dependents which can be one of the trickiest parts of preparing for a gap year.
Consider the Following:
- If you have a romantic partner, will they travel with you or visit you regularly? Will you both be open to long distance for a fixed period of time if necessary?
- If you have kids, will they be coming with you on this journey? If yes, what preparations do you need to make? If not, who will be caring for them? If your kids are older, you won’t have as much to worry about – just make sure they’re in the loop of your plans and know how to get in touch.
- If you have pets, are you taking them with you or will you need someone to take care of them for you?
- If you have plants, will you be having someone care for them or will you be rehoming them while you are away?
Different Ways to Take a Gap Year
The beauty of a gap year is that it can be as transformative or as restorative as you make it.
From visiting friends in far-off places to volunteering or learning a new skill, here are some great ways to take a gap year to help you get the gears turning.
- Solo travel: Embarking on a solo adventure is great because you’re in complete control of what you do and where you go. Budgeting for a single person can be more affordable too, because you only have yourself to account for and you can always join group trips or invite a friend for more experiences.
- Volunteer-based: Many people decide to give back during their time away from work for a cause they feel passionately about. This can help fight burnout by providing a community and a sense of fulfillment while benefiting others.
- Activity-based: Maybe you want to write a book, learn how to SCUBA dive, hike a mountain, or learn a language. The possibilities are endless, and a gap year is the perfect time to pursue the things you never had time for before.
- Structured programs: Several organizations like Contiki, Volunteer HQ, and EF Ultimate Break offer structured gap year programs that set people up with a group, housing, activities, co-working spaces, and other experiences to suit every individual’s needs.
- Teaching abroad: there are a ton of education programs that allow you to teach English or another subject abroad. You may have to take an exam to qualify to do so, but even if you aren’t a professional teacher, chances are you have a ton of skills that a lot of people would benefit from learning.
- People-based: Maybe you want to take extended time off to visit your friends or family. A gap year is the perfect time to relocate to their city to get that quality time in.
So, have we convinced you yet? Taking a gap year is a fantastic option for anyone of any age or background. There’s a lot to consider, but we hope this guide helps you imagine the possibilities for yourself!
Let me know how you would spend your gap year in the comments below!
Read This Next:
- What is a Travel Sabbatical, and How Can You Take One?
- 80+ Unique Sabbatical Ideas to Make the Most of Your Career Break
- Should You Quit Your Job to Travel Full Time?
- How (and Why) to Include Travel on Your Resume
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