[sloaken]

I have done it twice. The first time I spent about 3 months riding my bicycle around the US. Then spent a few months looking for a job. It was not a good market. The second time I spent 7 months in New Zealand and Australia. Half the time biking. Took only 2 months to find the job I had before I left. I was trying to get one in a different city.

Make sure you have your health insurance lined up, in case you have a hernia in Australia and get it operated on then... never know.

Have a better 'back to work plan' then what I had.

Have goals and schedules. Have some loose timelines. RE examine your goals, preferably with a trusted friend, to keep you intellectually honest. Do this on a strongly fixed schedule. Be it once a week, once a month, every other month. I would not recommend less often then every 3 months.

My first trip was a burnout fix. My second was because I could.

I would say make a detailed budget, but that depends on your plans and resources. I did not, but I usually have a good sense of what my finances are.

Do not go into debt for this.

[sumtechguy]

There are some important points here. I would add these. 1) have a plan. what are you going to do? This is important as you may find yourself 'done' with whatever it was you were going to do. What is plan B?

2) have a budget. what can you spend per day? What is your current burn rate vs your new one vs liquid assets on hand? Are you OK with the difference?

3) when you start looking again what are your expectations? You now have put a hole in your resume. Remember companies like the idea of you can 'hit the ground running' so have a story for this. From their side of the desk you look like someone who can not get hired. They will use it as a filter. They have 200 resumes to look at and 199 have to go. Any dumb thing they can to kick you off that pile is one they will do.

4) do you have other obligations? For example car payments? Spouse? Parents who need help? etc? These may consume your time/money faster than you think or plan. As they will all say the same thing 'you are not working why dont you ....' Set boundaries.

I personally would not do it again. It was enjoyable enough. But the money anxiety I got was bad. Even not really having any debts or anything to worry about. It was just too much for me personally. I was not bored as I have plenty of projects I like to piddle with.