There are many reasons to take a Year Off, some big, some small. They vary widely from person to person. But I believe there are several reasons that stand out above the rest.
My top reasons to take a Year Off were to gain more experience in the wilderness areas of the world, to travel abroad, and to volunteer my time for causes that are meaningful to me. No matter what your reasons are, a Year Off provides the time to accomplish them.
Here are some of the most common reasons to take a Year Off.
1. The free time to do more of what you love.
Time is a valuable commodity. That’s why your employer pays you money for your time and skills. The free time to pursue dreams of yours and do more of what you love doing is even more valuable. A Year Off serves that purpose. It gives you the time to do more of what you love doing, not what you’re required to do.
2. To rejuvenate yourself in your career.
Burn-out is a big problem for many professions. Many people lose interest in their careers and feel like they are trapped.
A Year Off is a chance to step back from your career and forget about it for awhile. When you come back, you feel much more refreshed and ready to take on the challenges that arise at work.
3. To create more space in your mind for creative pursuits.
When you’re caught up in the rat race of life, you’re juggling multiple priorities and constantly switching from one task to another. Your mind is always in it’s executive, get-stuff-done mode and you have little time to let your imagination run wild.
When you remove yourself from that rat race, you free your mind to think about ideas that interest you and new, original ideas start to form. Throw in even more free time to fine tune that idea and turn the idea into actionable steps with goals and you have the recipe for a purpose-driven, meaningful life that YOU and only YOU direct.
4. Minimalism becomes a part of you.
Studies have proven that the most meaningful parts of a person’s life are experiences and relationships, not material possessions. Minimalism is the art of focusing your financial resources on the things that are most meaningful to you and avoiding the mental and emotional clutter that results from owning large amounts of material possessions.
A Year Off is minimalism at it’s finest, especially if you travel during it. You realize how little you really need to survive and be happy. And when you live minimally for an extended period, it gets ingrained in your mind. It’s much easier to say no to more material wealth and yes to more meaningful experiences and relationships.
5. Greater appreciation for your way of life.
When travel is included in your Year Off, you significantly increase your appreciation for your own way of life. You see how other people live and the hardships they must endure on a daily basis, so you grow to appreciate everything you have at home. This is one of the top reasons to take a Year Off in my opinion.
6. You create your own story to tell.
A Year Off is all about taking the reins of your life and controlling where you want to go. By redirecting your life towards pursuits that are more meaningful to you, it’s possible to significantly increase your overall happiness. You begin living an intentional life and the life that makes the most sense to you. You create your own unique story to tell, and you are no longer just following the crowd.
7. To learn a skill that you can teach others.
It’s important to create a theme to your Year Off and think of skills to learn that you can share with others in the future. When you gain experience in an art or activity that brings great enjoyment to you, your enthusiasm will carry over into teaching others. It’s extremely gratifying to accomplish a really cool goal of yours, and even more gratifying when you help others achieve that same goal.
8. The memories will last forever.
Climbing Mt. Rainier and Kilimanjaro, the John Muir Trail, backpacking around Europe, and going on safari in Africa. These are some of the most vivid and enjoyable memories I have from my entire life. And they would not have been made if I stayed at home and never took my Year Off. And they are memories that no one can ever take away from me.
Now come up with a list of your reasons take a Year Off.
Come up with your reasons for wanting to do it. Then start taking some actionable steps to making it a reality.
Ready to start planning your Year Off and create your own unique memories that will last the rest of your life? Check out my Year Off Planning Page.