If you were 25, taking a career break for 12 months. What would you do?
Please entirely disregard the question of "How and why are you taking a career break at 25?" Looking for ideas here, not to tell my story.
If you were 25 years old, with 12 months off to do whatever you would like (and a decent amount of money saved up and no real responsibilities) what would you do? Looking for ideas weighted more toward crazy bucket list items, but can be career-oriented or simple life advice. Thanks!
Here’s a curated list of ideas based on the most helpful WSO content for someone taking a 12-month career break at 25:
Bucket List Adventures
Personal Growth
Career-Oriented Ideas
Life-Changing Experiences
Crazy Bucket List Ideas
Final Thought
The happiest people often balance long-term goals with short-term joys. Use this time to explore, grow, and create memories that will fuel your future self. Life isn’t a straight line—this break could be the most defining chapter of your story.
Sources: Selfish Ask for Help in Situation, Really sad about growing up, Walking away from buyside after associate years, Yes, You Are Having a Quarter Life Crisis (and it's ok), Approaching 30 and lost
Travel Europe and Asia.
Yeah second this, if you have the money. Travel as much as you can. Immerse yourself in places beyond the standard 1-2 weeks of being a tourist. Really experience it.
Another cool option would be mastering some hobby that you otherwise wouldn't have the time for and then you can do the rest of your life. If you can do that while traveling and combine the two, even better.
Yeah I would recommend AKA Thailand. I haven't been, but know of many people who highly recommend it.
AKA Thailand - The World's First Sports Combat Luxury Training Resort
This is key - get to know the locals and good places to eat and hangout everynight and possibly chat in another language.
This is always a good idea but I would also say travel locally as well to places you might want to live for the long term.
Go check out Florida, LA, New England, parts of the South....in some ways, I think this is more valuable as you can find out where you want to plant your flag for the long term. Maybe that can happen with international travel but less likely.
I think a lot of us plant our flag somewhere early in careers without realizing that there are other places that we would rather be.
Here are a few thoughts. FWIW, I did the first three when I had graduated college and before I started working FT and they created the best memories:
For #6, where would you meet people to go on dates with? Pretty much everyone I know is from work...
If you're comfortable putting yourself out there, quite literally anywhere. Restaurants, parties, bars, coffee shops, grocery store, etc.
If you aren't, you already likely know your options: friends, friends of friends, dating apps, etc.
If I had a fair amount saved and was single I would go to a T2/T3 city and hit on any girl I thought was cute and would give me the time of day and just have fun. Asking a girl out isnt that serious, just have fun with it. As long as you are polite, respectful, and not hideous, it likely wont end all that poorly.
Something entrepreneurial.
Echoing the recommendations to travel but not the touristy way of staying in a hotel and sightseeing.
Some specific ideas that I had during my sabbatical at nearly the same age, but was prevented from fulfilling:
Travel across Europe and Asia.
Work towards my fitness goals.
More anecdotal but for me, get up to date healthcare checkups and start talk therapy (I was at my emotional worst at 25-26, self sabotaged a lot of friendships as a result of it - something I deeply regret).
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