generally work on figuring out what I want to do next.
What do you think? Have you done it? What would you recommend?
This is probably one of the worst reasons to go travel the world and quit your job. Trying to "figure it out" is too vague.
People who quit their jobs to go and "figure it out" rarely ever do any figuring out. They almost rarely think about the problems that exist because they are busy doing so much else.
The other thing is that "figuring it out" cannot be done by thinking. You need to gain experience in different things. This will help you make a better decision. You will learn what you like and do not like.
If you want to quit your job because you want a new experience then great, but do not quit because you need to figure it out
I see his point though. If you have a reasonable expectation that you'll be able to figure it out, and enjoy the experience otherwise, then go for it.
I've worked with 3 guys who did this. One asked for a leave of absence (which was a company policy) but was denied because "we don't feel like it". So he quit and went to Central America for 6 months, truly enjoyed the experience. One just flat out quit to work for the Peace Corps, or something like it (also in Central America) with his girlfriend/ wife, for a couple of years.
You've been at your job for a year, in some ways it's not "enough time" (although I agree that honestly, now's the time to travel.)
The third guy - maybe it was just his personality. He wasn't the best worker (late to work often, not particularly motivated, he's the reason I got bigger raises because he was always underperforming...more money to go around).
He quit to travel around the world for a year. He made it 9 months before he ran out of money. I enjoyed reading his blog (this was back in the early 2000's, maybe 2003 or 2004).
And then...? He moved back in with his parents in Indiana. Didn't really work, started taking yoga, working on his spirituality. (I have nothing against yoga and spirituality, but damn man, you are 30, get an effing job and stop living on your parents). Then he moved back to CA because a friend was starting a company. He worked at that for a few years, but I don't think the company went anywhere. Last I hear a few years ago, he was back living with his parents. He must be late 30's now.
I by no means think that this is you. But I don't think he thought it was him either. He wasn't particularly excited about using his master's in engineering, but I don't think he figured he'd come out of the travel with no real goals.
I think it's okay to have no real career goals - when my parents were growing up, life was about LIFE and work was simply a means to pay for it - not necessarily something that would "complete" you.
When I was in the Navy, I lived in DC. I was on a co-ed volleyball team. 4 of the 6 of us were Navy, and all driving desks. The other two were a woman who worked for a consulting firm, and a guy who worked for the EPA. Man, those two lived the life. They had lived all over by age 30, volunteering, working, traveling...so many great stories. My best friend and I looked at each other and said "man are we boring".
Only you know your own personality. I think the first two guys? It was probably one of the best things they ever did.