If you’re a professional who’s been in your job for many years or even just a few, the thought of quitting your job to travel is a daunting one. This is especially true, as the comforts of a full-time job can be hard to leave. You may already have a solid salary, benefits, community and routine. It’s scary to dive into the unknown out of your comfort zone. Or maybe you hate your job, and are desperate to leave. Regardless of your situation, if you’re looking to take a gap year, it’s a good chance you’ll want to and need to quit your job. While some employers may allow you to work remotely, the purpose of a gap year is to get away from normal life, including work. This article is focused on giving you the best tips on how to leave your current job, and what best steps are.

While many travel bloggers and Instagram influencers make the gap year or nomadic lifestyle look super easy, it’s important to prepare for your gap year! Some bloggers have even claimed to quit their jobs on the fly, and just started traveling full-time. If only life could be that simple! For most people, there are many areas to plan your gap year prior to departing. There are many factors you’ll want to consider before you quit your job:

• When, Where, How Long and How Much Will it Cost? – Before you embark on a gap year, you’ll want to get a general sense of what you want your year to look like. Do you have enough money to travel for 3 months? What about 6 months, 12 months, 18 months or even 24 months? If you are unsure about this answer, I would highly encourage you to research the areas you’d like to travel and/or live in. What are the costs of living there? That’s anything from lodging to food to the extras you want to do. The worst thing that can happen to you on a gap year is to run out of money! There are definitely other ways to finance your travels while on your gap year, but I think it’s better to at least have some money saved up before leaving.
• Your current living situation – Everyone’s living situation will depend on their age and time of life. Do you rent or own your home? If you rent your home, how much longer is your lease? Would you want to break your lease? If you own your home, would you want to rent it out or sell it? What are you going to do with all of your stuff? These are all questions you’ll want to consider.
• Do You Want to Travel With Others or Solo? With your gap year, you’ll also want to figure out who’s going to be traveling with you, or if you’re going to be traveling solo. Your trip will vary greatly on who’s coming with you, whether it be your significant other, your best friend and/or your kids. You’ll need to factor this in with costs and preferences on activities, gear, modes of travel and accommodations.

2) Start Planning Your Trip!

Use Your Year Away and other resources to plan your trip. We have many resources from figuring out finances for your trip, gap year options and setting your itinerary.

3) Book Your Plane Ticket

The hardest step is the first one, and to me booking your plane ticket is one of the hardest first steps you can take in embarking on your gap year. You can spend all the time in the world reading travel blogs, watching YouTube videos and Instagram influencers, but until you take that first step, your gap year will never become reality. Booking your ticket makes your trip real, and commits you to taking it. I’d recommend booking your ticket a few months in advance, so you’ll have time to prepare other areas for your trip.

4) Talk to your employer about your trip

Once you have your trip planned and plane tickets bought, now is a good time to talk to your employer. Ask them what your options are. Some may allow you to take a temporary leave of absence, with your job being available once you return from your gap year. Some may not allow you to take an extended amount of time off, and you will need to provide your resignation.

Depending on how your relationship is with your employer, it’s hard to advise on a specific timeline to let them know of your trip. I would recommend at least a 2-3 week notice, as you will want to give your proper notice. 1-2 months notice may be even better, as that may allow for your employer to find your replacement, and may also allow for you to train them.

When I took my gap year, I provided my resignation to my employer as I wasn’t sure what my exact time traveling abroad would be away, and I did not want to be limited to a certain time frame to have to return to my job.

5) Quit Your Job!

You’ve done the planning and you’ve booked your plane ticket, good job! You’re nearly there. Now is the time to file your resignation with your employer. This step can be the most daunting of all, as you have two sets of emotions happening at once: you’re vastly excited about the journey you’re about to take and the “oh crap” moment when you’re realizing you’re about to quit your job and leave your salary and benefits and more. Just remember, everyone who takes a gap year has to leave their comfort zone at some point or another, and this is part of the journey. The benefits far outweigh the risks.

To provide a resignation, I’d recommend writing a formal resignation letter. If you search for “resignation letter templates” on Google, there are many great examples to start from. In the letter you’ll want to express gratitude for your time at your company, and your intentions to leave and go on your gap year.

As mentioned earlier, I would recommend providing at least 3-4 weeks notice to your employer, if possible. This may seem long, but this will allow you to give them time to find a replacement for you and be able to train them as well. If you can’t do 3-4 weeks, I would recommend at least 2 weeks minimum. This is a case by case basis, but in the end you always want to leave on a good note with your employer, as you may want to return there in the future or you may need them as a reference in the future. Don’t burn bridges!

6) Stay in Touch with Your Boss and Co-Workers (if applicable)

Your gap year will likely not last for the rest of your life, so it is a good practice to stay in touch with your boss and co-workers, if you’ve had a good relationship with them before. If you decide to return to your local area after your gap year and need to find another job, these individuals can be invaluable in helping you network to find a job and/or being references when you’re applying for jobs.