At the end of high school, most of the young people are kind of lost and don’t know what to do after. It’s a very stressful period and choosing a specific field of study in university is usually hard. For a few years, a phenomenon appeared, particularly in Europe: the gap year! Let’s discover the gap year’s goal and its benefits for mental health. 

Taking a gap year is democratizing a lot, especially in North countries like Finland or Denmark. A gap year is a break during your study, and work, usually taken after high school. Some people are deciding to take their gap year later, like me for example, I took my gap year between my bachelor’s and my master’s degree. Everybody is free to choose when is a good moment to take a gap year. As you probably know, studying is a big factor in anxiety and tiredness for the youth. Family pressure, and social pressure, this period is sometimes hard to face, we can get lost and don’t know what to do with our lives, and it can have a real impact on our mental health. Taking a break from everything to find yourself, and make new projects can be useful and a breath of air in your student life. 

During a gap year, there are many things to do, it depends on your project, what you like, what you want to experiment with, your personality, etc. One of the first common things that young people do when they are taking a gap year is traveling. Exploring different parts of the world can bring a lot of new experiences and be enriching in a lot of fields. You may visit multiple countries, immerse yourselves in new cultures, and engage in activities like backpacking, hitchhiking or even volunteering abroad. For sure, traveling is an amazing adventure if you want to go out of your comfort zone, learn about yourself, and at the same time live an international human experience. For some people, especially when you are 18, traveling is a bit scary and stressful. So, another possibility during a gap year is doing local/national volunteering. Gap-year participants often devote their time to meaningful volunteer work. They may engage in community service projects, and environmental conservation efforts, or contribute to social causes such as education, healthcare, or poverty alleviation. Volunteering allows individuals to make a positive impact while gaining valuable experiences. When you are a volunteer, you give a lot about yourself, but you also gain a lot of new skills and professional experience which can be also very useful to help you to choose what will be the way that you will take after your gap year. Taking a break during study can also be a synonym for working, saving money, and building professional experience related to their field of interest… Internships or Work contracts can give this opportunity. This can provide practical skills, industry knowledge, and networking opportunities, setting them up for future academic or career success. It allows as well to save money for future educational or career pursuits. This can involve jobs in various sectors, during various periods, and be helpful for future professional life. Finally, taking a gap year is also a good way to develop yourself and your project. Indeed, gap years offer an opportunity to develop new skills or pursue personal interests. Some individuals enroll in courses or workshops to learn languages, arts, music, cooking, or sports. They may also engage in activities like coding boot camps, entrepreneurship programs, or outdoor adventure training. Furthermore, it can be an occasion to work on personal projects or explore creative endeavors. This could include writing a book, starting a blog, creating artwork, developing a business idea, or pursuing hobbies like photography or filmmaking. The activities undertaken during a gap year can vary greatly depending on individual preferences, financial resources, and specific goals. Each person’s gap year experience is unique and adapted to their interests and aspirations.

In addition to all these various experiences which can be real benefits in the life of all students, taking a gap year is also helpful for mental health! First of all, many individuals experience high levels of stress and burnout from academic or work responsibilities. Taking a gap year allows for a break from these pressures, providing an opportunity to rest, recharge, and regain a sense of balance. Practicing different activities during a gap year like creative activities or volunteering can foster a better understanding of oneself, leading to increased self-confidence and improved mental well-being. Engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment can positively impact mental well-being and overall life satisfaction. During these explorations, the brain will make a lot of dopamine for example which is very important for human well-being. Traveling can also favorize cultural immersion and involve a lot of mental benefits. Exposing oneself to different cultures, traditions, and viewpoints can enhance empathy, understanding, and personal development, which are beneficial for mental health. Finally, in all these experiences that you can live during a gap year, you will for sure have to overcome a lot of obstacles but it’s also something which will give you strength and help you to grow up! Dealing with unexpected situations and learning to adapt can bolster mental resilience, enabling individuals to better cope with stress and setbacks in the future. Last and maybe the main point when you are in a gap year: it allows time for self-assessment, research, and exploration of different paths, helping individuals make informed decisions about their future. Having a clear sense of purpose can reduce anxiety and enhance motivation.

So, if you are lost or too stressed in your study, need to explore new horizons, and work on yourself to be happier and more determined, no doubt, take a gap year!

Camélia Sghayare 

Sources: 

gooverseas.com, article «Why Are Gap Years More Common in Europe than the US?» 

goodtherapy.org, article «L’année sabbatique : les avantages pour la santé mentale de prendre des congé» letudiant.fr, article «  Prendre une année de césure : bonne ou mauvaise idée ? »