Gap Years for Older Adults: Things to Consider

This is a collaborative post.

It’s not unusual for people to experience a sudden pang of regret when they reach a certain age. A significant number of youngsters head off on their travels after college and gain life experience. However, no one ever said that this kind of gap year should only happen in your late teens. If you’ve always wanted to see the world, head down under or even interrail around Europe, it’s not too late.

Here are some essential things to consider.

Who, what, when, where, why, how?

The all-important questions centre around the who, what, when, where, why and how. The answers can dictate what you get from the gap year and how much money you’ll need, preparations you need to make and what you will need to take with you.

Try to get things as planned as possible to ensure you have the necessary visas and vaccinations, for example. Also, if you are travelling alone, ensuring someone else is aware of your movements and plans is a safe option.

Finances

It is far from cheap to take a gap year. If you’re planning to travel, you will need to ensure you have enough for transport as well as the basics of food, drink and accommodation. In some locations, you may be able to secure employment to allow you extra to spend. However, be sure to check out the regulations of the individual countries as they differ considerably.

Employment

Not all of us are fortunate enough to have an employer who would be willing to allow a sabbatical or unpaid leave to fulfil our gap year dreams. However, that does not mean you need to give up. Consider whether the industry in which you work is one where there are many jobs or even if this could be the perfect opportunity to try something else upon your return.

In fact, you may even use your gap year as a way of learning more about a certain trade or role by shadowing someone elsewhere. Gap years don’t always have to be abroad, and they can be beneficial in a variety of ways.

Storage

You may be able to benefit from passive income, such as renting out your home or business premises while they are not in use. Of course, this can be problematic with difficult tenants, for example, but it is worth considering.

If you are going to go down this route, renting unfurnished and without your personal possessions is the way forward, so look into good quality facilities, like Now Storage self storage, where you can be sure that your belongings are safe.

Family and Friends

Thinking about your family and friends when you venture off without them may seem like an obvious one, but there is more to consider than simply how much you will miss them. If you have elderly relatives, jetting off around the world may mean that, if they fall unwell, you are unable to get back to visit them in a hospital or in a nursing home like you ordinarily would.

However, we are lucky to live in the days of great technological advances, meaning you can chat via FaceTime, and it’s almost like you’re there with them.