Advice on how to spend your gap year
Check out this list of a few things to do during your gap year to keep you mentally and physically busy.
Taking a gap year frightens many parents and is just as scary for the matriculant/college or university student. One of the main reasons for a gap year is finance, when there is no money to study or no money to go back to school or self-discovery.
READ: What hobbies you should and should not mention on your CV
It can be a devastating time for a person and to build the strength to find things to do to keep you mentally focus is imperative to keep your brain healthy among all things.
Here is a list of a few things to do during your gap year to keep you mentally and physically busy.
1. Find a job
Apply for a job at contact centres. It may not be an ideal job but it gives you something that you can never get back again – experience. Also working in such an environment will help you with your intro into the working world because contact centres are target driven, it trains you to become more focused and positive as well as help you to adhere to deadlines.
Retail is also an ideal industry for those who are just starting out. It’s best to go to these places with your CV and hand it to the manager personally. This shows true sacrifice.
2. Find a hobby
It is ideal to play a sport, join a soccer team, a dance class, become an active member of a club, try fishing. For those who do not like outdoor activities, you can buy a puzzle, play sudoku, sell something that is a need in your area. Volunteer your time to an organisation in need.
3. Learn to adult
Become active in your household, your monthly allowance may be cut off if you’re fresh out of high school so it’s best to have the best come back, pay (half) the electricity bill, the TV licence or groceries. Do not offer, surprise your parents, they need to know you mean business. Open a savings plan with your bank where money can be stored for “back to school”.
4. Spend time with/away from your family
If you need a break from your usual surroundings, take a holiday to a family member’s house for a while. Want to spend more time with your family? Take them out to lunch/supper if you’re financially able to.
5. Discover yourself
Ask two people what type of person you are, then ask two people who don’t know what they think of you. Be as spiritual as you possibly can. Pray and be positive. Re-evaluate yourself every day. Write down five short term goals, one of them which is absolutely important to achieve is a driver’s licence.
Do a short course to add to your CV. Go on a hiking trail, do something you’re not known to do ( I do not mean drugs by the way), be creative and come out of your comfort zone. Alternatively, visit a guidance counsellor at a university/college.
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