9 December 2011
Here at The Career Break Site, we're lucky enough to hear mostly good stories of people travelling, volunteering, doing courses and generally making something of their life.
But there are people who take a career break because they've suffered a crisis, or even a tragedy.
The most common that we see are people being made redundant and relationship break-ups.
Here are some thoughts about travelling after tragedy.
- You might feel like you're running away from your problems. That's not necessarily a bad thing though.
- A change of scenery can give you perspective.
- The distraction of work, volunteering or adventure travel can stop you brooding.
- You might not be together enough to organise a trip straight away and it might be better to wait a few weeks or months.
- You might find that if you're thinking about your crisis a lot, you are not engaging fully with the experience, so you end up missing out.
- If your issue is financial, this is obviously going to have an impact on your plans, but doesn't have to stop them entirely.
- Redundancy money can be well spent on a career break.
- A single-sex activity can be a refreshing change for those who've had a relationship break-up (eg women's ski courses).
- Alternatively, if you're newly single, you might want places or activities with a lot of other single people (eg adventure tours).
- Doing something for someone else through volunteering can help you heal.
- Writing about it can also help, and could lead somewhere great - look at novel-turned-film Eat Pray Love!
- If you're having a crisis, it can be helpful to see it as an opportunity, especially if it's forcing you into making changes.
- If you have suffered a tragedy, things aren't going to be the same again. A new experience could delay your recovery - or it could help you adjust quicker.
- Finally, do what feels right.
And now, to cheer you up, have a picture of a cute lion cub: