Many of us discover early on what we’d like to do with our futures. As we grow older, we learn to tread the path necessary to get us closer to our goals, often following routes charted by those who came before us. From the time I knew I wanted to be a college professor, I understood the route to be this: obtain a Bachelor’s degree in my field, then a Master’s and finally a Ph.D. Through most of my undergraduate years, I was dead-set on moving straight on to graduate school after getting my BA.
In my mind, the normative and essential path to my desired career did not leave room for rest stops, lest I fall behind – or worse, lose momentum and stop altogether. But, because I was running so quickly and fervently toward the next step in my plan, I was unfocused. I hadn’t taken the time to decide on a path of study, nor to confirm that my desires for the future were still the same. So, around this time last year, I decided to press pause on my future plans and take a year off from school after graduation. Despite my worries about falling behind, I wanted to step back, not only to allow myself time to confirm my desires, but also to choose a topic of study with the potential to sustain me through many years of research.
For an achiever, it’s common to see one’s career journey as a race. At first glance, it appears that there is one path to the finish line and deviating from that path would only bring delays. While this is not the case for all fields, it is for some. Thus, the most reactionary part of us might think that slowing down – even for a little while – would be postponing our dreams, and to do what?
For recent college graduates and humans in general, time not spent in active pursuit of our dreams can feel like time wasted, if we let it. But, just as race cars need pit stops for repairs, humans in pursuit of their dreams can benefit from a break, to step back and take stock of where we are, where we’re going and how we’re going to get there. Whether this time of waiting is voluntary or not, eventually, we must choose between despairing over time “wasted” or committing to making something out of that time.
What each of us makes of a gap year will vary, but there are tangible ways to be productive even when it feels like our dreams are on hold.
1. Invest time in caring for your health.
For college students, it can feel like there just isn’t enough time to spend at doctor’s appointments, at the gym, or in the kitchen cooking nutritious food. For this reason, the postgrad stage is the perfect time to pause and devote some time to our health, both physical and mental.
Whether we’re seeing a doctor for the first time since starting college or embarking on a new exercise regimen, a gap year (or any stretch of time before entering our respective industries) provides the perfect opportunity to work on our health long-term, which will only make us more able to take on new challenges that future careers might bring.
2. Learn a new skill or hone an old one.
The post-college period is also a great time to practice our hobbies or explore new ones. In some cases, the skills we work out in practicing our hobbies can translate directly to the work we will do in the future. This does not have to be the case, of course, but focusing on a skill that will help us in our future careers is one way to combat feelings of un-productivity.
… just as race cars need pit stops for repairs, humans in pursuit of their dreams can benefit from a break, to step back and take stock of where we are, where we’re going and how we’re going to get there.
3. Reconnect with old friends.
Finally, postgrad is an optimal period for reconnecting with old friends, especially for those of us who are readjusting to life in our hometowns after graduation. For postgrads that move back home, the absence of an abundance of nearby college friends can leave us feeling lonely. On the flip side, moving back home allows us the chance to reach out to old friends that are still local. Whether it be one of our closest friends or someone from our larger circle of acquaintances, revisiting those friendships (or acquaintanceships) can help us feel more connected to our hometown and less lonely in this stage of life.
Taking time off from the race towards career goals can make us feel lonely, restless and maybe even depressed. However, through investing time in ourselves, our skills and our relationships we can turn this season of waiting into a season of rest and repair, a season that re-energizes us so that we are more equipped for the next leg of our journey.
Have you ever taken a voluntary break from your career path? If so, how did you make the most of that season of waiting?
Image via We are the Rhoads for Darling Issue No. 21 / Model: Kathryn Han
8 comments
Loved the timing of this post! That’s exactly what this past year has been for me after graduating college. I’ve been working a job that I love (not related to my degree at all), and I’ve been majorly honing in on my health and connecting with people I’ve lost contact with/major quality time with my family. I think it’s benefited me far more than I’ve realized and I highly recommend it. It also really hones in on what your desires are for you future, with no fluff attached to it. Thanks for this post, Rachel!
As long as your parents don’t have to fund your time off, go for it! Otherwise, you really aren’t making things better for anyone…
Thanks for this Rachel,
As I’ve found with many darling articles this found me at the perfecftc time – on a morning when I felt like I had been “wasting my time” after having taken some time out which wasn’t totally voluntary. The article has reminded me to enjoy the process of considering what step to take next and to fully enjoy the hobbies that are making my heart sing. I made the mistake of racing towards a career that didn’t fulfil me, and having this time will hopefully guide me in a more purposeful direction
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I’m so glad this resonated with you! The more I talked to friends of mine not yet working in their field, the more I realized this wasn’t just me, and that many other postgrads might feel this way too!
In answer to some previous comments: Once you’re on your own financially, it can be hard to take a year away from work–unless you’ve saved a nest egg to cushion your gap time. If a year without working isn’t feasible, consider a change–different job with the same company, same job with a different company–or both! If there’s work to which you are leaning, see if you can volunteer or do an unpaid internship–many places value those that give of their time. They see that you have a vested interest and they likely will give you extra consideration when a position is available. It’s never too late to go back to school–I’ve got 2 advanced degrees–each was chosen when it was the right time for me. For one, I saved up money to attend full-time while working part-time. For the other, I worked my full-time job and did grad school over a 3-year span. I think a gap year is a wonderful idea–get out and explore!
This is wonderful, practical advice! Thank you!