The reasons and motivations for taking a Gap Year can be different for each individual.

Here are broad perspectives on the benefits of a taking a Gap Year--

● A year off the routine track--from our personal, professional, academic life can renew, rejuvenate and refresh yourself by helping us gain new skills, perspectives, ideas and inspirations. Our mind, body and spirit can benefit from a nourishing, nurturing space and time of leisure and passionate pursuits.

● During phases of uncertainty and transition, it can offer more clarity, a sense of purpose and direction with regards to our next steps.

● By doing something out of the ordinary, by breaking out of predefined moulds, we invite ourselves to step into the unknown, out of our comfort zone--which holds tremendous potential for new possibilities to emerge, for growth and transformation.

A Gap Year does not necessarily have to be year long in duration. It could even be a few gap-months, gap weeks or even gap days from the ordinary routine of life. The idea behind a ‘Gap Year’ is to try out something new, different, explore something anew, with a beginner’s mind, curious heart, conscious intention and purposeful engagement--which can happen even for a few hours or even a few minutes everyday! However, for a deep immersive and radically transformative journey--spaciousness in terms of time and commitment can be greatly helpful.

The answer really lies within you! In order to find out--you may wish to deeply reflect and ask yourself--whether your heart and mind are desirous of a wholly different way of being? Am I willing to walk on a path that is not predefined? Does my life, as it is at the moment, inspire me--if yes, what might it be needing to further continue building on that inspiration? Am I willing to step out of my comfort zone and try out something different? Do I have the motivation and capacity to take charge of my learning and living? Am I willing to trust the process of emergence and unknown challenges and discoveries?

We hope and believe that finances should not and would not pose major constraints for taking a Gap Year--and that taking a Gap Year should not be a luxury reserved for limited few. Having said that, we also understand that there may be different circumstances for each individual.

Thankfully, there are many creative ways of approaching a Gap Year in a way that it doesn’t become financially burdensome. Many spaces, organizations, individuals continue to be supportive and even encouraging of taking a Gap Year. With a clear understanding of mutual needs and offerings, often an arrangement can be worked out such that it benefits everyone!

Gift economies, work-exchanges, internships, volunteering, low-budget travel, crowdfunding, fellowships and scholarships etc. are but a few ideas to begin to think about a financially wholesome Gap Year.

Skillfully planning and managing one’s finances can itself be a great learning opportunity for any young person who steps out into the world during his/her Gap Year.

Family often plays an important role before taking on and during the Gap Year process. The concerns and questions raised by family members and close relatives/friends, are often coming from a genuine place of concern.

If one is able to assuage the fears around safety, security (financial, academic, career, social etc.) Towards that end following may be some helpful strategies:

● Holding clear intentions and purpose for your Gap Year. Being able to articulate it well to your family (writing it down before communication might be helpful!).

● Planning your Gap Year--with specific goals and objectives, timelines, mentors and resources (even if they may change or evolve as you go further along into your Gap Year).

● Facilitating a conversation between your family and people who have taken a Gap Year/programs or organizations who endorse and support Gap Years.

● Finally, and most importantly, being fully convinced of the importance of taking a Gap-Year at this point in your journey!

The possibilities for what you can do during a Gap Year are infinite--it is like having a blank canvas for you to paint on--depending upon your purpose, intention, needs and dreams, the availability of resources, opportunities, the ecosystem of support etc.

One can go on solo-travels, take a retreat for inner-discovery and wisdom, join one of the many Fellowship programs, pursue internships/volunteering opportunities in one’s field of interest, experiment with initiating or contributing in a social/entrepreneurial initiative, apprentice with experts and learn new skills (on & offline), or simply ‘Just Be’ without any rigid plan/agenda.

Here are some ideas for you to consider:

https://medium.com/khoj

https://wendiyan.com/gap-ideas

It can be an exciting and challenging process to self-design a Gap Year. Some of the things and questions which may be helpful to keep in mind:

--What are my intentions, goals and learning / doing / non-doing objectives from this Gap Year? What would I like to achieve at the end of it?

--What is the desirable and possible duration for my Gap Year?

--What would I like to learn in terms of new skills, knowledge, ideas?

--Where would i like to spend my Gap Year (it can be multiple places/involving extensive travel as well)?

--How much budget is required to meet the needs of this Gap Year? What are the potential sources of financial support/funding?

--Who are my mentors, support system during this Gap Year?

--What does my timeline look like--when do I start, how do I plan and allocate my time (daily/weekly/monthly) etc.?

--What is the scope for flexibility, uncertainty and emergence--how much ‘planning’ and ‘un-planning’ am i feeling comfortable with at this point?

--Would i like to capture, document, reflect upon, internalize my learning and key takeaways from this Gap Year--would i like to share it with others?

--What potential risks, challenges to anticipate and what back-up options/contingency plans would I like to make?

--Anything else I wish to think about?

You may wish to explore below links for further inspiration, ideas and Gap Year opportunities:

https://bit.ly/holistic-india

https://medium.com/khoj

https://www.multiversities.net/