It's okay to take a break now.

Today I'm going to talk about something a little different. In the job-change series so far, I talked about what helps with changing jobs and what mindset to approach it with,Today I'll talk about what you should prioritize before preparing to change jobs.

Shall we look back on our lives? In middle and high school we stayed up late preparing to get into the 'good universities' society talks about, and once we entered university we likewise built up credentials to get the 'good jobs' society talks about.

At that first job you entered after running so hard,there were probably many things that didn't suit you. We prioritized getting a job itself over considering what kind of work to do, so it was far from our aptitude and what we wanted to do. That's why you are now worrying about changing jobs.

So is it necessary right now to once again go through the difficult preparation like earning more certifications or gaining more experience for a job change?

I don't think so.What you need most right now, if you're thinking about changing jobs, is to properly heal your tired mind first.

* This article reflects the author's personal opinions and thoughts and others may think differently.

Is my current state abnormal?

You might wonder why you should heal a tired mind.If you think about it carefully, we've lived in an atmosphere where it feels like we shouldn't rest.We were afraid of falling behind others and were criticized as lazy or slothful if we rested.

Park So-yeon, the 61st member of the '100 Gap Year' selected by Korea Gap Year, said this.

At some point I came to live a life that wasn't accustomed to resting. I think I blindly kept running forward to the point that I felt anxious if I did nothing.I graduated from university and got a job immediately, and worked for nearly two years. There was stress from work, but I don't know why; my body just became more and more exhausted day by day, and my personality grew sensitive and sharp. I think I came to understand what it feels like to get through each day.

- '100 People's Gap Year' 61st gapper Park So-yeon

I think the situation Ms. Park So-yeon described is similar to that of most office workers today. It's a situation of enduring each day rather than living. The problem here is We are the ones who accept this current situation as something natural.

If only I were struggling, I'd quickly realize something was wrong and immediately try to fix it, but because the people beside me and everyone I see on the street live like this, I don't easily recognize it as a problem.

Because most people live like this, they come to view working life as something you must simply endure.

Then let's get back to the essence.

Have you ever wondered, 'Why do humans live?' Answers vary, but most people, to some extent, agree that we live to pursue happiness.

Why earn money? To make a living.

Let's think of human desires as being satisfied sequentially. To keep it simple, consider just two. The primary desire is probably to earn a living. In a sense, it's an essential, obvious, and indispensable need.

So once the primary desire is satisfied, what do we try to satisfy with money as a secondary desire? Most likely, the secondary desire is to fulfill personal wants.

Most people, as a second desire, buy things that will satisfy them or seek things that will give them rest. In other wordsOnce the desire to make a living is satisfied, the second effort is to try to 'live happily.'

But are you happy?

Also, when satisfying secondary desires, people buy many things, but don't those items provide only temporary happiness? Buying them doesn't make you happy for life. And that sense of satisfaction tends to become shorter over time.

Why is that?

When your current condition is already depleted,the stimulation of 'happiness' given by these temporary things becomes dulled.

Therefore, we should prioritize healing the mind first.

I also want to rest... but...

That thought probably follows. The answer is simple. Rest. Don't cram all your rest into the weekend; try living your daily life more leisurely.'Honestly, I want to rest too, but how can I?'
I completely understand that feeling.Forthat reason,this problem might seem really easy to solve when seen in words or writing, but when you consider all the circumstances it is by no means easy.

A long vacation is difficult given the circumstances, and quitting may be too bold a move; you're worried, and you also don't have confidence about reemployment after leaving.

Then let me ask a follow-up question.

Are you going to keep living like this?

I think all the things you're anxious about now are vague worries about the future. At the heart of those thoughts is self-doubt: 'Even if I rest, I won't change.' We have become too accustomed to living busy, stressed lives without rest.

If you settle for that, it's hard to take on new challenges. That includes me, the writer. Still, I hope you'll give it a try this time. There have been many opportunities so far, but we've kept settling for the present, haven't we?

Maybe this break will serve as a booster to help my next steps.The 'me' now and the 'me' who returns will surely have become different people.

Why heal through volunteering abroad?

The advantage of volunteering is that it creates an environment where people can share love. In other words, it is the most suitable environment for healing a worn-out mind and spirit. Volunteers Kim Hae-in and Baek Seung-yeop left the following testimonials.

During this project I gained a lot of confidence in many ways.Did I come to love myself by volunteering for others? Did I become happy by being with angel-like children?Did I feel better because I was complimented that Korea is a great country and that Korean women are really pretty?

I don't know why, but even among South American friends with big eyes and a goddess-like vibe, an unfounded confidence welled up in me. Could I have imagined at the start of the project that I'd be the one greeting first-time volunteers in the morning? haha

-Kim Hae-in, participant in a cheerful English education volunteer program with foreign friends in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

On the contrary, I learned a lot. These friends always have smiles on their faces. They were simply happy that I came, running around and hugging; although our words didn't always match, talking together was pleasant and everything felt joyful.

When my friends smile I find myself smiling, and by following their laughter without knowing exactly what makes them happy, I too become happy. Isn't that learning an important part of life?

- Gifting my skills and love to the children! Participant in volunteer work with disabled children in Vietnam: Baek Seung-yeop.

As participants' reviews show, volunteering isn't simply an activity of giving unilaterally; it's about mutually filling each other's needs.

Because of that, sharing what you have can boost your self-esteem; you can gain new inspiration by talking with volunteers from various countries, and it's also an opportunity to reflect on and reorganize your busy daily life.

Therefore, for those who don't know what to do next or where they are headed, I strongly recommend doing overseas volunteer work before changing jobs.

We offer a variety of themes—architecture, education, environment, and more—and programs in many countries, including Australia, Croatia, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Would you like to teach Korean? If so, how about teaching Korean and sharing stories about Korea with students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam?

Were you impressed by Dotori from 'Infinite Challenge'? If so, how about volunteering to care for baby rhinos?

We have prepared a range of projects so that everyone can find at least one that satisfies them! Even if you don't join right now, it's good to just learn that these volunteer opportunities exist.

Korea Gap Year always supports everyone who embraces new challenges!!