Are gap years a waste of time?

TL;DR

No, they are not.

Long Answer

Quick background - I am a productivity-hacker, and I tend to enjoy working with people who are practical, or somewhat, the term is street-smart.

The non-senses in Gap Years are real though. There are many ways to waste time during a gap year, I shall not name any.

However...

I took a gap year project post-graduation in my early 20s, and it played a pivotal role in my transition from "student" to "adult", aka adulting 101. Thus, I do recommend gap year as long as you're 80% aware of why you are taking one.

I am currently taking a gap year and again, it is (again) post-graduation. I am now in my early 30s. Using this gap year to explore and push my own boundaries. It is a taxing experience this time but I went in with the intention to grow myself by a 10x multiple.

Why should you take a gap year? Listicle approach now:

• Try something new

• Learn about yourself

• Push your limits

What can you do in a gap year?

• Work in another country in a field that is not related to your course of study

• Work in another country in your field of interest/field of study

• Do something different such as climbing Mt Kilimanjaro (if you had to google this one, you better take a gap year to learn about the world!)

In my next gap year, I intend to bring my parents and my future family on multiple train rides across the world (with some flights in between, of course)

Happy to chat in person over coffee

Cheers,

Pascal (www.launchers.asia)​​​

Not necessarily. I would say the pros of gap years is that it gives you a chance to explore whatever you want be it hobbies, interests or career options. it kind of gives you a chance to find a suitable path in life! However, I think before embarking on gap years, you should make sure you have a concrete plan of the entire year so that you don't end up wasting your time.

Many factors to it. Family circumstances, financial situation all play a part.

Also depends on what you are doing during the gap year, if you are travelling and exploring, that will give you exposure (but gotta have money first), if you are doing different kind of jobs, that will give you a better understanding of what you really want to focus on doing, or it could also be just spending some time doing volunteering, while waiting for a better job climate. No right or wrong answer. Just a matter of perspectives. Have a rational mind to weigh the pros and cons, as well as bear the consequences if there is any.

But of course, if a person take a gap year just to do nothing and sleep at home, then I agree that's absolute nonsense. I think that if a person take a gap year, there must be a good reason to it.

Money is never going to be the sole reason for many people to continue working till retirement. Instead, some of us focus on career satisfaction, soul searching, as well as to do something that we are passionate about.

While some of these are not profit-making, this is when cashflow planning is important. Through this process, we will understand our earning ability and spending habit. Here is a guide to help you: https://www.blog.pzl.sg/understanding-your-pers...

Next, create a budget that is capable of helping you to plan ahead. The best way to do this is via automation and this is how I do mine: https://www.blog.pzl.sg/how-to-create-a-monthly...

By doing this, we create a pool of money that will remain available during the gap year. During this period, we can focus on ourselves and to do things that make us feel alive again.

Thereafter, go back to employment and feel stronger and refresh again. This is probably one of the key factors to productivity.

Here is everything about me and what I do best.​​​