To start with, taking some time off from everything is necessary so you can think, evaluate, and re-strategize for a better result. I have had a pause in my life over a certain activity I was doing so I can really come back better and stronger. However, the duration of this gap differs from person to person depending on what you want to achieve; it's quite personal.
We are on a different journey in life. For some, a few weeks could be enough to pause and come back; for others, they take one month, 6 months, or even one year, but the most important thing is that you are focused and not just taking time off to waste it but rather being more deliberate over what you aim to achieve.
I would say that taking a gap year could be a good move for growth, but you must answer the "whys" behind the break. Why do I need this break? What do I want to achieve? Is this gap really needed at this point in my life? And many other reflective questions, not just that you feel that others usually take a break and you follow the crowd without a defined destination. As long as your gap year has a valid reason, then it's totally fine and shouldn't be regarded as laziness or procrastination.
One of our family friends once had a marital challenge; the dust was rising so high, and it was clearly an unhealthy relationship. At some point, he paused, took a break from the marriage, and opted for 6 months separation. To him, he needed more time for him and the wife to really study themselves before staying together. This is what happens when you rush into marriage without taking your time to study your spouse. Good enough; the pause was what they needed at that point. They took the 6 months for courtship, something they should have done earlier before saying yes, but the good side was that they came back better.
Personally, there was a time I needed a gap between work. I quit the dental job I was doing due to many reasons back then and decided to do an office job, more like paper job for a while . Because it wasn't my line of study, I declined a job offer from a friend as an admin and took a break to equip myself with the needed skill. Those days I paused working were for a purpose; I set my goal and structured things in a way to enter into the new job as a better staff member.
When I finally took an admin/secretary job in one private oil and gas firm, I knew I was ready for the role. My goal was achieved with the break and while it was my last office job before I started working from home, I made a positive impact in the firm that, to date, I still maintain a good job relationship with them.
Overall the way we use our time matters. Gap years or weeks or months can be good or bad depending on your motive, but as long as you are focused and intentional about such a break in your life, it usually brings about growth.
Images were taken from canva
