I need to chill out!

Whether you are a student or are working full time, the pace of modern life can get more than a little stressful at times - so it is no wonder so many of us feel the need to chill out from time to time.

If you have been working hard and your inner voice is continually telling you ‘I need to chill out' the obvious solution is take a holiday. The problem with holidays however is that, if they only last for a week or two, by the time you finally feel like you are really starting to chill out and unwind properly it is time to return home again! If you have been under a great deal of stress sometimes a holiday just isn't enough and you find that inner voice saying ‘I need to chill out' again almost as soon as your suntan starts to fade! 

It's a bit of a cliché, but the saying ‘A change is as good as a rest' really is true. Taking a gap year is an ideal solution if that ‘I need to chill out' feeling is hitting you more often than can possibly be good for you. The term gap ‘year' can put people off, but really a gap year can be as long or as short as you want it to be. For example, if you are at college or university the long summer break is an ideal opportunity to chill out after all the stresses of exams and revision. Most students, however, live with their parents during the summer break, work a summer job to pay off their debts (and hopefully save up some money too) and - all being well - try and fit in a short holiday at some point. The problem with this typical scenario is that living with your parents again can be quite stressful and it is not exactly the ideal environment in which to chill out. Doing some travelling and possibly working abroad over the summer provides a much needed change of scenery, and immersing yourself in a totally different culture - whether you are working or not - is often the best way to chill out and take your mind off all of your usual stresses.

I need to chill out! Where are the best places to chill out on a gap year?!

Everyone has their own personal idea of the best way to chill out - from being able to sunbathe on an idyllic beach every day to going trekking round the world. Similarly, the best place in which to chill out on a gap year is purely a matter of personal taste.

For many people the only way to totally relax when they really feel the need to chill out is by lying on a beach. If this idea of chilling out applies to you, then you are spoilt for choice on a gap year. The most popular gap year destination is undoubtedly Australia, and ‘Oz' is blessed with mile upon mile of some of the best beaches in the world for backpackers to chill out on. The other land ‘Down Under', New Zealand, also has its own fair share of superb beaches to chill out on. Some of the finest beaches to chill out on can also be found throughout Asia - Goa, in India, is a particularly relaxing tropical beach destination. If you are heading to Latin America there are some superb ‘chill out' beaches in countries such as Brazil and Costa Rica. Africa definitely shouldn't be ruled out when it comes to choosing a beach destination either - coastal African countries such as Senegal are home to some of the best beaches on the planet.

Of course, lying on a beach isn't everybody's idea of the best way to chill out. Many people who find themselves saying ‘I need to chill out' simply need to get away from their everyday life for a while and get their teeth stuck in to something totally different. For this type of intrepid traveller there are all kinds of more adventurous gap year options available. For example, a new challenge could be learning to speak Spanish somewhere in Latin America or getting involved with a rewarding volunteer project in the Third World. This type of gap year isn't relaxing in the traditional sense of the word and, indeed, can sometimes be hard work. However, embarking on new challenges in a completely different environment usually re-invigorates travellers and in some senses can be just as good a way to chill out as lying on a beach doing nothing.

If you are someone who is always telling people ‘I need to chill out', taking a gap year could be an excellent solution. An incredible range of gap year options are available, and the type of gap year you choose to do depends entirely on what your personal idea of chilling out is.

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