As mentioned by the Sydney Morning Herald, a gap year can be really beneficial as it not only allows you time to figure out what you want to do, but is a great way to add motivation to your future endeavours.

A gap year is a chance for you to gain experience, open yourself up to new and exciting avenues, learn about different cultures, begin your path to success and do whatever it is you’ve always wanted to but never had the time.

If you’re stuck on ideas of what it is you can do for a gap year, we’ve got you sorted.

Here are 24 ideas of what you can do to nail your first year out of school and have an amazing gap year:

Work

1. Teach English in another country

When you can’t think of any useful talents or skills you may have, ask yourself, “Do I know how to speak English?”. If you answered yes then how about spending your gap year teaching it to someone else who can’t? More info:  Languagecorps or here at Year13 we offer programs in Thailand, Cambodia, France, China and Nepal.

2. Work as a camp counsellor at a Summer Camp in the USA

Yep, just like the ones you’ve seen in all of those classic American movies.

More info: Year13 Summer Camps

3. Work in France

Baguettes, the Eiffel Tower, Macaroons, snowy mountains, sandy beaches, and the city of love all in one place.

How do you say, yes? Year13 Teaching English in France

4. Work with animals

If you would prefer working with animals rather than with humans (they wont judge you when you’re having a bad hair day), then that can be arranged.

More info: Year13 Working with Animals, Working with Elephants, Working with Giant Pandas, Cheetah Sanctuary, Turtle Conservation.

5. Work as a Jackaroo or Jillaroo

You’ll be working on outback farms, ranches and stations for a few weeks, a few months, or a year, in return for a room, meals, a some pocket money.

More info: Year13 Jackaroo Gap Year

6. Work in a Pub Abroad

Work in a pub, or many pubs, to fund your year of travel.

More info: Year13 Pub Work Gap Year

7. Become an AU Pair (Nanny/babysitter) abroad

We’re pretty sure this is how Mary Poppins landed her first job. As an Au pair You will be living and working overseas full-time in a family environment, looking after their children.

8. Work as a teaching assistant abroad

Work as a teaching assistant in a reputable and well-established primary school or high school overseas.

9. Become a coach

You get to play sports or coach sports overseas and potentially get accommodation, board, pocket money and flights in return for your work.

Volunteer

10. Volunteer abroad

Be the good Samaritan you are at heart, we all have a lil’ Mother Theresa in us.

11. Volunteer in your local community

While it is exciting to volunteer abroad, it’s likely that there are plenty of organisations closer to home that need your help.
Try places like Vinnie’s, RSPCA and the Starlight foundation.

More info:  https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/Get_Involved/Become_a_volunteer/

12. Join an Earthwatch Expedition

Travel the world while saving the planet. Join respected scientists in the field where they’re investigating critical environmental issues and make hands-on contributions to research while experiencing the cultural and natural wonders of places around the globe.

More info:  https://au.earthwatch.org/expeditions

Travel and Adventure

13. Go on a retreat

Pamper yourself, get in touch with your spirituality, take a holistic healing approach to your health and gain new wisdom.

More info:  https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/five-of-the-best-retreats-20130730-2qwsv.html

14. Explore Australia

Take a road trip around your very own backyard, the backyard that is Australia. Hire out a cheap campervan and explore the great land down undah’.

More info:  https://campervanaustralia.com/

15. Go Backpacking

Grab your backpack, and trek through the beautiful mountains, coasts, and cities of the world.

More info: Year13 Backpacking Trips

16. Party

Every year, thousands of young Aussies flock to Europe to soak up some sun, drink themselves sober and experience the many different cultures the world has to offer. Running with the Bulls, La Tomatino, Sonar Music Festival and Oktoberfest are some of the wicked festivals that kick off during the European Summer.

Learn

17. Take a few workshops

You can take a workshop in a topic that interests you and also build up your skill set. Whether it be tattoo illustration, yoga, cake baking, photography or gardening, there are many different workshops to partake in, with some only lasting a few hours and others spanning over a few months.

18. Pick up a new sport

If you were put in piano lessons as a child, but always dreamed of being an athlete, now’s your chance to live it out. Join a team and practice like crazy, you never know, you might find that it might become a career path you want to pursue.

19. Get an internship in another country

Learn some new skills whilst experiencing a whole new culture.

More info:  https://www.goabroad.com/intern-abroad

Start a new project

20. Start a business

If you’ve got a great business idea but haven’t had the time to bring it all together? Now’s your chance to use your time wisely by collecting and getting all the information together that you to get your business up and running.

More info: https://www.business.gov.au/business-topics/starting-a-business/Pages/default.aspx

21. Start a new creative project/Build up a portfolio

Whether it be art, writing, or music, use this time to get those creative juices flowing and build up some work you can showcase. It’s the perfect opportunity to use the excuse “Mom, I just really need to focus on my art right now”

Make a Change

22. Start a campaign

What are you passionate about? Do you want to make a change or want to bring attention to a cause important to you? Have a goal you need to reach? If so, a campaign is one of the best ways to do so.

More info: https://campaign.fya.org.au/how

23. Create a petition

Petitions are one of the greatest catalysts of positive change. You can lobby the petition to your government once you’ve got enough signatures and really get things going whether it is just in your community or on a global scale.

More info: https://www.change.org/en-AU/petition

24. Hold a fundraiser

Now’s your chance to raise money and awareness for a cause important to you, fundraisers also make for a fun excuse to hold events such as cake days.

More info: https://www.fundraisingideas.com.au/

These are just 24 of the possible thousands of options available for things to keep you occupied during a gap year that are all well and worth your time. So go on, gap it out!