Ideally, the teen years should be a time of finding your freedom, growing with gusto and hanging with friends (no, not the app). Sadly, those “Happy Days” have devolved instead into an extended chapter of school stress, sports madness, and window-dressing for college. If this is how we prepare our kids for the Real World, we may be failing.

In the local paper today, writer Aimee Blanchette profiles some “Superscheduled” high-schoolers aspiring to be super-achievers—with possible pit stops not only at the coffee shop and energy-drink stand, but also in mental breakdown, illness, and insomnia disorders.

The article barely mentions the straw breaking many a youth’s back (and bank): digital devices and addiction. I mean, have you seen how students study these days? It’s not easy—and often takes three screens (TV, laptop, phone) just to get started! At least 75% of teens have their own phone toy now.

• Hey, we parents suffer too!

Let’s not get lost in a rant here. But really, has anyone written the story about parents who have compromised or surrendered their career (and other) hopes to, instead, drive drive drive, coach, fund-raise, serve pasta feeds, sell concessions, and usher their kids to lessons and injury-fixing doctors? For this, we needed higher degrees?

Has anyone done the research on the less-privileged students whose parents can’t drop everything to make their future rosy and their high-protein meals mobile?

Has anyone proven within a reasonable doubt that all this chasing super-performance truly amounts to success in future years? Does this student earn more money? Create more innovations? Attain more contentment? Make the world a better place?

Or do they just burn out? Let’s not even get started on the epidemic of high-school athletes who quit because they’re just sick of it (perhaps literally). Or the age-old risk of high-test teens turning to substance abuse to escape agony and find ecstasy.

• Will it matter in 10 years?

At any age, that’s a good question to ask yourself when you’re worrying about something—but especially when you’re over-working on something. We Americans are obsessed with believing that whatever we’re doing is profoundly important. And right. And urgent.

Well, try this chill pill: Maybe it’s not. Get over yourself—before it’s too late. This website promotes finding one’s passion in free time, travel, and career breaks. Yet most folks don’t even take advantage of their modest vacation days.

Even superscheduled superachievers still face setbacks like super-recessions. 50% of college students are living at home. 21% of college grads have boomeranged back to their hometown bedroom. Too many are flipping burgers at McBurger or greeting bargain hunters at TarMart.

Meanwhile, student debt has surpassed credit card debt. Something is broke(n) here, indeed.

Anyway, shouldn’t college be not only a time to learn about making millions, but also a time to learn about pleasure, exploration, and growth? Heck, you’ve got your whole life to work and worry. Let your higher education be a big punctuation mark. A period. Of evolution. Transformation. And hedonism (if not then, when?).

• LWWY

Thank God we have boy bands like One Direction to sing us carefree, bouncy songs like, “Live While We’re Young.” Youth flies away fast enough as it is; why become a fretful curmudgeon before your time? THAT kind of precociousness is not a gift!

“We’re about to make some memories,” sings One Direction. Kids, make sure those memories include beaches, banter, and laughter—not just libraries and calendar-dependence.

Or as the multi-dimensional thought-leaders 1D summarize the whole high-stakes quandary,

Don’t overthink; just let it go.”

The BreakAway gospel preaches that we should take temporary retirement throughout our working years. But the career-break culture goes beyond that—and includes good-times time-management tricks like using all your vacation days, committing to meaningful hobbies, and skipping work altogether (especially when ill).

Stay home, sickos!”

Local journalist Jeff Strickler recently took on the “presenteeism” problem, and found ample evidence that sick employees are heading to work in droves. One reason for it is the increased use of paid time off (PTO), which means that if you use your days off for illness, you’ll have fewer left for vacation. But other explanations include…

• Job security. “I’m a trooper, right?”
• Pressure from management. “You look fine to me!”
• Over-dedication. “I’m so awesome and important!”
• The recession. “I must appear indispensable!”
• Missing work due to sick kids. “I don’t have time to be sick.”
• Denial. “No! I’m fine! Really!” <Cough, snort, hack…>

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, empoyees working at “diminished capacity” cost businesses around $250 billion a year. They’re also more likely to get injured, make mistakes, and, of course, make their co-workers sick.

When it’s your time for some unfettered freedom, fly away! But when it’s your time to be sick, stay home! You’ll feel much better for it.

We all will.

Following Google alerts for “career break” is a pretty uneventful task. There are a few bloggers and advocates that get the occasional mention. But beyond that, the newsmakers are mostly athletes and celebrities. Today, we focus on rock stars who are choosing to fall away from the stage for a while.

• When Rock God Peter Gabriel announces he’s taking a sabbatical from his endless world tour to focus on his two loves, “family and travel,” we flick our Bics and offer a standing ovation. If you’ve heard his hoarse voice lately, you’ll also hope for some healing.

• When the Scissors Sisters make news because they’re taking a break, we’re like, “Who!?!” Yet, many S2 fans are leaving distraught comments in the blogosphere, though we experienced Breakers suspect it’s mostly jealousy.

• When One Direction hints that they’re pondering taking a 10-year hiatus to start prepping for their mammoth comeback tour in one decade, we reply, “Please!” (Just don’t tell your tweenie daughters, or you may drown in their tears.)

• But that’s not all: It appears the Foos might also be tired of Fighting. Until further notice, they’re breaking from fans, superstardom, and the road. Any music-head worth his ticket-stub collection knows that Dave Grohl may be one of the hardest-working musicians ever, so this one raises eyebrows. Still, more power to Growling Grohl. His potency is astonishing, particulary when you ponder the depressing demise that met his one-time bandmate and BFF, Kurt Cobain—a couple of rock-star lives ago.

• Oh yes, and in case you missed it, Christian metal-core stalwarts Underoath are taking a cue from the Old Testament and taking a sabbatical, possibly permanent. Oh sure, first they’re releasing a remixed greatest-hits collection—and doing a farewell tour. At any rate, Godspeed.

Of course, we all know that rock stars are famous for quitting, then lauching a comeback, then collapsing onstage or at the spin-dry center, and then embarking on another comeback tour or two: Cleanse, rinse, repeat.

Even Sinatra made a surprising and stunning exit in the 70s, ending with his famous lyric:

Excuse me while I disappear.”

And so he did. For a while.

Hey, whatever it takes. Career breaks are always good news. And for revered rock stars, a little R&R may is likely just what the doctor ordered.

Last week, on Tuesday night, about a thousand people gathered in 10 cities to for Meet, Plan, Go!, the annual career-break event. Here in Minneapolis, yours truly served as moderator for a panel of recent returnees—and also manned a table labeled “Prepping the Leave,” along with Leif Pettersen, accomplished travel writer.

Dozens of travel enthusiasts visited that table and pelted us with questions. Here are five pretty-good queries and brief answers…

• We hope to leave early next year for six months or a year. We have a house—and can’t decide whether to rent or sell.  Any advice?

That’s easy: Hold! I mean, if you try to sell your house in this (or any) market, you may lose control of your timing, since so many things can go weird or wrong. Plus, prepping and selling a home can take dozens—hundreds?—of hours. You need that time to plan your trip.  Stay focused!

Not to mention, where would you live when you came home? Another conundrum, right? Why not come home to sweet home. You can always sell then. Find a good renter or house-sitter. Now get outta here!

• I might want to stay longer in my destination country than their visa allows for. What to do?

That’s a common desire, and there are ways around it—but (as they say about investing), you’ll have to determine your own risk tolerance! In some countries, they legislate such laws but hardly enforce them, unless, of course, you’re causing trouble. I stayed too long in Italy once, and they kept taking my money.

In other countries, you might leave to take a mini-sabbatical within your sabbatical. Case in point: Many people retire in Mexico, but visit the States for a week or two every six months or so, just to get fresh passport stamps.

• What are some tips about credit cards, currency translation fees, cash, and such?

That’s another maze, thanks to the banks and constantly changing realities and regulations. But here are a few tips that might work: Use a debit card to get cash (lower fees); in many countries, vendors appreciate being paid with cash (tech issues + tax avoidance?); use a credit card with no translation fees for purchases (check out Capital One and Chase Preferred); seek a credit card that gives cash back, since you’ll likely be spending; think twice about airline loyalty cards, since they’re rather like the nickel—ain’t worth what they use to be.

• I’m quitting my job for this trip; what about health insurance?

You will probably be able to keep your existing policy for 18 months, thanks to COBRA legislation. Do that, and you’ll also have coverage when you get home. For those without insurance, getting a high-deductible “catastrophic” policy might be a good idea—in case of a worse-case. But know this too: Many countries provide decent healthcare for free or cheap to visitors. For peace of mind, though, do some thorough research and avoid taking chances that may stress your big break.

• What do you pack that I might not think of?

What else? A good pocket knife. Nothing too huge, mind you, but one with knives, a tweezers, a toothpick, and (above all) a bottle opener and corkscrew.

Cheers!

Oh geez. This year’s career-break summit, Meet, Plan, Go! is just a few short hours away. As the MSP resident expert on prepping, I better start…prepping!

I think I’ll start by making an acrostic with some reasons why YOU TOO should attend. Hope to see you there!

And even if you can’t make it, check out all the awesome panelists and storytellers who will be there.  (Which do not include the guy on the right.)

M> Meet other wanderlusters a lot like you.

E > Earn respect from folks who may doubt your commitment.

E> Exchange dreams and schemes with new friends.

T> Take in some great tips and tales.

P> Plan to stop talkin’ and start packin’!

L> Learn how easy it can be to live out your dream.

A> Ask your hardest questions to some savvy experts.

N> Need a kick in the pants? You might get one!

G> Go—home or far away—with fresh ideas and inspiration.

O> Occupy Paris, Peru, or Phnom Penh on the date you choose.

One night next week, the travel gurus at Meet, Plan, Go Minneapolis will have me serve as an Expert in “Prepping to Leave.”

Ish! I mean, that’s often the hardest part of a career break. Still, it pays to plan ahead, big time. So here’s a witty A to Z guide that may make your BreakAway exit a bit less stressful.

• A is for ARMY KNIFE. Be it Swiss, Victorinox, or Acme, the many timeless tools tucked inside can come in handy. Highly recommended: the corkscrew.
• B is for BARF BAG. Laugh if you must, but they’re complimentary from (most) airlines, and can be useful for food, garbage, or—God forbid—barf.  Travel much? Hey, it happens!
• C is for CURRENCY. Cash is king in many places. And if you visit multiple countries, you’ll get multiple math lessons. But use your credit card when you can—and get one that charges no conversion fees. A debit card saves money on ATMs. And it never hurts to stash a few $100 bills; it’s the international standard, you know.  Ask any drug lord (or better yet, don’t).
• D is for DUPES. Yep, dupe your passport, driver’s license, and other critical docs—and stick them in a separate, safe place.
• E is for ENERGY BARS. One savvy traveler is never without oatmeal. Another prefers nabbing extra airplane peanuts. Whatever your taste, it’s always a good idea to carry something to eat (make that a sackful if you travel with kids).
• F is for FUNDING. Planning a career break helps keep you grounded and teaches you to save. And then it helps you fly high when you spend. Practice good fiscal fitness—but also keep in mind that, for certain important goals in life…It’s not a financial decision.
• G is for GIVING NOTICE. Be thoughtful and considerate about telling your boss and colleagues that you’re about to take this job and shove off. Remember, you may need gainful income again someday. In fact, you’ll need it to take your next career break!
• H is for HATERS. Some friends and even fam will try to rain on your Big Break with doubt, questions, and (above all) green Jello. Find strength in their scorn! And when they say, “Oh I could never do that,” politely suggest that it’s not about them.
• I is for INSURANCE. It’s a hassle, it’s expensive, and it’s full of hoops and BS. Still, it makes sense to at least ponder all the iterations—from health to home, from electronics riders to travel insurance—which can buy great peace of mind, especially if you have a complex, pre-purchased itinerary.
• J is for JOKER. Bring a deck of cards, of course. But also give yourself a wild card that gives you the go-ahead to try new things in strange places. Oh yes, bring your sense of humor, too.
• K is for KIT OF DIVERSIONS. Leave the home theater at home, but plan for necessary diversions for long flights and unpredictable nights: reading, music, journal, sudoku, what have ya. Such toys can save the day if you’re traveling with kids or anxious spouses.
• L is for LUGGAGE. Less is more, but get the right gear—whether backpack or suitcase or other. Take a short test trip or two to see how it feels to schlep your shtuff around; you’ll probably lighten your load!
• M is for MED KIT. Skip the apothecary, yet procure a little of just about everything you might need in a hurry, from Immodium to Ibu. And don’t assume such things will be at your fingertips when you need them. (Frankly, you may also want some anxiety pills for before you go…and some anti-depressants for when you return!)
• N is for NEEDLES. Yeah, you might need a needle (and thread) to repair your rips and tears. But we’re also talking immunizations. It won’t hurt a bit—compared to being locked out of your destination country because you overlooked certain medical prep or precautions they require. Don’t like shots? Celebrate your bravery afterward with a shot from Dr. Cuervo!
• O is for OUTREACH. Set up your communication lines and expectations for family, friends, and emergency contacts. If you’re like most BreakAway artists, you’ll probably want to blog, too. But whatever you do, don’t spend your sabbatical staring at screens! Focus your connections on new faces, not Facebook.
• P is for PET PLANS. People love their pets, perhaps sometimes too much? Fido will be fine without you, as will Miss Kitty. Just find them a nice place to purr—be it neighbor, friend, or sitting service. Get their immunizations caught up and provide ample supplies, while keeping in mind that pets need sabbaticals too!
• Q is for QUIET AIDS. In the Caribbean, the roosters crow after midnight. In NYC, the taxis (and tourists) never shut up. In Rio, the locals rock and roll all night (and party every day). Ergo, pack your earplugs, headphones, and maybe even a rainforest app.
• R is for RECORDING GEAR. No, not a studio—but rather, your camera, journal, laptop, sketchbook or whatever you us to capture the memories so that they last forever.
• S is for STUFF MGMT. Get ready for pondering, purging, selling, sorting, storing, schlepping—and swearing. Pardon the French, but sometimes stuff sucks. And yet, when you’re away from it all, you probably won’t miss a thing.
• T is for TECH TOOLS. Unplug as much as you can, please! But if you’re bringing digitalia, think through things like adaptors, converters, back-up systems and the price of connectivity. Your iPhone may work abroad, but it could cost you a king’s ransom to use it the way you do at home.  And when the wifi won’t work? Stop worrying and start dancing in the streets.
• U is for UNDERGARMENTS. Snicker if you must, but how will you stay warm? Dry? Clean? Longies or lingerie? Wool or cotton? And who’s going to do the laundry? Pack smart. And keep in mind you can usually eliminate extras, or pick up what you need.
• V is for VISUALIZATION. Before you go, envision worst-case scenarios. That way, if (or when) they happen, you’ll be ready. Use these little practices also for possible emergencies, opportunities, and even the return to reality.  Because you can, and you must, go home again.
• W is for WATER. Hydrate. Shun bugs. A bottle of safe water is worth its weight in your backpack.
• X is for X IT OFF. Make thorough and exhaustive lists, whether in a sketch book, computer, or on giant Post-its. (After all, you can’t keep all this in your head, can you!?!) Rejoice every time you X off a to-do. And when the list seems ridiculous, remember: You’re boarding that plane regardless.
• Y is for YES MENTALITY. Speaking of opportunities, prepare yourself for eating raw snails, riding on elephants, sailing into storms, and a world of possibilities. That’s why we travel, right? So when in doubt, just say yes.
• Z is for ZIPLOCKS. They’re handy in your kitchen, and even more useful on the road. Heck, here in the USA, even the TSA likes them—and they don’t like anything!

Speaking of zips, one of the happiest sounds on earth is the zip-zip-zip of luggage zippers closing when the prepping is over, the packing is done, and your ride to the airport is on its way.

Fall hits like a splattering pumpkin in Minnesota. One fine morning, warm summer arms embrace you. The next, you’re slapped by sleet, biting winds and millions of dirty leaves. If you try to look up, you might see a sky more thick and gray than your Grandpa’s storm coat.

You can run—away—but you usually don’t. Snowbirds do, but they’re either lucky ducks or lucky retirees. The rest of us have bills to pay, kids to chauffeur, and chores to chase. Soon, we can add shoveling sh-now and driving on icy freeways to the dark-season grind.

Enter: These old shoes. I bought them in 1994 while away for a whole year of travel, during an idyllic four-month stay in Tuscany. They were purchased, despite a no-new-stuff-to-schlep pledge, to serve as “slippers” to protect me from our casa’s cold marble floors.

Exit: These old shoes. Some folks do spring cleaning; I’m working on an Epic Fall Purge. Possessions have grown like a fungus in my family’s world, and the piles are getting toxic. It’s like wearing a backpack that may bury you. That freewheeling, light feeling of travel has been lost in piles of clothes, toys, media, and much more.

So anything—everything?—is on the purging block. Eliminating stuff can seem like throwing out memories:  kids’ clothes and art and books and childhood playthings bring back countless once-in-a-lifetime memories. But sometimes, there’s just not enough room.

That goes, too, for these old shoes. They’ve lived in the sauna for the last few years—ready for that mad dash outside onto snow and ice and maybe even into the lake. But now they’re in the trashcan.

They’ve had a good life, and walked into as many memories as a shoe can. It’s funny—sometimes silly things like shoes become a favorite souvenir, while the high-design Italian flatware set left the building years ago.

But it’s time to move on. I hope the memories will live on without these old shoes.

In less than a month, the nationwide career break meetup called Meet, Plan, Go! will take place—for the third year in a row. If you have ever—EVER!—pondered the wild and radiant notion of taking a month or a year off, be there!  In Minneapolis. Or any of the other 9 MPG locations.

Here are 11 reasons why you should make the effort…

1. MEET others who also harbor this sail-away dream (and confirm you’re not crazy).
2. PLAN your BreakAway (or at least get past the first and biggest obstacle—your mind).
3. GO away, far away (if not this year, some pretty-soon someday).
4. INVEST your first $20 toward your break (‘cause you know this is truly investing in your future).
5. LISTEN to folks just like you (who are already making this dream come true).
6. REMOVE your buttocks from their comfort zone (while also removing some fear and doubt).
7. SHARE your fantasy trip with new friends (and thereby take it one step closer to reality).
8. ASK the questions that very few people can answer (but the MPG hosts and panelists really can).
9. LEAVE with at least a few aha! takeaways (that may indeed help take you away).
10. LAUGH at the twisted tales that fellow travelers will tell (and maybe laugh at yourself while you’re at it).
11. JOIN the career break movement (and start getting your move on).

Seriously!  I hope to see you there!

Happiness gets a lot of attention. In fact, Americans seem obsessed with it (or the pursuit of it). This closet curmudgeon sometimes gets crabby about this simplistic word—and wonders if we ought not to increase our vocabulary and POV. Yet a recent study suggests that increasing one’s world view (by travel) may make you a happier person.

• That makes me happy!

Could it be? Career breaks make me happy. No, not every minute, place, or experience. But even when the planning, budgeting, or return to reality can make you deeply disgruntled, the keep-your-eyes-on-the-prize mindset does wonders for increasing one’s odds of contentment.

The study notes that lottery winners tend to be no more happy 18 months after their good fortune, and the mood boost that accompanies getting married typically fades in about two years.

The same mood swing can happen from long-term travel, of course. BUT…committing to Big Breaks as an essential part of life—even if only every five to 10 years—works wonders at keeping the mood-o-meters high.

• Keep the change

The study author, Kennon Sheldon, maintains that the savvy soul endeavors to find ways to keep positive changes alive and relevant as long as possible,

We think what it really comes down to is, whatever this change is, it should remain present in your life experience and supply positive daily experiences.”

A-ha! NOW I understand why my home and office are filled with art from all those BreakAways! Indeed, Mr. Sheldon’s study notes that pursuits that can bring a series of pleasurable experiences (like a trip) may result in more enduring happiness than, say, shopping!

• Skip the stuff

Yes, we Americans do love to shop. W told us to after 9-11. But does buying stuff buy happiness? Mr. Sheldon thinks not:

People get into retail therapy, they’re trying to boost their mood, and the problem with buying stuff is, it just sits there. You quickly adapt to it…You want your fix…so you’ve got to go buy something else.”

Most of us are guilty as charged—and can feel pretty dang culpable when we want to travel, but the money has all gone to cars, clothes, and what later looks like crap.

Or worse: When your house (which once felt so big and fresh, and once made you so happy) gets filled with that stuff, one can get truly depresssed just trying to find space again. All that stuff feels like it’s chained to your body—and all you want to do is escape the mess and fly away.

So what’s the secret to happiness? There is none, naturally. But here are some mantras that don’t get much airplay (but might bring a taste of free play)…

1. Avoid over-accumulation.
2. Live within your means (no matter what that means).
3. Keep the faith.
4. When in doubt, try yes.
5. Retire now and then…

What are your secrets or mantras?  Do share!

A few nights back, the BreakAway meetup group hosted a co-bill event with career-break maven Sherry Ott.

17 wanderlusty souls laughed and chatted about past travels, evolving plans, omnipresent obstacles and more. I left with a fat backpack full of inspiration and impressions; here are 5 worth noting…

• Sherry Ott is a rising rock star. You saw it here first (though it’s obvious all over the internets): Ms. Ott is the hardest-working person in the career-break ecosystem—and clearly the smartest. Oh sure, she somehow travels ALL THE TIME, so she’s got more experience than God. But she’s bubbling over with ideas and answers. Yet she’s 100% humble and available. Follow her, and go far.

• Long distance is close to folks’ hearts. Based on these 17 random vagabonds, it appears that long-term travelers don’t need no Paris or Rome. Exotic, less paved places deep in Asia, South America, and beyond are high on hit lists. The fact that your money goes farther provides one incentive. But authenticity and exploration beckon too.

• Travelers want to “settle down.” No, not as in picket fences and puppies. But rather, a surprising amount of these BreakAway artists want to hunker down in one alien locale for a year—or maybe two. They want to learn a language, absorb a culture, excape America, and be more than a “tourist.”

• It’s the healthcare, stupid. The obstacle course gets no easier as the years go by. Yet most career-break enthusiasts already have an impressive passport-stamp collection and “what it takes.” But health insurance now sits atop the wall of worries—beside usual suspects like money, career, and (literally) stuff.

• Dreamers mean business. When preaching the gospel of Sabbatical, I’ve seen both stink-eye and rolling eyes in the audience. But more and more, the eyes are filled with feverish fervor. For most, it’s a matter of when—not where or how or why. One of our guests, for example, will exit his Fortune 500 road and go RTW this fall. He’s been working there since a college internship. But nothing can stop him now. We wished him well, admitted our jealousy, and again had that forehead-slapping revelation that, Yes, Anyone Can Do This!

Thanks again to good-hearted guru Sherry Ott for making time on her everlasting tour to chat with us; now she’s off to New York to host Meet, Plan, Go—and then Hawaii and then Antarctica with her dad.

Godspeed!

p.s.  I’ll be a panelist at the Minneapolis Meet Plan Go event on October 18 at REI in Bloomington.  Details to come!