Different Ways You Can Spend Your Gap Year

Taking a gap year is a rite of passage for lots of young adults. Even older people can take a year out from their career or studies! If you want to take a gap year before or after university, or perhaps later in life, there’s a lot you can do. Many people decide they’re going to travel the world, but it isn’t the only way that you can use your time. Some people spend the year working. Others volunteer, and some go on their travels to explore the world. If you’re not sure what to do with your year out, here are some options available to you.

Working

Having a free year is an excellent opportunity to earn some cash. And the best thing is that there are lots of ways of doing it. Even if you’re taking a career break, you can spend your time doing some radically different work to what you usually do. If you choose to work, you could do it at home, across the country or abroad. Several countries have working holiday visas. You can also find working schemes such as au pair programs. At home, you can put away some money while you think about where your life is going. Abroad, you can do the same while you experience a new culture and possibly a new language.

Volunteering

Perhaps you would prefer to do some charitable work, for which you won’t be paid in cash but warm, fuzzy feelings. If you want to volunteer, there are projects all over the world that need your help. Before you look at other countries, see if there’s anyone who needs your help close to home. You could find an environmental or social charity you want to work with. There’s plenty to get involved with if you go abroad too, from building houses to helping the environment.

 

fortherock

Immerse Yourself in a Different Culture

While some people choose to travel the world, others spend the whole year in one country. You can get just a few hundred miles from home and find yourself experiencing a new culture. A gap year is a perfect time to broaden your horizons, meeting new people and perhaps learning a foreign language. This is something that you can do while working or volunteering, but you don’t have to do either. You could attend a language school for the year and spend your days exploring and making new friends.

Round the World Trip

The typical image of a gap year is backpacking around the world. There’s a reason it’s so popular, and that’s because it’s an incredible experience. No matter where you choose to go, you’ll see a diverse range of countries and cultures. Traveling alone can be a frightening concept, but many people prefer to go with a group. If you don’t have travel buddies, a site like http://theleap.co.uk/gap-year-travel/ can give you some. You can book onto a group trip, where you’ll go along with like-minded people. You won’t be alone, and you can make some friends along the way.

Taking a gap year can be a positive thing for anyone. If you can’t afford to travel, working for a year can give you the opportunity to save some valuable funds.