Backpackerz BUZZ: Issue 64

Spring break, Christmas break, lunch break, coffee break—we like our breaks. But they’re often pretty short, lasting a few minutes, an hour, a few days or, at most, a few weeks. For some, that’s just not enough time when the entire world beckons. More and more travel-minded people are taking career breaks. These are either a chunk of time off from a career you’ve established, or a break between two careers. It’s a laughable concept to some, a daunting one to others, but not only are extended holidays growing in popularity, they’re easier and more affordable than ever before. Bosses are warming up to the idea, and international travel is seen as valuable experience by a lot of employers. We’re retiring later in life so we need a break sooner. Our health is better than ever, and travel isn’t just for young people anymore. Meanwhile, a ‘work to live’ ethic is replacing the hardy North American ‘live to work’ ethic. Add even a smidgen of wanderlust to these shifting attitudes, and the prospect of 50 straight years of worklife just isn’t cutting it for a lot of people.

It’s understandable that the idea is a bit overwhelming—especially when you consider the added responsibilities and obligations that come with age and a career. But it’s more manageable when you break it down.

Why would I do something like that?

That’s the easy part for a lot of people. There’s a world out there and it’s waiting to be seen. The exact trigger can come from a lot of places. Maybe you’re a former backpacker whose gear is collecting dust in a closet and taunting you. Maybe you aren’t content with the direction your career is taking. Maybe you’ve settled into a routine over the years and want a jolt of new experience—a chance to recharge your batteries. Most of all, it’s a deep-set need to scratch a travel itch that may have been irritating you for years.

At 31, Fiona Scott was working as a project manager in England when she decided she needed to take a career break. She loved her job but, as she says, “I had no husband, no house, no kids and had always dreamt of being an independent traveller. Being overworked with some money to spend, it wasn’t hard to realize that it was the best choice for me.”

She left one day in May 2005 on a 12-month trip through Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America and North America.

How on Earth do you think I could pull that off?

This part is a bit more difficult. A career break isn’t the same trip a recent university grad takes. With age and a career come responsibilities and it takes a bit of time and planning to ensure you can escape for an extended period of time.


The Job—This has likely become a big part of who you are. Do you want to take a break for a bit or do you want to leave it forever and change career directions once you’re back? Can you get time off? How important is moving up in the company to you? Will an extended break hinder your goals? How will it look on your C.V.? More importantly—how will your boss take it?

If you plan to leave your job and not come back, you don’t need to worry so much about it. That said, don’t just take off one day without warning. You don’t want to ruin any relationships or burn any bridges.

If you do want to come back to your job, be prepared to negotiate with your boss. Know what you need and what you want; do a lot of the thinking and planning for your boss. How can you minimize the effect of your absence? What skills or attributes will you bring back from your travels? Once you’ve worked out a mutually beneficial plan, get the agreement in writing.

The Money—Start planning and saving your money as early as possible. Career breakers have the benefit of having had a steady job for awhile, and you may already have savings put aside. First assess your financial obligations, such as rent, car payments, phone bills, and so on. Figure out what costs you need to cover while you save to determine how much you can put aside. Use this assessment to also determine what costs you’ll need to continue to pay while you’re away. If you have loan, mortgage or car payments to make on a regular basis, ensure you’ve got the funds to cover these on top of your travel costs. Set up direct-deposit payments from a separate bank account. Figure out where you can cut costs: rent your home or sublet your apartment, sell your car, store your things with friends or family, or sell everything you’ve got.

Set a budget that includes travel costs and pre-established financial obligations. Do research about your destinations to work out an average daily budget. Scott says she spent about $300 a week on average. Be generous and keep in mind that these budgets can vary from region to region. It costs much more per day in Europe than in parts of Asia or South America.

Once your budget is set, start saving by reverting back to student-saving mode. Skip pricey foods, limit dining out, pack your lunches, scrap top-of-the-line cable or Internet packages, turn down the heat and if you’re really looking to cut costs, consider moving in with your parents.

“I’ve always saved as much as I could for something, just wasn’t sure what I would ultimately spend it on,” Scott says. “When I decided on the year, I knew I needed more than my savings so I cashed in on some stock options from my company, sold my CD collection, a few pieces of furniture and anything I hadn’t used in a year. I managed to collate just under $20,000—that’s what lasted the entire year.”

Now what?

Once the groundwork has been completed, it’s time to get into the fun stuff. Having more free time than you’ve likely had in awhile can be overwhelming; the key is to remind yourself that you’ve got the time and funds to slow things down. Figure out what kind of break you’re after—do you just want to travel, or do you want to mix in some volunteer work or study?

Depending on your budget and where you want to go, weigh the pros and cons of a round-the-world ticket. These are offered by airline alliances like One World and Star Alliance. Keep in mind that RTW tickets purchased in Canada are sometimes more expensive than buying point-to-point tickets on their own and, depending on your route, this option may be your best bet.

Once you hit the road you’ll deal with the whole gamut of emotions. You’ll quickly realize, however, that all the time and effort spent preparing and saving for your trip will pay off.

“I was worried I’d get attacked, robbed, mobbed, mugged, lost, broke, lonely, hurt,” Scott says. “I dealt with them by gritting my teeth, looking more confident than I really felt, and trusting my gut reaction. After a few weeks when I realized I’d overcome so much already, I started believing that I really would survive the entire year, and just got on with the fun stuff as opposed to the internal worry stuff.”

And survive she did. Scott returned a year later with a clichéd—but accurate—renewed vigor for life. She learned things about the world and about herself that she couldn’t have imagined.

“Highlights were seeing the history of Jordan, the animals in Kenya, the food in Thailand, the adrenalin of New Zealand, the dancing in Buenos Aires…The this and that…The highlights are endless.”

And, yes, there will be lowlights, but they pale in comparison.

“The lowlights? Honestly, [they were] so, so minimal and materialistic. I missed fresh fruit and veggies in some countries, but ended up tasting new things. I missed my jeans for lazy comfort, but preferred the ease of my lightweight clothing. I sometimes felt lonely, but was quick to make new friends with locals or other travellers. And more significantly, through the alone time I learned to enjoy my own company and read and write about everything else.”

All Good Things Must Come to an End…

Your time away will fly by. The transition home can sometimes be more difficult than the transition abroad. You’ve just spent an extended period of time away from friends and family who may not fully understand the scope of what you’ve done and what it meant to you. You’ll be faced with an obligation to return to working life.

To Scott, the key to avoiding post-break blues is to stay focused on the positive gained from your travels.

“I can’t even imagine ever returning to the old me. If I had walked back into that life, I would have been alone and depressed and pining for life on the road. I think the most important factor in returning home is to embrace your new passions. Don’t forget what you’ve just spent a year discovering.”

Scott’s plan of attack included a career change, and more travels. She walked across England when she got home, and has since travelled to Iceland.

That’s not all. She’s also “hosted five travel talks, launched a website, lost 40 pounds, lectured students on seeing the world, completed a university program and best of all, written a book to inspire others to do the same. I now have confidence in myself and laugh at my adventures every day.”
Her advice to someone thinking about doing the same is eagerly persistent.

“Do it, do it, do it before your own situation changes and you can’t do it.”

Check out Fiona Scott’s website at www.babewithabackpack.com.
For more information on planning your own career break, pick up Lonely Planet’s The Career Break Book or visit www.thecareerbreaksite.com.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2008 at 9:15 pm and is filed under Hostelling International. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site. Add to del.icio.us.