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In 2023, Rowena Hennigan faced a challenging decision — she recognized the urgent need for a prolonged break from her professional responsibilities.
Hennigan found herself grappling with disrupted sleep patterns, heightened anxiety, and cognitive fog, all of which are common experiences associated with menopause. This combination of symptoms began to significantly impact both her work and her overall mental well-being.
Despite her efforts to mitigate these effects through exercise, dietary changes, hormone therapies, and occasional days off, the persistent nights of insufficient sleep led to increasing stress and a sense of being trapped in a relentless cycle.
As a self-employed consultant focused on remote work, the prospect of taking an extended break was daunting. She expressed concern that stepping away might jeopardize the business she had painstakingly built over six years — a business that epitomized her independence and work-life balance.
“I worried that by pausing, I might lose everything I had worked for,” Hennigan recalled. “Ultimately, I realized that without my health, being a whole and productive person was impossible. I had to accept that real recovery could only come from taking the time to rest.”
A Trip to the Canary Islands
Hennigan began her four-month sabbatical from her consultancy, RoRemote, in December 2023. To manage her finances during this period without her income, she and her husband set tight spending limits.
Originating from Dublin and now residing in Zaragoza, Spain, Hennigan and her family chose to celebrate the holiday season in Gran Canaria, which is the largest of the Canary Islands. By staying with friends, they managed to avoid accommodation expenses and allocated a budget of 20 euros (approximately $21.50) per person each day for meals and drinks.
The family enjoyed a 15-day getaway.
Total expenditure for Hennigan’s share: $731, including airfare.
Fixed Costs at Home
Upon returning to Zaragoza, Hennigan accounted for her portion of the family’s fixed expenses, which encompassed rent, utility bills, and groceries.
This amounted to approximately $860 a month, resulting in a total of $3,440 over the course of her sabbatical.
Given these ongoing costs, there was limited room left in her travel budget, but Hennigan was prepared with a strategic plan.
Total fixed expenses: roughly $3,440.
Hiking in Spain
In mid-January, Hennigan embarked on a near four-week adventure to the Spanish Pyrenees, with a daily budget of around $54.
The most significant expenditure was for a one-bedroom Airbnb, costing $915 total, which breaks down to about $32 per night. Despite this, she managed to eat and drink for an average of just $16 a day by shopping at local grocery stores.
Hiking became her primary activity, which she enjoyed at no cost. Although she had contemplated skiing during her trip using credit from a previous season, warmer weather resulted in insufficient snow conditions.
One of the highlights of this trip was the company of her husband and 10-year-old daughter, who joined on weekends.
“The support from my family made the experience even more rewarding,” Hennigan noted. “It really emphasized the need for compromise and connection during this break.”
Total costs: $1,502.
A Homestay in France
After a month at home, Hennigan spent weekends at a friend’s place in Valencia and enjoyed skiing in Formigal. For skiing, she alternated between staying with friends and at a hotel, with the latter being a Christmas gift from her husband. Her primary expense during this period was about $170 for fuel.
In late March, she set out for a month-long stay in Villembits, France. Using the platform Trusted Housesitters, she discovered a free stay at a four-bedroom farmhouse in exchange for taking care of the owner’s pets and garden.
Hennigan’s daughter assisted her in tending to a cat at the property, providing real hands-on experiences during their stay.
She arrived at the farmhouse two days ahead of the owners to familiarize herself with the chores she would need to complete. This occupied about five hours of her day, allowing ample free time to explore the area.
Initially, Hennigan spent the first few days on her own before her family arrived.
“The atmosphere was completely different compared to typical rental accommodations,” she described. “It felt like a genuine home, offering extensive areas to explore and enjoy.”
In terms of daily expenses, Hennigan spent around $11 on food, primarily consuming eggs from the chickens on the property and vegetables from the garden, with her daughter delighting in baking using the fresh ingredients.
They have plans to undertake another house-sitting engagement in France during the upcoming summer vacation.
Total costs: approximately $300 (excluding the annual membership fee for Trusted Housesitters, which is $240).
The Outcome of Her Four-Month Break
Hennigan concluded her four-month sabbatical having spent just under $6,000, with the majority of her activities being free, such as hiking and sightseeing.
She was able to fully disengage from her work responsibilities, although she allocated an hour each Monday to check her email and any critical messages passed along by her virtual assistant.
Upon returning to her professional life, Hennigan has taken on a part-time role as head of remote operations for a cryptocurrency and cloud computing startup, in addition to her consultancy work.
“My energy has been revitalized, and my focus restored,” she reflected. “The key takeaway is that I can incorporate many of the lessons I learned during my time of rest into my daily routine.”
She further realized that her apprehensions about stepping away were largely unfounded, as her clients displayed understanding and kindness throughout her absence.
“Prioritizing rest and being open about my needs led to an incredible display of support from others,” she remarked. “Once I recognized that support was available, I felt more confident in both my planning and my ability to rest as needed.”
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