If you jump off the academic conveyor belt for a year you may question why you want to get back on it again. A year out has led some people to be sidetracked from study and not go into higher education. You may find it difficult to settle back into study if you have a lengthy break from it. Be aware that while many university and college departments support the idea of a year out, some do not. In particular, with some subjects some departments consider it harmful to have a break from studying the subject.
Examples are music, maths and science.
There are no hard and fast rules here. If you are considering a year out be sure to contact the departments of the colleges or universities that interest you and ask how they view a year out. There is a risk that you may not find ways of spending the year out productively. It would be a waste of time if you spent the year sitting at home doing very little. Remember though that a year out need not be filled with one activity.