How to Do a “Grown-up” Gap Year

The term “gap year” typically refers to a year when young people take time off after high school to figure out whether they want to go on for higher education, and if they decide to pursue a college degree, what they want to study.  Other kids take that year off just to grow up a little bit, so that they’re mentally and emotionally ready for university.  But realize that young people aren’t the only ones who need a gap year.  As grown-ups, we may get to a point in life when we want to take some time to focus on ourselves, either for the purpose of self-improvement or self-care.  It’s then that we need to do a grown-up gap year.

Of course, grown-up gap years aren’t like student gap years.  Students typically take a gap year on their parents’ nickel.  So, they don’t need to worry about how they are going to pay their rent or eat during their gap year.  Rather their quest of self-exploration is funded by mom and dad.

As a adults, we don’t have that luxury!  The buck stops with us.  We have to earn money to pay for things like food, clothing and shelter.  And some of us pay for those things for both ourselves and for other people.  Moreover, in addition to our day-to-day expenses, some of us are paying for our children’s college educations.  And we all are trying to put money away for retirement.  So, as responsible adults, we just can’t stop working for a year.

But what we can do is the grown-up version of a gap year.  Realize that the point of a grown-up gap year is to do two things: 1. Figure out how to improve your life.  And 2. Figure out what direction you want your life to go in next.  The good news is that you don’t have to dramatically quit your job, put on a backpack, and roam the earth for a year to accomplish those things.  You can keep your job and your life, and still have a Great Grown-Up Gap Year!

Below are ways to have a terrific grown-up gap year.  Follow these approaches, and go on a wonderful journey of self-improvement.

Use Your Year to Become a Life Long Learner

Over the years, I’ve often heard people complain that their lives aren’t working because they’re bored.  “I’m bored with my spouse.”  “I’m bored with my job.”  Or, “I’m bored with my life.”  However, their issue wasn’t their spouse, their job or their life.  Their problem was that they had become boring. 

I’ll concede that’s a hard pill to swallow.  It’s hard to admit that you’re a boring individual.  It’s much easier to cast the blame on others for your dissatisfaction with life.  But the truth is that every person I’ve known who had a midlife crisis fell apart because they’d become boring.  And they just couldn’t admit that fact to themselves. 

Why do we become boring?  We stop learning.  

Realize that the best way to have an interesting life is to become a lifelong learner.  Learning is the spice of life.  It’s what makes life interesting and enjoyable. 

And it’s fun!  For instance, learning a new language and then being able to speak to native speakers of that language is a blast.  Figuring out how to create things, whether it is a new dish or a piece of art, is truly enjoyable.

So, if you want to invigorate your life, start your gap year with a learning program.   Take the next 12 months to become an expert in a certain skill or subject area.  Focus your gap year on learning as much as you can about that skill or subject.

For example, I have a group of friends who are focused on learning foreign languages.  We are all connected on Duolingo, and each of us is committed to learning our chosen second language.  Each day we spend a little bit of time doing language practice, and it makes all of our lives so much richer.

The good news is that the number of subjects that you can learn about and the skills that you can master are endless.  So, pick a topic or skill to focus on during your gap year that truly interests you.  In doing so, you’ll get yourself on the path to becoming a lifelong learner.  And ultimately, your life will be more interesting than you possibly could have imagined.

Revamp Your Self-Care Routine

Part of your gap year should be devoted to improving your physical health.  After all, as we age, our bodies aren’t as resilient as they once were.  So, it’s wise to use this year to create a plan for how you’ll care for your body as it ages.

Step One is to find a general practitioner and commit to having a yearly physical exam.  The challenge is that you may look great and feel just fine.  But your bloodwork may say otherwise.  Having a yearly physical and getting bloodwork done allows us to catch potential problems and take care of them – before they evolve into major health issues.

Your next step is to make positive changes to your lifestyle.  That may mean making some adjustments to your diet.  For instance, years ago, I gave up eating meat, and I feel so much better.  I’ve also given up eating processed foods, and I don’t drink alcohol.  Those simple changes to my diet have made a huge difference to my health as as I age.

The third step is to commit to an exercise regime.  The challenge is that as we age, it becomes harder to keep off those extra pounds.  That’s largely because we aren’t running around like we did when we were kids!  Instead, many of us have sedentary jobs which don’t require a lot of movement.  So, we have to schedule movement into our daily routine.

Your gap year is a good time to create a daily exercise schedule.  Now, I’ll concede that picking an exercise regime isn’t easy.  After all, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to exercise.  Every person’s body is different, so we each need a different type of regime to stay fit.  And we all have different schedules, so we have to find a routine that we have time for, and that we’ll actually do!

Over the years, I’ve bounced from one type of exercise routine to another.  These days, I’ve landed on indoor biking and yoga.  Those activities provide me with both cardio and strength training.  And most importantly, I can fit them into my work schedule.  Of course, I’d love to go to a gym every day with all those wonderful weight machines and fitness classes.  But I don’t have the time, so I’ve figured out a routine that works for me.

So, use your gap year to add positive physical habits to your life.  If you do so, you’ll come out of these 12 months on the path to a lifetime of good health!

Use Your Year to Take Care of Your Mental Health

One of the main benefits of a gap year is to mentally regroup.  In life, we get caught up in all kinds of nonsense.  Our family members can drag us into their dramas and problems.  And we can get caught up in irrelevant workplace politics.  With all that silliness, we can lose sight of what really matters.

That’s why a gap year is a great time to take a mental break from everyone.  Realize that while you may not be able to physically leave your spouse, family members or work colleagues, you can mentally take a break from them.  That means (1) not giving your attention to other people’s dramas, and (2) letting other folks be responsible for their own mental health and happiness.  

The good news is that once you let other people be responsible for themselves, you can focus on taking care of YOU.  It’s amazing how much time is freed up when you aren’t dealing with other people’s issues.

Now, once you’ve let everyone in your life take care of themselves, it’s time to take care of yourself.  This is the time to think, reflect and study.  Think about your life.  Does it feel inauthentic?  If so, you might want to figure out what you truly value.  And then make some life changes so that your life reflects your values. 

Do you suffer from anxiety or stress?  If so, you might want to start a meditation or yoga practice.  Or you simply may want to take some time each day to quietly read inspirational literature. 

The key is to use your gap year for you.  Let other folks handle their own lives.  And use this year to take care of your own happiness and fulfillment. 

Consider Going Remote

One of the best things to come of out the COVID-19 pandemic was remote work.  Remote work is life-changing.  It eliminates commuting, which is a massive waste of time.  And without the distractions of the workplace, remote work allows you to be far more efficient at your job.  After all, when you are working from home, you have far fewer interruptions than you do at the office.

Now, if you are in a profession that serves the public in a face-to-face manner, unfortunately, remote work is not an option.  But for many folks, remote work is a real possibility.  If it’s a possibility for you, remote work is the way to take your gap year to the next level.

Realize that with remote work, you can work from anywhere in the world.  That means that you can take three months to live overseas, and not take a break from your employment.  You can keep your job, keep earning money, and still experience another part of the world.

But let’s say that you have kids in school, and you can’t just pick up and work from Tibet for 6 months.  Remote work is still a boon for your gap year.  Consider using the time that you normally would spend commuting and learn a new language.  Or use your extra time to focus on your health and develop a more intensive exercise regime.  The positive ways that you can spend your new found time are endless.

The point of your gap year is to take 12 months to focus on YOU.  It’s all about self-improvement and self-care. It’s about figuring out where you are today, and how to reach where you want to be in the future. The good news is that you don’t have to quit your job and go to Timbuktu to have a meaningful gap year.  Instead, if you follow the steps above, you can keep meeting your responsibilities, and still have a great Grown-Up Gap Year! (To read about 30 habits for happiness and better health, click here.)