Burned out from their healthcare jobs, this millennial couple sold almost everything to take a gap year around the world

Flynn and Mistry turned to other travel bloggers and sites like Budget Your Trip to decide on their budget. However, they got a mix of responses. Some had spent generously to travel in luxury while others kept to small budgets.

“We had to be realistic about what our travel style is. We don’t want to camp for 365 days,” Flynn said.

The couple set a budget of $45,000 — or $123 per day for both — for their yearlong trip. This daily budget is less than what they spend in Ontario, which they estimate is around $220 per day.

Alternate income streams to fund their travel

On top of their full-time jobs, they rented out their basement for $868 a month. Additionally, they sold 95% of their belongings on Facebook Marketplace — including their furniture, electronics, and clothes, and say they made around $7,200.

They also participated in paid focus groups, which amounted to around $360.

Planning as they go along

After a year and a half of saving, the couple finally set off to Japan in May. However, apart from booking hotel rooms in advance, the couple did not plan an itinerary.

“Our goal was to have a year of freedom. So we didn’t want to overplan away the freedom,” Flynn said.

The next stop was Thailand, and their original plan had been to fly to Malaysia next. However, after spotting affordable flights to Sri Lanka, they spontaneously decided to book tickets there instead.

“It’s nice to be able to figure it out like that,” said Flynn, who added that planning less often leads them off the beaten path.

Two months into their adventure, they regularly update their Instagram page, @katieandbhav, where they have also found a community of like-minded travelers.

For burned-out millennials, long-term travel offers respite

Flynn and Mistry are not alone in their burnout, which the World Health Organization defines as a syndrome caused by chronic workplace stress.

According to a 2024 Work in America Survey conducted between March and April by the American Psychological Association among over 2,000 adults, 67% of workers reported experiencing at least one outcome associated with burnout.

Some millennials, like Flynn and Mistry, have turned to long-term travel to escape corporate life.

Olivia Young, a millennial who used to work in public relations, previously wrote for Business Insider that she quit her job to travel after facing burnout. She flew to New Zealand on a working holiday visa and said the experience gave her the freedom to live a life she’s passionate about.

For Jo Fitzsimons, who left her job as a lawyer in 2010, her plan to travel during her career break became a full-time commitment. Now, she is a travel blogger who has traveled to over 50 countries, she told BI.

As for Flynn and Mistry, life after their gap year remains uncertain.

“We both do love our jobs. We like being pharmacists,” Mistry said.

Flynn is unsure what will happen at the end of the year. “We’re just trying to be in the moment right now and not overthink it.”