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5 Reasons it’s Great to Take a Gap Year at 30
Life Over 30

5 Reasons it’s Great to Take a Gap Year at 30

27 November 202214 November 2023 Lisa Seaton 20 comments

Traditionally, gap years were just reserved for those graduating from high school or university. Fortunately, that is changing and it’s now more common than ever for people of any age to pop their lives on hold temporarily and take a gap year. I personally think that taking a gap year when you are 30 (or thereabouts) is far better than taking one a decade earlier.

READ MORE: Is 30 too old to take a gap year? (opens in new tab)

5 reasons why you should take a gap year at 30 (and beyond)

1. You have more money

Chances are, by 30, you’ve been working for coming up to a decade. This probably means that you have a higher income than someone fresh out of study, and hopefully a savings pot to match.

The beauty of travelling on a gap year with a bit more money behind you is that you don’t have to compromise on where you spend it. You’ll be able to enjoy any excursions you want to go on, whilst some of the younger set will be having to decide which few they can afford with their limited budget. You’ll be deep sea scuba diving with sharks, and they’ll be hoping to spot some fish with a mask at the shoreline. When it comes to dining out – you’ll enjoy tasting local delicacies in restaurants, whilst they are eating dry cornflakes out of the box in the hostel dorm room.

I didn’t spend recklessly, but having a healthy savings account from all my years of work meant that I was able to do everything I wanted to do whilst I was away – and all without worry.

2. You will almost certainly get more out of it

If I had taken a gap year at 18, 19, 20, or 21, I would have spent my entire time partying. The only “culture” I would have immersed myself in would have been the local bar scene. Waiting to take a gap year at 30, meant that I was less interested in drinking, and more interested in exploring new countries. My days weren’t wasted nursing a hangover, and my nights weren’t spent drinking island rum ’til the small hours (OK, maybe a few nights).

The image shows why it's great to wait to take a gap year at 30 - a young woman drinks directly from a coconut through a straw. A wooden beach bar is behind her.
Swapping pina coladas for fresh coconut water

I learnt so much more about the countries I visited and their people/history/culture than I ever would have if I hadn’t waited to 30 to take a gap year.

3. You can make some new, like-minded friends

Let’s be real here. Your early 30s are the time when you and your friends will start to follow completely different life paths, and when you’ll notice the biggest changes to friendships. A huge number of your friends will start to have babies, and with that, their priorities will shift. If you’re not ready to start a family, you’ll find yourself a little lost as to how you fit in with your old friends now.

Rather than trying to change yourself to fit into a life stage that you’re not ready for yet, go and find some friends who are at the same stage as you. The people you meet on your travels will be people just like you. Those with a sense of adventure who wanted to get out and see the world rather than stay home. They’ll feel like an instant family, and they’ll remind you that there’s still a life beyond having babies.

4. You need the break

Gone are the days when people get a job at 16 and then just, do it forever. By 30, chances are that you’re starting to feel a little burnt out from a decade of work and you need a break. You have around 40 years of work left ahead of you before retirement age. Take a break. There is absolutely no rush to get to the top of the career ladder. In fact, it’ll be far easier to take a career break now before you hit the dizzying heights and finding time for that break becomes more complicated.

Don’t forget, if you take one year out at aged 30, you’ll still only be 31 when you go back to work. What’s a year?

The image shows why you should take a gap year at 30 - it depicts a young woman standing on a boat at sunset with her arms up in the air and a big smile
Me on a sunset boat ride on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala on a gap year aged 31.

5. You’re still young and able

A common narrative I hear is that people will wait until they retire to travel. At the risk of sounding morbid, there is no promise that you’re making it to retirement. And even if you do make it, there’s no promise you’ll be fit and able to travel extensively. Heck, I’m tired now. I can’t imagine how tired I’ll be in another 35-40 years.

We have a finite amount of time on this Earth and to delay the things that bring you joy is to rob yourself of a life fully lived.

Why wait until “one day” to do the thing? Do the thing now. There is no better time.

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  • READ MORE: Changing Friendships in Your 30s
  • READ MORE: Torschlusspanik: The Fear of Running out of Time

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20 comments

  1. Pingback: Is 30 too old to take a gap year? - The Zing Collective
  2. Beth says:
    24 February 2023 at 7:33 pm

    I’ve never thought of a gap year much past early 20s, but I think it’s actually a genius idea! It’s a lot easier to take a year if you have actual money! LOL

    Reply
    1. Lisa Seaton says:
      25 February 2023 at 12:10 am

      Haha yes it is a completely different experience! Hopefully more people will start to take the opportunity for older gap years

      Reply
  3. RomyRaves says:
    24 February 2023 at 10:20 pm

    I think 30 is perfect.. You’ve got the time and money to finally enjoy!

    Reply
  4. Debbie says:
    25 February 2023 at 4:15 am

    I absolutely love the idea to take a gap year at 30 years old. I was far too young to enjoy a gap year in my 20s, but would have really enjoyed it when I had some extra money and life experiences.

    Reply
    1. Lisa Seaton says:
      25 February 2023 at 7:53 am

      Such a tonic! I’d recommend it to anyone who is in a position to do so

      Reply
  5. Gervin Khan says:
    25 February 2023 at 5:02 pm

    To be honest, gap year doesn’t come on my mind until I’ve read your article! I think it’s a great idea. To relax and recover to all the work for becoming of what we are now! Thanks for sharing this with us!

    Reply
  6. SONIA SEIVWRIGHT says:
    26 February 2023 at 7:13 am

    Taking a gap year at the age of 30 can be a fantastic way to reevaluate your life and pursue new opportunities. The five reasons mentioned in the blog post are all compelling reasons to take the leap and embark on a new adventure. In particular, taking a gap year can provide a much-needed break from the daily grind, allow you to explore new cultures and perspectives, and give you the chance to pursue personal growth and development.

    Reply
  7. Elise Ho says:
    27 February 2023 at 6:56 am

    There are a lot of good reasons . However, one most balance it against the negative

    Reply
  8. elaine says:
    6 March 2023 at 4:12 pm

    Any age can be a gap year. But 30 is GOOD :O)

    Reply
    1. Lisa Seaton says:
      6 March 2023 at 4:50 pm

      I agree! Thanks for reading, Elaine.

      Reply
  9. Kiki says:
    6 March 2023 at 7:27 pm

    I am 30 and this post came at the right time and I would love to take a gap year! (although I cannot, but reading this felt good) 🙂

    Reply
  10. Annie says:
    7 March 2023 at 2:53 pm

    I love this! Let’s normalize “slowing down” our careers to have one-in-a-lifetime experience like a gap year.

    Reply
    1. Lisa Seaton says:
      7 March 2023 at 4:28 pm

      Hear hear!

      Reply
  11. Denise says:
    7 March 2023 at 4:02 pm

    Think gap years are great! I have a friend who just did one in her 50s!

    Reply
    1. Lisa Seaton says:
      7 March 2023 at 4:29 pm

      Good for her! Life is about living, whatever that means to each individual 🙂

      Reply
  12. Sarah says:
    8 March 2023 at 6:34 am

    Totally agree! I took a gap year in my 30’s. 21 years later I still haven’t returned to the UK 🙂

    Reply
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Lisa Seaton: Zing Hunter

Welcome to The Zing Collective. What is zing? Zing is the feeling of joy you get inside when you're truly living your best life. It's that feeling when your heart skips a beat; when your chest feels a little bit fizzy; when you want to do a wiggly dance because you're just so damn delighted with life. That is zing. And that's what we're all about here.

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