Mom takes a ‘mid-life gap year,’ inspires others online l GMA

One mom in Colorado is going viral for taking a “mid-life gap year” to recharge after she was feeling burnt out from her career.

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[tyne]

I don't lack the confidence nor the desire to take a "gap year" but what I do lack is the privilege to do so. This is a good example of what most of us cannot do. Happy for her. I know if I had the opportunity I definitely would!

[sunshine]

A “gap year” is all good when you have someone else in the home bringing in income. Really it’s just becoming a stay at home parent. Still an important concept of reimagining the idea of living with less expenses and shifting to the value to enjoying every moment of life. I’ve started my own biz and dropped down to a 3 day 6hr per day workweek and love that freedom. Once I achieve financial freedom I plan on working even less God willing 🙏🏾

[mias]

In much of Europe they get 5 weeks off every year. We lived in a well developed nation too. We should be able to take that amount of time off as well. Who are we really working for? Things need to change.

[noemisolano]

Working on 2 different toxic work environments plus doing extra work because of Staff shortages left me burnt out. But I can't afford to take one year off and unfortunately people have to keep working inorder to receive social security benefits when they get to be seniors.

Good for this lady being able to take some time off.

[brownbunny]

After I burned out from my old job, I took nearly a year off. I had a small savings & others in the family, who brought in income to the household, so I was fortunate to take time off. And it truly made the difference!

I healed from the toxic work environment I had been exposed to for years, and I got to know myself again. It did require sacrifice & discipline with the limited amount of money I had. It also taught me how much money I waste, and I learned how little I need to survive on the basics.

If you’re thinking of taking time off and you’re able to, I recommend it! It’ll help you reset!

[kbar]

been thinking of doing this myself. very interesting viewpoint.

[jennyl.]

Taking time off, feeling burned out...wanting to do things you've always wanted like traveling, relaxing, pursuing hobbies...sounds nice. 👍

[kristiroeowen]

It took me being able to leave my job to finally improve our often dire financial situation and overall stress. I didn't have money for time off but I just started working through the night and lunch doing side hustles until I felt I could reasonably get by on them without my main job if I did a lot of that kind of work (freelance writing). I was actually able to get my husband on at the same company and now we work from home together. Our quality of life has been completely transformed. I feel like we were not really enjoying our lives before then ... everything revolved around work and school and we felt like robots with no time or money to enjoy anything. But with no time we couldn't look for ways to improve our prospects.

[SL-lzjr]

A lot of jealousy in the comments. You can be happy for her even if her situation isn’t feasible for you. Also, we can all find ways to improve our lives. And it wouldn’t hurt if we voted for politicians who would pass laws that would systematically improve our lives. Imagine that!

[mentally-ill-mary]

it must be nice if you have the extra income to take a year off work, unfortunately that’s not the reality for most americans

[hdesutter]

It doesn’t seem to be a huge financial strain for them. I bet she won’t go back.

[ItsAllAnillusion]

So she’s taking a sabbatical…. Good for her

[shondawarren]

If I had saved better & was more responsible with my cash I'd so do this lol. Good for her. She set herself up for success

[watchinvidzwatchinvidz]

I want a Mid life retirement..I'm always working & then coming home & doing everything there too. I feel like I'm not really living. I'm just existing to serve others & I don't get anything really in return. Then there's the financial part of it. You can't really take too much time off bc then your rent or mortgage, food & utilities won't get paid. The system is only good for the top tier players. They get most of the really good perks. Life isn't always good for everybody. Alot of us just exist & are struggling at that bc the system was designed to keep you working into your old age which starts at age 40. Young people don't even work that much nowadays as a whole they go to college & only work part-time sometimes not even that.

[up-uwop]

I've been on a gap year since covid forced me to close my business and my kids daycare closed in March 2020

[NCManAgain]

This woman is not a "hero". She's a child.

[hr]

Ummm. No one but people with money can afford this smh 🙄🙄🙄

[sweetstorm]

Although I’m a hard working and do well financially as a single mother, I’d give it all up to be a stay at great stay at home mother and pampered wife. In my humble opinion mothers are not meant to grind for 8 hrs then another 4-6 when they come home from work. Most women I’ve worked with (even feminists) are very miserable at work, I have yet to find someone that is genuinely happy and positive.

[calvee]

That’s great that a rich white woman can take a year off. The rest of us be working 2 jobs just to pay the bills. 😑