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Once the gap year was considered by some as just an excuse used by students to avoid getting on with their studies or to get in the real world and contribute. That was, of course, very unfair and inaccurate (well, for most students, however).

This extended break can be just about at some point in their life-and it is no longer restricted only to the students. People from all walks of life are questioning everything whether they would benefit from a prolonged interruption in their normal routines. Such failures can be very beneficial, simply for recharging the emotional and intellectual batteries so easy can be drained of stresses and strains of repetitive modern life.

Fitting

There is no real "right time" for this sort of break. Some students may choose to take some time between completing their A-levels and progress to University. Some may choose to take some time between two academic years (where their course and University would permit those). Others may still choose to take pause when they have completed their degree and prior to the start of either professional or graduate training.

For other people, such logical break points may be a little more difficult to identify. Perhaps it could be if you have just finished a professional award and has not yet been assigned to your next project. Some people negotiate with their employers for an extended break and a surprising number of employers are actually happy to endorse the principles of a sabbatical in a career. It is also possible to find some people who have retired and have decided to take some time-out before you enter in the labour market. The bottom line is that it is never a bad time to think about a break of this kind.

Options

This problem may be, to be emotionally committed itself to the idea of a gap year break, you then find it appears you and you don't have a clue what to do with it. If you would like to participate in something that is both different and which contributes to the physical well-being of our planet, you might want to consider the idea of a nature conservation holiday.

They work in many countries into geographical regions such as India and South Africa. There are a wide range of activities, working with a very wide variety of species. Not only will you be working with animals in their natural environment, but you will also see the local population and local ways of life to an extent that will be unlikely in a typical tourist type vacation to affected destinations. This type of break is a totally different lifestyle and an entirely different vision of life. It may be a sabbatical with a difference!