Should I Take A Gap Year? A Practical Decision Guide -

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Taking a gap year is one of those decisions that seems simple on the surface, but becomes a little more complicated the moment you start thinking seriously about it.

Questions about money, careers, expectations, and “falling behind: tend to surface really quickly, often mixed with pressure from parents, teachers, or society in general.

“Should I take a gap year?” “
How expensive will it be?” “
Will it damage my career to spend a year overseas?” “
What if something goes wrong?”

These are just some of the common questions that float around when people start researching if this next step is right for them.

This guide is not here to convince you to take a gap year, or to talk you out of one. My aim is to help you decide whether a gap year makes sense for you and your personal situation, based on your goals and level of readiness.

When a gap year serves a purpose and is intentional, it can be extremely valuable and a truly life-changing period in a person’s life. However, when it is unplanned or used as a way to avoid life at home, it often backfires.

So, buckle up, get comfortable and help me give you the realities about the gap year lifestyle so you can find the answer to your burning question of “Should I take a gap year?”

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First Up, What Is a Gap Year?

A gap year is broadly defined as a period of intentional time away from formal education or a conventional career path. It’s time used to recalibrate, change the direction of your life, and enjoy a break before committing to the next stage of your life.

The time on a gap year might be spent travelling to different parts of the world, working abroad on a working holiday visa, volunteering and helping those in need, learning new skills or simply resetting while working out how they want their next few years of life will go.

What a gap year is not:

A year of aimless exploring with no plan
A guaranteed life-changing experience
Just an escape from responsibility through avoidance

Despite what the name suggests, not every gap year is an entire 12-month period, although that is the most common length of time. Plus, it doesn’t have to involve travel at all, although most people choose to spend some time overseas.

The defining factor of a gap year is the intentional use of time away from your standard routine, working towards your particular goal in mind, not location or specific length of time. So, based on what you’ve heard so far, what are your thoughts on “should I take a gap year?”

Who a Gap Year Makes Sense For

A gap year usually works best for people who fall into one or more of the categories below:

You are at a transition point in your life

Maybe you’re done with high school and getting ready to decide whether to begin your formal education at university or dive straight into working full-time. Perhaps you have already been part of the workforce for several years, and you are seeking a change in career. You may even be further along in your journey of life and want to experience travelling before starting a family.

Whatever crossroads you find yourself at, you might find that a gap year helps you to better prepare mentally for the next step.

You’re burnt out and need time to recover

Honestly, burnout is real, and it can be hard to break the cycle if you don’t give your body and mind a break to rest. Some people who are mentally drained from intense studying, or carrying the weight of full-time work and trying to balance a social life, choose to take some time away from their standard routine to reset, allowing them to come back afterwards full of life and energy to excel.

Have specific goals in mind for this time period

Goals come in various shapes and sizes, but they usually benefit from intentional time away from home. You might want to learn some skills, gain experience, travel, study, or do something else that solves a problem in your life. Even just gaining life experience and understanding different cultures can count as a goal if that’s what you value.

Not everyone has the same goals, and not everyone knows what goals to work towards at first thought. If you need some ideas to see what resonates with you, read my guide: Gap year goals: Do you have any?

Want clarity before committing to something long-term

To some people, the thought of committing to something long-term is exceptionally frightening. They wonder if this huge decision to continue studies or change their job is the right one for them, and it can create a lot of doubt.

The act of stepping away temporarily on a gap year often helps people gain clarity on these overwhelming decisions due to not being stuck in the same environment. Not to mention how seeing how other people live and gaining new experiences can really put things into a new perspective.

Are willing to plan finances and make some short-term sacrifices

Gap years are not cheap, and most people are not travelling on their parents’ credit card (although no judgement if your family are in a position to cover costs for you), so the budgeting and funding usually falls on the individual taking the gap year. Realistically, if you expect to take a gap year, you should be prepared to make short-term sacrifices to afford and plan the important aspects of travel and supporting yourself overseas.

Not everyone is willing to give up their familiar way of life for time abroad, and that’s okay. However, if you aren’t willing to make temporary adjustments for the experience, you’ll likely have a bad time. If you’re wondering, “Should I take a gap year, even though I don’t have the money to afford it?” realistically, you will likely end up stressed trying to manage a budget day by day, which will really take the enjoyment out of the experience.

Planning finances is key when it comes to planning a gap year, and it’s one of the main aspects that worries people trying to decide whether to go or not. I’d recommend sitting down and making a realistic budget before finalising any decisions.

Who Should Think Twice About Taking a Gap Year?

Speaking as a person who has taken 10 gap years in their adult life, I can speak from experience that a gap year is not the solution to every problem. In some situations, it can actually make things worse, which isn’t ideal.

You should pause asking “should I take a gap year?” and reconsider if:

You have no plan beyond “I’ll figure it out”
You are already in financial difficulty with no monetary safety net
You are trying to avoid responsibility or hard decisions about your life
You’re feeling pressured by others instead of following your own motivations
You expect a gap year to fix life dissatisfaction without any effort

The key at this stage of your decision process is to be completely honest with yourself. A poorly planned gap year often leads people to feel regretful, and as though they have wasted precious time they could have used in other ways. This feeling can lead to internal anxiety about your decisions and make it harder to return to work and study back at home – something they were trying to solve before leaving.

Common Reasons People Take A Gap Year

Everyone who decides to take some time off from home has the initial question lingering in their mind of “should I, or shouldn’t I take this year away from my everyday life, and fill this gap with something new and exciting?” and no matter their reasons, none of them are inherently right or wrong since everyone’s reason is different.

The key is understanding exactly why you’re considering one in the first place.

Common motivations for other people asking the same question include some topics we spoke about above:

Gaining travel and cultural experience
Clarifying career direction
Developing independence and confidence
Building skills or volunteering
Recovering from brainrot and burnout

Problems in this avenue only become an issue when people pursue another person’s reason instead of their own. It’s never going to end well if you give in to pressure about huge life decisions to please others, if you don’t want to do it yourself.

The Most Common Concerns

Will Taking a Gap Year Hurt My Career?

This is one of the most common fears, usually for older gap year makers. Although an adult gap year is far different from a typical 18-year-old experience, both age groups share the same worries regarding their future at work. A gap year can raise questions from employers, but context matters in every case.

When you can explain what you did, what you learned and how it shaped your direction to better your career, it rarely becomes an issue. In many cases, it can actually make you an asset as you will have more life experience, likely be comfortable speaking to people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds, which can make you a great addition to almost any employment team.

For more peace of mind, please take a look at: Does a Gap Year Look Bad?

What Will My Parents Think?

Parents who learn that their child wants to move away from home or make a huge decision, such as travel overseas, often start to worry. It’s usually nothing personal, but a natural instinct parents have of wanting their children to be safe.

Family members worry about stability, finances, safety and long-term consequences and are usually about uncertainty rather than complete disapproval.

I’ll be honest, my mother was not happy about the idea of me moving across the world to Australia when I was 22 years old, but after being away for some time, she’s now one of my biggest fans when I discuss new countries I’d like to explore or move to.

Clear communication and keeping your loved ones in the loop while making plans will greatly help your relationship in most cases and put their mind at ease that you’re responsible and mature enough for this adventure.

Please see: Gap Year Advice For Parents

What Would I Actually Do For a Year?

Although the vast majority of gap years include a lot of travel and exploration, that doesn’t have to be the only use of your time. Constant travel is not always necessary, but there’s nothing wrong with choosing to do that either.

Many people combine working abroad, volunteering, learning and rest to fill their time away from home. The mistake here is assuming there is a single “right” way to enjoy a gap year.

See: What to do during a gap year

If considering work abroad, visit the Working Holiday Visa Hub or take a look at the links below:

If interested in volunteering, start here: Volunteer Work Stay: What Is It & How Does It Work

Is a Gap Year Just Time Off Without Structure?

In some cases, it can be, but it is not the norm. Many people assume that it is just a glorified holiday 24-7, but in actuality, that’s far from the truth. Structure doesn’t mean everything has to be planned rigidly day-to-day, but it does mean having an intention behind the time. Even having simple, loose goals is better than having none at all.

Want help deciding what to plan for your gap year? Check out my guide: Gap Year Ideas to Inspire Your Year Abroad!

When Is The Best Time To Take A Gap Year?

There is no “right” time that fits every person’s circumstance and situation, but timing can make a big difference in how well it goes.

Before university – Useful for maturity and getting clear on your future, but requires discipline to return afterwards.
Between degrees – Often easier to justify as it can be treated as a reward as well as providing drive.
Early career – Helpful for dissatisfaction and burnout, and often used as a point for redirection.
Later in life – Possible due to maturity levels and experience, but responsibility can sometimes make this more difficult.

Are you over 25 and trying to work out at what stage this adventure could be best for you? Try reading: When might you take a grown-up gap year?

The most common age range to take a gap year is between 18 and 21, as this is the early transition period after finishing high school and moving onto full-time educational study at university.

The second most common age range for long-term travel is during the early career window, before people typically settle down with families in their late 20s to early 30s.

I’d generally tell people that the best time to take a leap like this is when the benefits of taking the time away outweigh the opportunity cost.

The Real Downsides of Taking a Gap Year

Gap years are often thought of in glamorous terms, and many people don’t consider the reality that things can and often will go wrong. That’s not to say you will have a terrible time and experience the gap year from hell, but it does imply you should always expect the worst – just in case.

Potential downsides include:

Loss of routine and structure compared to life at home
Financial pressure or poor budgeting leading to stress and an inability to afford things
Culture shock in your new destination
Reverse culture shock after returning home
Difficulty re-entering the workforce or getting back to studies
Feeling behind peers and being concerned about catching up to milestones
Missing out on things back home and experiencing FOMO (fear of missing out)

Most of the risks mentioned can be handled depending on the severity, and since no two people have the same exact experience, there is no guarantee that everyone runs into these same challenges. However, many of them can be reduced through clever planning and having the correct expectations, but none of the concerns should be ignored.

If you’d like to read more in-depth thoughts, check out:

The True Cost Of A Gap Year

Unless you’re fortunate enough to be wealthy or have free money, you will likely need to be sensible about your budget. Regardless of whether you choose to travel, work, volunteer, study or do something else, the financial aspect should always be taken into consideration.

Do you plan on working and earning during your gap year?
Or will you live solely off of your savings?

Once this has been established, you can begin creating estimates of what everything could cost on average. Because believe me, a gap year costs more than just the flights to the destination. Make sure to consider the following while creating a personal budget:

Visa or documentation costs

Work Visa cost. If you plan to work, working holiday visas are not free (WHVs cost £300+, depending on the currency and country)
Tourist visa cost (if applicable). Some countries have a visa on arrival or visa-free access, depending on your passport and citizenship. Others have a cost and may need to be booked in advance.
Passport renewal – only if you have under 6 months remaining by the END of your time away from home

Heathcare

Travel insurance for belongings and medical coverage while you are away. I recommend Safety Wing as they have rolling plans that can be cancelled at any time if you don’t know the total duration of being away from home.
Not every destination has free access to healthcare, and depending on the tier of medical insurance you choose, it may not cover you 100% for sickness or injury, so you should factor in unexpected medical costs if anything happens (emergencies, dental and more)
Eye care: If you need glasses or contact lenses during your time away
Birth control (if applicable), if you are unable to take a supply from home for the full duration you’re away

Living & daily costs

Accommodation – hostels, hotels or home rental costs for the duration of your time away
Food & drinks – both for groceries and cooking, and also for eating out
Daily costs – haircare, shower supplies, toothcare, period products (if applicable) etc
General spending money – for socialisation and experiences

Transportation

Transportation from your home country to the first or only destination
Subsequent transportation between destinations if not staying in one place.
Rental cars if on tourist visas, or purchasing a vehicle if on a work visa (if applicable)
If driving yourself is not an option, you should research the average costs for public transportation fares.

Tip: If you opt to stay in high-traffic tourist areas, the accommodation costs will usually be higher, but you will offset the cost for local transport. If you want lower accommodation costs, you could stay in quieter residential regions, but you’ll likely need to spend more on transport. These are things to weigh up.

As you can see, this is the bare minimum of things to consider when it comes to working out if you can afford your plans. A general rule of thumb is to save enough for 6 months, with a 3-month emergency fund. This is the rule I follow when going on working holiday visas, where I plan on working to supplement my income. If I were going to travel for a year instead, I would essentially double it to 12 months of savings for general spending, with a 6-month emergency fund.

Destination certainly makes a difference, too. Australia is an expensive destination, so you would likely need 5-6 times the amount of savings in comparison to Thailand, for example.

If you’re unsure what would be realistic money-wise, I’d recommend checking out Numbeo. It’s a fantastic and up-to-date website that lets you compare multiple countries around the world for everything, including accommodation, food, and more. You can use this site to compare your destination (or multiple cities if going to more than one place) to your home city, so you can better budget using a place you’re familiar with as a starting point.

Gap Year vs Alternative Options

Realistically, by now you might be asking yourself, “Should I take a gap year to travel or should I do something else entirely?” and honestly, I wouldn’t blame you. You’ve been overloaded with different opinions, reality checks, and are (hopefully) a little closer to deciding whether this is the right lifestyle step for you.

If the idea of a conventional gap year to travel seems a little far-fetched, or the idea of being away for a long time causes some unease, you could consider one of these alternative options to calm your itchy feet:

Extended holidays or short-term travel
Cultural exchange programs
Studying & learning abroad
Working abroad to reassess direction
Taking a formal career break or sabbatical
Staying on your current path and not taking a gap year of any kind

A conventional gap year is not automatically better or the right choice; it’s just one of many options. Comparing options gives you the best chance at choosing the most appropriate path for your situation.

Ask Yourself These Questions Before Deciding

If you can’t answer these questions clearly, you might not be ready yet.

What do I want to gain from this experience?
What am I most excited about relating to this experience?
What will the success of the experience look like when it ends?
How will I afford it?
What is my plan for returning home? (ie will I go back to work or study?)
Am I moving toward something or running away from something?

Although it helps to be enthusiastic about the planning stage, it mostly helps to get clear on the intention first – the enthusiasm helps for later.

Once you’ve answered most of these questions, you’ll be ready to start researching specific destinations and experiences so you can begin making an action plan to actually make it happen, and I’ll be happy to help you along the way!

So, should you Take A Gap Year?

A gap year is not a shortcut to personal growth, but it can certainly be one of the best tools available to those who take one. Used intentionally with goals in mind, they can create clarity, experience and even show you how resilient you really are. Used poorly or for avoidance, they can delay dealing with the things you’re running away from.

If you are willing to plan accordingly, put in a little bit of effort and have the correct set of expectations, then a gap year really could be an amazing asset to moving towards your long-term goals. If you hope it will solve potential deeper issues, you may be disappointed.

So, grab a notepad and a pen, and start writing to see how many of the questions you can answer. If you decide to take a gap year, I hope the rest of the site can help you plan and prepare.

Need help planning your trip?

Check out how to plan a trip abroad & see my travel resources for more.

Skyscanner – A comprehensive comparison website showing where to purchase flights.
HostelWorld – The biggest selection of hostels & sociable accommodations.
Booking.com – The largest collection of accommodations AND flights worldwide.

Safety Wing – A travel insurance brand for long-term travellers and nomads.

Airalo – An eSIM card company that lets you stay connected during your trip.
Wise – Perfect for transferring foreign currencies.
iVisa – For applying for tourist and visitor visas.

Viator – Great for finding tours and activities worldwide.
Get Your Guide – Another company for finding activities.
Klook – Have some of the best activity deals in Asia.

Should I Take A Gap Year? A Practical Decision Guide