What should I do with a year off work?

[Ayearinthelife]

I have had a pretty stressful life and I am now in my early 50s. I lost my job recently and I have decided to take a year off from work to sort out my mental health, physical health and fitness. I need to lose weight and get stronger.

I'm not really sure what to focus on first or how to fill my days for the next year. My DC are adults and no DGC so no strict family responsibilities.

I have some money but not loads. Probably a budget of about £7k over the year to pay for anything I plan to do. My DH is happy and able to cover all bills and expenses for the year.

Any ideas? I want to focus on health and fitness, hobbies and fun learning opportunities. Thank you.

For walking, how about the Camino de Santiago? Or something closer to home like the South West Coastal Path?

I used to love hillwalking in my youth, I can walk, just not comfortably at the moment for long periods of time? I could do maybe a 2 hour walk at a slowish pace? Anything more than that would be too much at the minute. I will start looking at local routes. I haven't done any walking at all in this area so I don't know where to start or should I get the right boots before starting?

Ooh I'm so excited for you. I started with just a mile a day and built up from there. Had an OS map to see where the footpaths and bridleways went but much of the time just investigated as I became more confident. There may be some designated 'walks' if you look into it, we've got a wildlife trail for example. Yes to the boots, I wore Uggs at the beginning because I had no idea what I was doing but it can get wet and muddy so got some nice little walking boots for about £40 that lasted me the year. A stick/pole can also be handy too. Plus rucksack of course.

should I get the right boots before starting?
You must get the right boots.
Don't scrimp and save on them either.
Go into an outdoor shop and get advice on the right type of boots to get for the type of hikes you are interested in.

Have a look at WorkAway
www.workaway.info/
For global volunteering opportunities. Generally 5 hours of work a day in exchange for bed and board. I've used it in the UK and it's great! I'd love to have the time to use it abroad!

Might be worth investing in a few sessions with a personal trainer to help you plan how to get fitter.
have a look at Pilates too, and the restless website aimed at over.50s. Any local walkin* groups?

Literally the last thing I would do

Goodness reading this has made me want to take a year off too!
I want to go to an Indian Spa! Tesco and the school run are as interesting as it gets for me!
Enjoy op very envious

Book a spring marathon and train for it!

I've done National Trust and BTCV holidays in the past. They don't cost much, you're volunteering and the work helps you get physically fitter

If I had a year off and £7000 I’d do a yoga teacher training course as much for the experience because I’m not sure I would particularly want to go on to teach.

Walking is a good idea too. Some people have mentioned the Camino de Santiago. My parents have walked various sections of this in their 70s and an old colleague walked the whole thing to mark his retirement so I would say it’s doable if you are willing to train. There’s lots of long distance walks in the UK and elsewhere in Europe too - it’s becoming fairly popular.

Nothing particularly helpful to add, but I’m excited for you OP!!

On walking boots...can I recommend not getting boots but walking trainers (waterproof, proper vibram type sole) they are a lot more comfortable, flexible, less hot. Buy thick water resistant socks too. It's a myth that you need the ankle support of a boot. Walking shoes/trainers made longer distance walking for me a possibility when boots never really worked.

Ayearinthelife I’m planning on cycling the Camino de Santiago, I saw a tiny section of it a couple of weeks ago and want to now take 3 weeks to cycle from Pamplona to Santiago and then a few days traveling there and back.

it doesn’t have to be an expensive trip as the Aberges are around €15 a night and you walk as far as you like. There are places to stay every few Kim’s.

the other great thing is you don’t have to walk the entire length, people start at different points.

have a Google, people have been walking the St James way since the 9th century

Apparently it’s addictive though and with about 5 different routes, people go back and do alternative routes

Join a spa that has a gym and 3 x a week go to one of their movement classes (pilates, yoga, dance etc) then go to the steam room and pool afterwards. Avoid weights they’re dangerous.

Join book clubs and hiking groups etc.

Avoid people who sap your energy.

Ooh I'm so excited for you. I started with just a mile a day and built up from there. Had an OS map to see where the footpaths and bridleways went but much of the time just investigated as I became more confident. There may be some designated 'walks' if you look into it, we've got a wildlife trail for example. Yes to the boots, I wore Uggs at the beginning because I had no idea what I was doing but it can get wet and muddy so got some nice little walking boots for about £40 that lasted me the year. A stick/pole can also be handy too. Plus rucksack of course.

I am starting to get excited as well. I made this decision out of what felt like necessity for my mental health but even in the short space since starting this thread it has reminded me that there are a lot of opportunities still out there. Hillwalking would be great to start again and I did love it, it's good to hear about how you got started. I'm writing my list for goals for this week and I am getting up tomorrow and starting as I mean to go on. I am going to have an amazing year.

I looked up the Camino de Santiago, wow that looks absolutely amazing and there is so many options. I think that is exactly what I want to do one day. I will keep looking at it and plan how I could work up to that, it seems like an amazing goal. It's so inspiring!

The national trust volunteering looks good as well, I have quite a few options close to me, I will look into that tomorrow.

Is there anywhere in the world that you’d like to visit?
I had Russia, Syria & Myanmar on my bucket list but those places are no longer safe to visit.
If there is somewhere you’ve always wanted to go to and it is safe to do so, then maybe go - as who knows, things can change.

If you can afford it, buy a a motorhome and take off!

How on earth are you going to survive on £7k for the year?

It says in the OP her husband is covering all bills & expenses, the £7k is spends.

Write a book about it. Gap years for the 50+.

Do a TEFL course, you can link it in with your volunteering and teach English as a volunteer, I used to do it, you actually go to someone's home.

I used to be given breakfast at one home.

Can you crochet? That doesn't take much room.

Hi OP - congratulations on your gap year!

I’ve had a few periods off work in my time - 5 months a few years ago after redundancy, 2 months between jobs more recently

I think your concern about wasting your time is very valid … it’s easily done & would be a shame. When do you start?

I would split the year … 2-3 months at the start more chilled and ‘off’. Focus on stress recovery and getting into the fitness (which requires focus at the start but is easier once you are on a roll)… in my case after this period I was mentally recovered & ready to get back to work (and also fitter/lost weight both times). In 1 case I started the job hunt process, this time around I was desperate to get back to work (as I felt my time was being wasted/financial reasons) and fortunately secured something

Yours is a different situation as planned, but I’d think that your mood/focus will still evolve over the time off - so it’s not just 1 block but a transition

In your case & age I would also focus on upskilling for my career. Sorry if it’s not what you want to hear, but I assume you need to work again at the end of this time? I would do your CV (soon, in the 1st 1-2 months) talk to recruiters and find out what would be valuable to learn & do that - over perhaps 6 months

You can expect to spend at least 3 months looking for a job at the end too

I really agree that if finances allow spending a short period this winter somewhere hot will help you manage your weight … I had a few weeks in the canaries this Jan for that reason and it helped me to lose weight & keep moving

so I’d split the time like this

3 months:

• 1 month - chill & get into healthy food/exercise routine
• Months 2&3- explore what want for future career/courses etc

Months 3-9

• continue health routine
• upskilling/volunteer
• Few weeks abroad over winter

Months 9-12

• job hunt (honestly, it could take 6 months even - I don’t know what you do/how your job market is)

Getting rid of the TV was wise :)

Try to stick to the same daily routine as your partner for getting up etc (ie don’t get into a habit of staying up late & sleeping in)

Google morning routines (eg miracle morning) - for me having a solid morning routine helped start the days well, put me in a better mood & made me more productive

A focus /goals every week & then mapping my day around that helped

I also did loads of house jobs and cooked from scratch a lot (eg baking) which is a good money saver- this will support your health goals.

Before Xmas you could also declutter house/wardrobe and sell excess on eBay/vinted

My ideas/experience- hope it helps

Lovely idea. I'd definitely recommend finding an exercise or sport that you like. If you force yourself to do something, it won't be fun and harder to stick to. As you've mentioned hiking towards the end of your year, I'd suggest the Camino de Santiago. A friend did the part in Spain and said it was amazing. You could then spend the year building up your hiking through weekly local hikes and increasing the time and difficulty as times goes on and make a proper plan.
I personally would also spend the time completing my book - so maybe picking up a hobby like a craft or a language / cooking course, something to engage your mind too!

Wow, thank you everyone for your ideas, and I love hearing about what you would all do with the time it has reminded me of long forgotten dreams I had for my life! I am reading them all and taking them on board, The year starts now, I have known about it for a little while and have been spending time getting my house in order and suddenly it is upon me and I know where I want to end up, but it is a lot scarier than I thought it would be, having no responsibilities except the ones I impose on myself.

I've had a up and down day, anxiety which I have tried to curb by cleaning, followed by spurts of energy and excitement, followed by lying in my bed wondering what the hell I am doing! I am a bit like a dog chasing my tail at the minute and getting tired out by the effort.

I have had a massive wakeup call with regards to what happens with poor mental health and physical health as you age, and I am at a crossroads where I need to start prioritising me and not my work. As anxiety inducing as that is. I am planning to start back work on a self-employed capacity and I plan to be dazzling and fabulous. Well, that's plan A. Plan B is just to feel stronger, healthier and more confident in myself, because I am struggling with that. But I have worked since I was 16, (well a lot earlier than that if you include my paper round) and not having a structure is challenging to say the least!

This thread is brilliant and I am planning to go through every idea and consider it fully. From the travel to the bread making to the yoga. I have started today by setting up my membership to my local gym and by signing up for my first ever evening college class at my local college starting in January and by doing research on walks in my local area and what shoes to get. A pretty rubbish start, that took about 90 minutes in all, but a start nonetheless! Oh and I just emailed the place I have volunteered before, to see if they are starting up soon. They have had a couple of false starts and hopefully will be back up and running soon!

I have also looked into vitamins/minerals/supplements and I have my list for going into town tomorrow, just for some vit D and some krill oil and turmeric/curcumin so far. Still working this out, it will take some time.

@BlooberryBiskits

Thanks so much for your post, you talk so much sense and I have read it through twice, you have encapsulated a lot of my worries and thoughts. And you have helped calm my anxiety about starting slowly. Which I needed today. Also you are right about the upskilling, but I am going to plan that after Christmas.

Thank you again everyone, you all gave me a much needed lift.

@Ayearinthelife : thanks for updating, I think you’ve had a good day

I think we might have a v similar history of prioritising work/other people ahead of our own needs! I took my recent time off to get mentally and physically healthier & sometimes we need that

Don’t worry about starting slow … when I was made redundant I’d had years of crushing stress: I honestly spent a couple of months just pottering/cleaning… cleaning my house was meditative and helped me clear my mind :)

You will get there and come out if this period stronger, healthier and happier