ADULT GAP YEAR SERIES: Take a Liberty Leave with Danica Nelson
- Michelle Dittmer
- May 19
- 2 min read
What if taking time off wasn’t a setback, but the smartest move you could make? In this episode, Michelle Dittmer of the Canadian Gap Year Association sits down with Danica Nelson, founder of Liberty Leave, to talk about adult gap years, career breaks, and why intentional pauses matter at every stage of life. Danica shares how burnout led her to negotiate six months away from work, travel through Southeast Asia, and completely rethink her path. Together, they explore financial planning, mindset, navigating hard conversations, and how a well-designed break can help you realign with your values, energy, and goals.
3 Key Takeaways
A Liberty Leave is about alignment, not escape. Danica explains that a career break is not just about resting—it is about stepping off autopilot and making more intentional life and work choices.
Planning makes the break possible. From her 4P framework to her “freedom formula,” Danica shows how practical steps like budgeting, saving, and creative income planning can turn the idea of a break into a realistic plan.
You do not take a break to come back harder. One of Danica’s biggest lessons is that rest should not be used to fuel more burnout. The real goal is building a life that feels sustainable, joyful, and true to you.
Key Links
Liberty Leave (Danica Nelson’s program):https://www.libertyleave.com/
Mini Retirement Summit:https://www.miniretirementsummit.com/
CanGap Adult Gap Year Resources
Danica Nelson on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/danicasnelson/?hl=en
Danica Nelson on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@danicasnelson
Connect With The Canadian Gap Year Association
Join “Gapper Connect” on Discord to connect with students thinking about a gap year, current Gappers, and alum all in one place! https://www.cangap.ca/gapperconnect
Find more resources at the Can Gap website https://www.cangap.ca/
Follow on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/cangapassociation/
Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ucangap
Follow on Twitter https://twitter.com/ucangap
Follow on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuBit8gLXEOxaBggoGmykjQ
I really enjoy Drive Mad because it looks simple but gets surprisingly hard fast. You have to carefully control your car to avoid flipping over while trying to reach the finish line in one piece.