08 Jun 2020

I don’t need to re-establish how this year has… panned out.  We all know that any semblance of plans has been thrown out the window, and we are now in a state of waiting for the world to hopefully become normal again.

However, if you, like many other fresh school-leavers were planning on a gap year, your plans were even more-so tarnished. Saying that, there’s no point stressing over what you can’t change, so you’re better off thinking about your other options on how to spend your unorthodox year off.

 

1. Regional travel

All of the Australian states are starting to lift interstate travel restrictions, meaning you can start planning the road trip of your dreams. I know exploring your own state might not seem as glamorous as your planned euro-summer, but the act of going away is an extremely fulfilling thing to do.

Australia is also home to some of the most incredible landscapes in the entire world, appreciate the beauty in our backyard and go searching for it.

2. Short courses

If your heart is still set on overseas travel, unfortunately I am not the one to tell you when that is going to be possible. But, if you’re not keen on starting a three to four year university degree, you can always do a short course or diploma while you wait for your travel bug to be able to fly.

It’s helpful to get some type of certification under your belt if you have the time, or alternatively, you can dip your toes into something a bit more creative. Some universities and colleges are on track to reopening their campuses in semester two of this year so start browsing!

3. Enjoy your time off

Yes, I know this year has been a bit sh*thouse lately, but I have a feeling we are on the home stretch. Since the world has gone into pandemic mode, there’s been big discussions on how we as individuals should be spending our time, with a lot of people resorting to baking Banana Bread and Instagram challenges.

However, there is no right way to spend this year. Whilst you could've had a grand gap year planned travelling the world, and you’re probably (rightfully) upset about losing it, these countries aren’t going anywhere, and you’ll most probably live a long enough life to see it all when the world is ready. 

So, find the beauty in your hometown or state, jump into a quilting or graphic design course, and enjoy this bizarre period of free time you have, because you might not get it again.