Reasons for a gap year

Hi guys I was just wondering the reasons people go on gap years? I was talking to my mum the other day, and I’m really scared to go to uni ngl. I reallyyy need to loose weight cuz i binge a lot, and I want to be the best version of myself before I go (mentally in terms of confidence and physically i wanna loose weight) are these valid reasons ?? My mum thinks it’s a bit surface level reason to go, and my ‘insecurity’ wins. I do think shes right as I am a bit insecure and shy. I also realise that it matters what I do in the gap year. I’m thinking find a job and go to the gym. Ofc I can do this in summer as well which is what Im planning, but I dont think what I want to achieve is possible in 3 months. What do you guys think? Any regrets doing a gap year? Anything would be appreciated

You don't have to start uni straight after sixth form and lots of people don't for a whole range of reasons. Not feeling ready is a perfectly valid reason. If you think that getting a job and building up your confidence will help you, then go for it. What course are you thinking of doing when you do go to uni?

Hi guys I was just wondering the reasons people go on gap years? I was talking to my mum the other day, and I’m really scared to go to uni ngl. I reallyyy need to loose weight cuz i binge a lot, and I want to be the best version of myself before I go (mentally in terms of confidence and physically i wanna loose weight) are these valid reasons ?? My mum thinks it’s a bit surface level reason to go, and my ‘insecurity’ wins. I do think shes right as I am a bit insecure and shy. I also realise that it matters what I do in the gap year. I’m thinking find a job and go to the gym. Ofc I can do this in summer as well which is what Im planning, but I dont think what I want to achieve is possible in 3 months. What do you guys think? Any regrets doing a gap year? Anything would be appreciated

Face down your fears.
Go to uni in September.
You don't put off going to the dentist. You go on time because it's for your own good. Same with going to uni.
Go to a uni in a different city. Moving into halls for your first year will be a great experience for you.
Don't worry about being shy. Plenty of students go to uni shy.
University is the best environment in the world for working on your shyness. And for reinventing yourself. With the first day at uni being a great opportunity to drop those shy habits you developed at primary and secondary school. With you bluffing at first that you're not shy. And over time the bluffing will become an ingrained habit.
Don't worry about your weight.
Over the summer get into nutrition as a hobby.
Bingeing is fine. If you're binging on melon and strawberries. Or rocket, cucumber, tomato, mint salad. Not so fine if it's ice cream and cheesecake.
Your weight will take care of itself in the due course of time with the right nutrition.
Your mum is giving you good advice on this.
One big thing you remind yourself of, is that you should stop being such a people pleaser. And you should stop being so concerned about what others might think of you.
There will always be people that hate you, love you and are indifferent to you. You'll have a higher proportion of people that like you if you're more assertive about being you and less concerned about what others might think of you.

Start university with confidence. A can do belief, positivity that your able to do it because I am sure you are more than able to going into the mindset or a mindset without that outcome wise you don’t just know. As for taking a gap year out, it really factors a lot of things here when we discuss and talk about this some people take gap years due to mental health reasons, others take gap years because they don’t feel ready. Whilst this maybe the latter of all but this reason stands out the most assessing your options and choices “what is next for you” best tip here take your time, bide your time by thinking what do you want to do, what is it exactly you want to do, where will it lead you, how you’ll get there. Take the opportunity to go in person for in person open days at campuses and attend workshops finding more about courses available across the prospectus of the university that’s leaning towards you. Discussions with course leaders, admission teams or careers team. As you don’t want to be drastic or hesitantly make a choice or decision do what’s best for you. And if you believe the best version of yourself needs time and working as per yourself utilise it but productively equally.

Thanks for your reply, I do feel quite happy with the course Ive chosen, as politics is something I’m quite keen on. I know that I will want to go to uni and go study, but I feel quite worried that I will not be able to enjoy uni if I am not happy with myself. I think if I make some type of plan on what i were to do if i did take a gap year would be better because I agree I need to utilise the time well, otherwise it would be a waste. Either way I’m grateful for your response, thanks.

Hi thanks for your reply, I feel like my confidence would impact my uni experience by far, as I often tend to be indoors a lot and rot in my bed lol. I think whats difficult is that becoming the person I want to be isnt a guarantee. What if I don’t achieve my goals and I’m the same/or even worse person then I’ve become? I’ve applied to study law with politics quite nice course so yeh

Aim for competence over confidence.
Who would you rather be on the back of a motorcycle with? Someone's that's confident, or someone that's competent?
Stop being so perfectionist. Perfectionism equals poverty.
The sort of foods that lead people to being the overweight also tend to be the sort of foods that increase the chances of poor moods, depression, anxiety. The sort of foods that lead to people being a "healthy weight" includes a range of foods that promote good moods.
If you take a gap year, chances are you'll carry on living at home. It will be better for you and your development to move away from home sooner rather than later.
It's a version of the "burning the boats" approach to overcoming challenging situations. It's taking away the stabilising wheels when learning to ride a bicycle.
What may help is to look at things logically. Over the next 4 years, which route is likely to result in you earning more money?
Having a gap year and then going to uni. Or going to uni and having 1 year working as a graduate?
If you think of life as a game, it's a game with more skill than luck. A game with slightly more luck than chess. And a lot more skill than Monopoly. Play the game to maximise your chances of winning. You might not win. But at least you played the game to a reasonable standard.
All this gap year and letting your fears control you stuff is like hoarding £2000 when you have the Vine Street set. Because someone else has all 4 stations. And another has the Old Kent Road set. And you might keep landing on them. Instead of you ploughing £1500 into hotels for your set.
If you go to all your lectures, hand all your assignments in on time and prepare for exams a quarter as well as you prepared for A levels, you'll pass your degree.
If you say hello to your fellow students and take an interest in them as people, you'll do fine at developing your social skills.
Coming to think of it, you don't even need to say hello. You could go up to them and wave your arms in a silly way, or give them an inquisitive look with your eyes to get their attention, and more often than not, they'll say something friendly to you.