Gap years can get a bit of a bad rep with some viewing them as a waste of time or a way to put off studying. In this guide, we\u2019ll cover all the positive reasons to take a gap year, which includes learning life skills you won\u2019t get in the classroom. The important thing to know is that a gap year is a chance to learn, travel, and take a well-earned break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Much like a year studying abroad<\/a>, gap years present an opportunity to learn skills, experience different cultures and get a taste of the world outside of your comfort zone. Take a look at some of the top reasons to think about taking a gap year below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feeling indecisive? Burnt out? In need of adventure? Why not take a gap year? Gap years tick lots of boxes but the most important one might be the chance to have a break. It can\u2019t be overstated how useful it can be for students to take a breather after a hectic exam season and refocus themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lurching from college straight to uni can leave little room to have a proper think about what to study and where to go. Rather than being forced to make decisions in a rush, a gap year gives students the chance to reflect. Even a couple of weeks or months can be enough time to research courses, reconnect with passions that could become future careers, and plan where to study<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another reason to take a gap year is the opportunity to gain skills and experience. These range from skills picked up whilst travelling, like a sense of independence and problem-solving, to skills you can hone at work experience placements, perhaps in disciplines like medicine or journalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re career-orientated, a gap year is a good opportunity to supercharge your CV. Unlike some of your peers who may head straight into further education, you\u2019ll have spent your time challenging yourself, travelling, learning about new cultures, and perhaps undertaking work experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All of this is looked at favourably by employers. Similarly, if you\u2019re applying to a uni with a competitive application process, your gap year could help you to secure a spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s clear that there are lots of reasons to take a gap year, but to make the most of it you need to consider what you want to get out of it. Ask yourself what\u2019s most important: to learn new skills? Earn some extra money? Or do some travelling? <\/p>\n\n\n\n By narrowing down what specifically you\u2019re trying to gain by having a gap year you avoid an aimless year out. These are some of the types of gap years you can go on\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is one of the most popular types of gap year. For those wondering how to take a gap year from the UK, volunteering could be the answer. There are loads of voluntary projects to get involved in, these range from coral reef conservation in Australia<\/a>, building hospitals in third world countries, or helping out at overseas orphanages. This is a particularly rewarding type of gap year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For many, the biggest reason to take a gap year is to travel. The opportunities for travel-focussed gap years are broad, from experiencing the sights of China<\/a> and South East Asia, working as a chalet host in Switzerland<\/a> to foodie tours of Spain<\/a> or marine adventures in Belize. Wherever you plan on going, you\u2019ll learn about new cultures and expand your skill set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to get a headstart on your future career – this is the option for you. If you\u2019re heading to uni after your gap year, consider what you want to study. That way you can choose a work placement or internship that complements your course. For instance, future zoology students may want to look for wildlife conservation programmes and journalism students may want to look for roles in local newspapers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, you\u2019ll need to decide whether you want to fly solo on your gap year or do it as part of a gap year program. Essentially, do you want to plan it yourself or go on a pre-arranged trip? There are pros and cons to each. The biggest benefit of doing a gap year you\u2019ve arranged yourself is having complete control over your itinerary and flexibility. This can come in handy when you\u2019re balancing a budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Going on a pre-packaged gap year, however, can take some of the stress off your hands. It\u2019s also a chance to go on a tried and tested route and, usually, have someone to call on if things go wrong. Work out which is more important to you – having a sense of freedom or a failsafe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, you\u2019ve decided to take the plunge and go on a gap year\u2026 What happens now? When you\u2019re working out how to take a gap year from the UK, you\u2019ll need to consider how long you want to go for, where you want to go, how to get there and what to pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First things first, what\u2019s your budget for your gap year? This will be a determining factor in the length of time you can go on a gap year for. Depending on where you go there\u2019ll be plane tickets to purchase, shipping fees, accommodation costs, and general living expenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve worked out a budget, you\u2019ll also want to think about what type of gap year you\u2019re doing. The length could be dictated by how long your volunteer program runs or which travel route you\u2019ve chosen. Six-month placement teaching in a school or an open-ended internship? Island-hopping in Greece<\/a> or an epic American road trip<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fun bit! It all comes down to what you\u2019re going on a gap year for. Popular options include countries where English is widely spoken (unless you\u2019re bilingual). For cultural explorations, you can\u2019t do better than Hong Kong<\/a> and China where you can experience majestic historic landmarks while also sampling the wares of street food hawkers and colourful markets. Australia is popular with outdoor enthusiasts thanks to its miles of sandy surfing beaches and cosmopolitan, coastal cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Choose a country that fulfils your criteria. Looking for a chance to experience new landscapes? Go coast to coast in Costa Rica taking in the Arenal Volcano and Monteverde cloud forest. Looking to break into the fashion industry? Work experience placements in style-centric cities\u00a0 like Milan<\/a> or Paris <\/a>will make the most sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Travelling for any period of time is exciting, but can also be incredibly daunting – especially if you\u2019re planning on being away from home for an extended period of time. Thinking about travel logistics during this time can also be a cause for anxiety. Pre-planning and some careful luggage choices can make gap years a lot less stressful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the flight is booked, make sure you know the exact airline restrictions<\/a> so you don\u2019t get caught out by any nasty excess fees. It\u2019s also possible to avoid the risk of this by sending your luggage<\/a> ahead of time – this way, it will be waiting for you when you arrive at your next exciting destination!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re wondering how to take a gap year in the UK or abroad, packing should be at the top of your list. Packing for an entire year abroad<\/a> can feel like an overwhelming task. Even if you\u2019ve opted to do a six-month trip instead, this stage of the process is intimidating. So get started early with your organisation to give yourself a stress-free start to your gap year.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Begin by packing clothes appropriate for the climate you\u2019re travelling to. Some simple checks you can do include checking the weather in the region you\u2019re heading to for the specific month\/s you\u2019ll be there. Also, think about what it is you\u2019re doing whilst there. Whether you’re working in an office or hiking in the mountains – your itinerary will dictate which clothes to bring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are some universal items you\u2019ll need to bring with you. They might sound obvious but make a little checklist and give yourself peace of mind by ticking these off. You\u2019ll need a laptop and your phone, plus all the relevant charging cables and adaptors depending on the country you\u2019re visiting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, all your travel documents including passport, insurance, and plane tickets. This is how to take a gap year in the UK 101, but don\u2019t let the obvious and essential things in this list get overlooked!<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to a gap year. For some students, this might be the first big trip they\u2019ve done on their own. Shipping headaches shouldn\u2019t spoil the experience. Our luggage shipping<\/a> services let you navigate the airport hands-free and avoid mishandled goods and excess baggage<\/a> fees. Simply get a quote and book, pack your items, and track your things as we courier them to your end destination.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You\u2019ve finished studying, sat the exams, and the results are in\u2026 but what\u2019s next? When weighing up options, a gap year is often top off the list. It\u2019s easy to see why, the chance to travel and take a well-earned break is appealing and in recent years the gap year has become increasingly popular. In […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4752,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sherpr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/holly-mandarich-UVyOfX3v0Ls-unsplash-1024x681.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy take a gap year?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Break<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
New Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Boost your CV<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What kind of gap year is right for me?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Volunteering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Travel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Working<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Solo or pre-packaged?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sherpr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/eva-darron-oCdVtGFeDC0-unsplash-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPlan ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How long?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Deciding where to go<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Travel Logistics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sherpr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/anete-lusina-GOZxrAlNIt4-unsplash-1024x681.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat to pack<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Clothes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Miscellaneous<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Shipping for Your Gap Year Abroad<\/h3>\n\n\n\n