THE MIDLIFE GAP YEAR?
And yes, it's a thing!
Hello there, lovely people
I hope this edition finds you well and thriving after the recent oh-so-hot weather that we really aren’t used to. And, if you’ve been in the lucky position of having some time off or have been on a staycation in the UK - well, I raise my glass to you. I hope you’ve had the best time
Talking of holidays, online I’m seeing more and more about people (and women in particular) who are taking gap years in their mid and later years. It’s likely they weren’t able to do it when they were late teens/early 20’s after uni, or, in my case, it REALLY wasn’t a thing to have a long break out of the workplace then. It would really have been frowned upon and seen as weakness - dropping off the career ladder. Which really wasn’t done - it was the late 80’s for goodness sake :)
So, these people continue working for years and reach a position where they can possibly kick back a little in their career (and have the disposable income to allow them to do it) and schedule in a gap year.
Although that yearning hasn’t quite hit me yet, I am intrigued by those who are brave enough to do so and ponder on what drives them. So I did a bit of research and here’s what I found:
WHY TAKE A GAP YEAR IN MID-LIFE?
Many people find themselves at a crossroads in their middle and later years. After years spent building careers, raising families, or caring for others, it’s common to feel a sense of restlessness or desire for change. This stage—sometimes called “middlescence”—is described by gerontologist Barbara Waxman as a second adolescence, but with the added benefit of wisdom and life experience1.
A midlife gap year offers the opportunity to:
Pause and reflect: Step away from the daily grind to reconsider what truly matters.
Recharge and reset: Combat burnout and rekindle motivation.
Explore passions: Rediscover hobbies or interests put aside during busy years.
Embrace change: Cultivate cognitive flexibility and openness to new experiences.
Deepen relationships: Invest time in meaningful connections, old and new.
Prioritize well-being: Focus on both physical and mental health.
Experience new cultures: “Slow travel” allows for deeper immersion and perspective.
Give back: Many use this time to volunteer or contribute to causes close to their heart12.
The Science: Health and Well-Being Benefits
Scientific research and expert opinion suggest that taking a gap year in midlife can have significant health benefits:
Stress Relief and Burnout Prevention: Stepping away from work and routine responsibilities provides immediate stress relief and helps stave off burnout, a common issue in midlife3.
Mental Health Boost: Gap years are linked to improved mental well-being—offering time for self-discovery, personal growth, and a break from career or family pressures. This can reduce anxiety, rekindle motivation, and provide a renewed sense of purpose4.
Physical Health: Many mature gap year experiences involve travel, volunteering, or physical activity, which can improve fitness and overall health5.
Cognitive Flexibility: Learning new skills or adapting to new environments keeps the mind sharp and engaged, which is crucial for healthy aging1.
Social Connection: Building new relationships and strengthening existing ones during a gap year can enhance emotional support and well-being, which are key factors in long-term health4.
So, you see, it has quite a number of benefits going for it. And, wanting to know more, I looked around online to find some examples of people who had done this very thing and I found this one.
I found an article about Tina Stokes, a project manager from the UK, found herself unexpectedly redundant in her mid-30s. Initially, the shock left her feeling anxious about the future. But a spontaneous conversation with a friend about learning to surf sparked a realization: she could use this time as an opportunity, not a setback.
Tina rented out her flat, signed up with a company specializing in gap years for adults, and landed a placement at a surf school in the Mediterranean. The experience was transformative. Not only did she learn new skills and gain confidence, but she also discovered a passion for teaching and met people from all walks of life.
The article goes on to say that Tina used all that transformation for when she returned to the UK and reassessed what kind of job she wanted to do when she returned home.
I’m including this, because I suspect, in amongst all the 170-odd kind subscribers to the newsletter, there will be a number of you who are dreaming of an adventure like this - a gap year in any form. For anything like this, the key is in the planning. So again, looking online I searched for advice about formulating a gap year from those who know about these types of things better than I do. I found this:
Plan finances: Consider renting out your home or taking a sabbatical to fund your travels or projects.
Be open to new experiences: Whether it’s volunteering, learning a language, or slow travel, embrace the unknown.
Prioritize health: Use the time to focus on well-being, both physical and mental.
Connect with others: Seek out communities of mature travellers or students for support and inspiration.
Reflect and reset: Use the break to realign your life with your values and goals. (TO ME, THIS HAS TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO)
If you’re one of those subscribers who is secretly kindling a desire to disappear for a year, then I’d love to hear about it. What is it that you’re wanting to do, how far have you got with the planning and what would your dream gap year look like. Tell all!!!
You can reply to this newsletter with details and they will find me. Looking forward to reading all your plans
There’d be no doubt that whatever you decide to do in your gap year, it won’t all be plain sailing and you will need to rely on your own natural resilience at times. And sometimes that can be a problem. Resilience stores can decline steeply in our mid and later years, and this wonderful quality is yet another one that can be decimated by that bitch menopause!!!
I know it’s seriously reduced what little resilience I possessed pre menopause and, for that reason, earlier this year, I recorded a session with expert guest on the matter, Tania Beales. Tania works with clients on her own personal formula to help them build and maintain resilience, and, what she used for herself to bring herself back from the brink of a massive burnout.
The recording we did is just short of an hour in length and is a wonderful resource where Tania explains
why we think like we do, and why it’s not our fault - the prehistoric brain
how you can add simple solutions into your own life to increase and maintain resilience
how to empty your “stress bucket”.
what are the 4 main things that you need to monitor to keep stress at bay
how Tania used these solutions to fight back from the brink of breakdown.
If you’d like to know more, you can take a look at the recording here . And you'll have lifetime access to the recording, for you to come back to time and time again as you need to.
So, that’ll be wrap from me. I hope everything I’ve written about resonates with you, and if it does, let me know. There’s nothing better than hearing from people to say you’ve helped them - even in a very small way.
So, I’ll see you for the next issue in a fortnight’s time.
Stay safe & well until then
Una x