{"id":3063,"date":"2021-08-30T14:16:07","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T06:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.hk\/blog\/?p=3063"},"modified":"2021-08-30T14:16:07","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T06:16:07","slug":"how-to-plan-an-adult-gap-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.hk\/blog\/how-to-plan-an-adult-gap-year\/","title":{"rendered":"How to plan an adult gap year"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the SAR is long known to have a stressed out population, there is an easy antidote for busy, overworked Hong Kongers: adult, midlife gap years. Typically associated with the brink of adulthood, gap years bring to mind 18+ year olds taking several months to travel, volunteer, or relax before pursuing higher education or entering the workplace. But adults can also break the mold by taking a career break at 30 (or any age, really).<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re stuck in a rut and want a fresh start or are suffering from cabin fever due to the COVID-19 pandemic and like the sound of time off once travel restrictions ease, adult gap years give you the opportunity to reflect on the important things in life. If this precious time away from the 9 to 5 hustle is what you\u2019re after, carry on reading this Pacific Prime Hong Kong<\/a> article to discover how to plan a career break.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Individual<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n

1. Consider why you want a an adult gap year and what you\u2019d like to do during this time<\/h2>\n

When it comes to a gap year in your 30s or a gap year in your 40s, the details of why, what, when, where, and how vary widely. So make sure you\u2019re clear on the reason why YOU want a gap year and what kind of things you hope to achieve. Perhaps you want to travel full-time. Or you\u2019d like a break to volunteer, learn a new language, write a book, or even just engage in your hobbies. What about the chance to do some freelance work or kick-start a business?<\/p>\n

Tip:<\/strong> Make sure you consider pandemic-related restrictions when looking into travel and\/or your chosen activity or postpone your plans for when the pandemic subsides.<\/p>\n

2. Speak to your employer about taking a career break\/adult gap year of some sort<\/h2>\n

Some adult gap years are in the form of company-approved sabbaticals. If you love your job and\/or would like the stability of keeping your job after your gap year, speak to your employer about this. Many employers are open to sabbaticals (as hiring and training someone all over again can be a time-consuming and expensive process) and know how to manage employee breaks.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, some adult gap years involve abandoning everything and hitting the road. If time off to reevaluate your life and decide how you want to change it is what you\u2019re after, then perhaps taking the plunge and spending the year without being tied to anything (like your old job) might be the better way to go. Just make sure you\u2019re in a financial position to be able to take this risk.<\/p>\n

Tip:<\/strong> If the latter option is what you end up doing, you can also speak to recruiters and other industry contacts before you head out. Keep your CV updated and add new skills along the way.<\/p>\n

3. If your adult gap year is about travel, research your destinations in advance<\/h2>\n

Traveling is one of the most popular gap year activities, but will require a fair bit of planning and organization – especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Are you going to travel full-time or have a base and make trips from there? Will you go to multiple countries or stay in one or a few countries for an extended period of time? Note that quarantine requirements might make staying in one place for longer periods of time a more practical option.<\/p>\n

You also need to look into:<\/p>\n