5 years
To mitigate some risk, I may try stepping away for a few weeks with zero contact with staff and see how it goes. That way you can set up a system that will work as you're gone for longer.
Taking a gap year from my hostel?
Off Topic Chat
I have been working in my hostel for 10 years now and i gotten to a point in my life where i feel stuck. I have been working and living in site and now the idea of taking a gap year to go out there and explore, learn and live is more intense than ever. I have always had a good team but now i only not i have an awesome one but i finally feel like i do not need to be here in order for it to run and i need to do this now. Is this normal? Anyways. I think the most responsible thing for me is to explore BUT to absorb as much information needed to bring back that kwoledge to my hostel when i come back. Do you think a masters could work? or just from staying at hostels? Have anyone experience something similar?
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5 years
You are not alone. I would imagine that a lot of hostel owners feel this way sometimes. Everything is exciting and new and full of potential when you're starting up. Things eventually level out a bit once you get into your groove and it starts to feel normal. That comes with a great feeling of confidence that you have succeeded and you know exactly what you're doing. Then after 10 years you feel like you're not advancing anymore. And if you're not advancing, then you're falling behind, right? You still love what you do, but it's harder to keep up with the changing market and you don't have the same level of energy and enthusiasm.
Getting out on the road for a change of pace and an inspiring series of hostel visits might be just what you need. It doesn't necessarily need to be a whole year (unless you want it to be). I always find that staying in someone else's hostel and experiencing a new place as a guest always gives me a spark of inspiration to improve my own hostel and gives me ideas of how I could make it better. Sometimes it's a matter of realizing that I need to work on some of the basics, and sometimes I get great ideas for big projects. Either way I start feeling excited again about my own hostel. It also feels good to be able to hang out with all of the travelers again without having any responsibilities or obligations to them. It's mentally soothing.
As far as getting a masters goes, that's certainly an option, but possibly too much of a committment if you're not sure what you need to get yourself unstuck. Maybe try picking up a single course about something that interests you so you can get back into learning and have some fun. My wife and I have both mentioned at times that we don't feel like we're learning anymore, so we each picked up an interesting online course. She chose interior decoration, and I picked drawing. Sites like Udemy have all kinds of online classes, and you can jump into them or take breaks as the inspiration strikes you. Maybe something like that would also help you to get back into the game. You could even do it while you're off on your adventure to combine the effect.
5 years
Thanks Brian. It gives me a little ease of mind knowing that i am not completely alone. I have decided the master is not an option. I need to travel more and get new ideas for my hostel, also find again that conection with other travelers and get a knew persective of things. As mentioned, might not need and entire year, but will plan it to leave for a couple of months and take it as it goes. Hopefully I'll be able to contact fellow hostel owners willing to host me in order to see more of the insight of their own hostels. Thanks!
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