How do you get over the post-gap year blues?

Question

Hi all, I'm 28, started a career as a teacher and then took a year out to go travelling round Australia (something I've always wanted to do).

I had a fantastic year - made an amazing group of friends who travelled with me the whole 8 months.

I'm back in the UK now, no teaching jobs around (I psychology for A level, so not as many jobs).

I feel so BLAH. I have a second year visa to use if I want, but I just feel that I'm getting older and need to not be swanning off around the world anymore - I should be getting on with my career. And even if I won the lottery, I'm still not sure I'd go back for my second year. I feel like I need to "achieve" something and settle down, I personally am somebody who needs routine etc.

But at the same time, I miss everyone, and everything, soooo much!

Just dunno what to do.

I've registered with a couple of agencies for temp work (office - I have past experience in this) but nobody has offered me a job yet.

I'm scared that doing office work will move me away from my career and it will be hard to get back into. At the same time, I need money and there are not even any supply jobs around.

I miss my friends from travelling, but they are all meeting up and I can't face it - I feel like I've shut off from the world and just sit online all day, not wanting to be social.

I don't feel depressed though.

I'm worried that they'll all eventually forget me, and everyone seems to have gone back to their own life.

I'd love to teach in Australia but psychology is SOOOO rare over there and I'd need to be trained in another subject, which I'm not.

Anyway.

Thanks for reading if you got this far.

Anyone else been there?

Answer 1

go back

u don't have 2 stay in the uk

good luck x

Answer 2

guess the only thing that would jolt you out of your blues would be if you were to fall head over heels in love ... the hormonal rush would certainly take your mind off feeling low

Answer 3

I understand how you feel - I went to Australia over christmas and felt so frustrated when I got back to England afterwards. If going to Australia would is what you want and what you know would make you happy, I suggest you do that..even if you'd have to train. It's worth it if it makes you happy. I'm sure there's schools there that would need a psychology teacher though, so it might be worth having a look around.

Best of luck!