Are you ready to take a career break? Besides getting your employer’s permission and saving enough money, have you made any more detailed plans for your career break? 

If you have no idea about where to go and what to do on your career break, read on for some inspiration. 

1) You can use your career break to learn a new skill

Do you always have lots of ideas but no time to implement them? Maybe you want to learn a new language, take up photography, or even play a new instrument. However, having a nine-to-five means your ideas usually move to the bottom of your priority list. 

Now it’s time to carry out these ideas! And you can grab the opportunity to learn new skills while making a positive impact through volunteering. 

If you want to learn diving, why not join a marine conservation volunteer program? You will get professional dive training while you volunteer. If you want to learn and practise photography skills, think about doing a wildlife photography volunteer program. You will develop your wildlife photography skills in a jungle setting. 

2) Career breaks are great times to achieve your life goals

Can you imagine being able to successfully turn your hobby into a career? 

But first, you need to hone and improve your skills to a professional level, to complement your passion for it.  

For example, you might love music and be part of a band, but never have the chance to practise. It’s time to gather your band members and prepare for future performances.

You might love to travel and want to be a freelance travel writer. Why not try backpacking and run a travel blog during your career break? You can register for the GVI Writing Academy program to learn from development editors and polish your writing skills through practical writing assignments. It’s a great way to achieve your creative goals.

3) Take a career break to immerse yourself in another culture

Are you worried about losing your career competitiveness by taking a career break? 

The life experiences you gain from being part of a different culture can boost your career. When you immerse yourself in a different culture, you will learn to adapt to the local environment and lifestyle. You will also learn to be more open to cultural diversity. 

These new challenges will enrich your life experience. Whether you trek to Everest in Nepal, or volunteer with children in India, these experiences help you gain new knowledge, shift your perspectives, and get inspired. 

So take a career break, step out of the nine-to-five, and start a journey to enrich your life! 

Choose the right volunteer abroad experience for your career break, and feel free to contact us for support and guidance.

Liqian Yao is an intern at the GVI Writing Academy. The Writing Academy is a skills-development program that pairs development editors with budding travel writers. Learn more about the program here.