How to Take a Year off Work to Travel

If you want to take a year off work and travel around the world, you’re likely at a point where you strongly desire a life change. So why not make one?

Leave the office one last time before starting a new kind of adventure.

No, you don’t need to have a massive amount of money saved up before taking a year off work to travel. All you need is the desire and a plan to see it through.

Get started by reading these eight essential travel tips. What are you trying to gain from the experience of taking a year off work to travel? Understanding why you want to take a mid-career gap year will stimulate your ability to see it through.

Here’s how to take a year off work to travel, but first, clear your mind of self-doubt. A midlife gap year will be the best decision you have ever made. Let’s get you on your way to your mid-career gap year experience with a realistic perspective of what it takes to do it.

Is taking a year off work to travel a good idea?

Ask yourself, could a simple career change make the difference you desire? Yes, that may help, but it may result in you having the same longing in a new workspace.

There are alternatives to taking a mid-career gap year. Making a few life changes may give you your desired feelings for life. How you feel after applying changes like adding responsibilities or tapping into your creativity can help you determine if taking a year off work to travel is a good idea for you.

However, the pros of taking a gap year will outweigh the cons. Ask any traveler about their experience, and they will likely go on and on about how it changed their lives.

Traveling leads to growth in your personal development. Your mindset will change, and you’ll meet amazing people and build a network that may open doors to a new career path.

A gap year will break you out of the conditioned mindset that prioritizes work over your personal needs. Taking care of yourself first is essential, so learn to value your mental and emotional health more than how many hours you worked this week. Travel gives you a sense of freedom that a lot of us don’t realize we need until we break away from the norm.

The biggest possible con would be feeling alone once you’re abroad. If you’re not social, you may feel homesick the first few weeks into your travels until you establish a community of friends. Also, consider the initial culture shock of being in new surroundings.

Your willingness to achieve your goal can quickly help you overcome the cons. Ultimately taking a gap year to travel is a GREAT idea!

Is a mid-career gap year a thing?

A mid-career year gap year is most definitely a thing—and there are many ways you can achieve it.

Whether you’re taking a midlife gap year or a mid-career gap year, they are both very much real things and require the same preparation. Now more than ever, people are taking extended breaks from their careers and stepping out to experience a different way of life.

It is also common for a gap year to turn into a long-term lifestyle. For some, a gap year is a door to becoming an expat.

People take gap years at any point in their life. Some people take a gap year after graduation, others after a few years into their careers. Wherever you are in life deciding to take a gap year, know that any time is a perfect time.

READ: How Do Gap Years Work? It’s More Simple Than You Think

How to take a year off work to travel

1. Have a solid “WHY”

Why do you want to take a gap year? Identifying your “WHY” will motivate you to meet your goal by giving you a purpose that will allow you to make the most of the experience.

Your “WHY” will:

• Build excitement for the experience and faith to see it through
• Heighten your awareness and keep you present while in the moment
• Help you develop a greater sense of belonging
• Improve your mental health during the journey

2. Know your company’s policy on sabbaticals

Most companies have long-term leave policies such as sabbaticals. Sometimes, those policies will include paying the employee during their leave. You’ll want to speak to your HR department to learn how it works and if you meet the requirements.

If your company doesn’t offer a paid sabbatical, consider an unpaid long-term leave and earn money as you travel by freelancing.

3. Choose a destination

Where will you start your year of traveling?

Food, safety, and affordability are the top three things people look for when choosing a travel destination. You also want to consider a place that is easy to move around via bike and/or public transportation.

Does the distance from your home country matter? Consider how far away you would like to be from home. Flights tend to cost more the longer the flight.

Need help choosing a place to spend your year off from work?...

READ: 10 Beautiful (and Best) Places to Take a Gap Year

4. Figure out how to spend your time abroad

What do you want to do with yourself during your gap year? Maybe you’re interested in learning a new language, volunteering, trekking, or earning a degree or certificate. There are several meaningful ways to have a fulfilling gap year.

You’ll want to do nothing when you first arrive, which is just fine. You deserve it! Traveling to a new place is exciting, but planning what you want to experience before traveling will make the transition easier once you’ve settled in.

5. Create a budget and save your money

Save as much as you can, even if you’re on paid leave. You can start your savings by putting as little as $2 away daily. You can do this automatically, depending on your bank.

If you carry cash often, try saving every $5 bill you get and any spare change. Small numbers add up, and we often need to pay more attention to how much could be saved by putting small amounts away for later.

Most importantly, always over-budget your spending. Unexpected expenses can arise in any situation. Look into the cost of living for where you want to travel and estimate your monthly expenses.

6. Prep your home base

In addition to your travel plans, make plans for your belongings at home. Bank accounts, phone plans, car insurance, house maintenance, pet sitter, etc.—there may be a lot to arrange depending on your lifestyle.

If you’re a homeowner, find a housesitter. If you rent, find a storage unit to keep all your items safe until you return. Remember to forward your mail to an address you trust.

Some people sell their car before a long trip to have extra money for their journey or leave it parked safely and change their car insurance policy to lower their monthly expenses.

The easiest option is to ask trustworthy friends or family members to look after your home and care for your belongings while you travel.

7. Know before you go

You can find inspiration for your own adventure in the stories of others who are taking a year off work to travel.

Once you decide where you want to spend your gap year, start learning all you can about that destination. Read blogs and utilize social media, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook Groups. Social media gives you access to people living out the experience you would like to have.

8. Plan your return

A lot can happen after a year, so be prepared for the possibility that you will not want to go back to your usual routine after such a fantastic growth experience.

Make connections abroad, but keep in touch with your professional contacts at home. You can continue to build your resume to strengthen your skill set for your job back home or a new career venture.

Talk to our FREE Online Advisor and get matched with 5 gap year programs

Before taking a year off work to travel, make sure you won’t regret it (spoiler: you won’t!)

Plan ahead and know your goals—you won’t regret your choice to take a year off work and travel around the world!

You’ve heard the saying, “your mind has to arrive at the destination before you do.” You deserve to live out your dreams, especially if you feel burnt out from the norm.