On a $6,800 budget, she spent four months in France and Spain while feeling exhausted at work.

In 2023, Rowena Hennigan reached a challenging yet necessary decision - she required a prolonged hiatus from her work.

Hennigan was grappling with sleep disturbances, anxiety, and brain fog, which were typical menopause symptoms, but they were negatively affecting her job and psychological well-being.

Despite attempting exercise, a new diet, hormone supplements, therapy, and occasional days of respite, several nights of broken sleep would cause stress, making her feel like she was constantly spinning her wheels.

As a self-employed remote work consultant, it's challenging to take time off.

Hennigan hesitated because the thought of losing everything he had built over six years, including his business, clients, audience, and work-from-anywhere freedom, made him afraid.

"I realized that my health is essential for me to be a whole, fruitful, and well person. Therefore, I accepted that I need proper rest to recover."

A trip to the Canary Islands

Hennigan took a four-month break from her business, RoRemote, starting in December 2023. Despite her husband continuing to work, she set a strict budget for her time away as she had no income of her own.

Hennigan and her family, originally from Dublin and now residing in Zaragoza, Spain, spent their year-end holidays in Gran Canaria, the largest of Spain's Canary Islands. They stayed with friends, thereby eliminating accommodation costs, and adhered to a daily budget of 20 euros (around $21.50) per person for food and drinks.

The trip was 15 days long.

Total cost for Hennigan's portion: $731, including flights

Fixed costs at home

In Zaragoza, Hennigan allocated her family's fixed expenses for rent, bills, and food.

Her sabbatical cost approximately $860 per month, or $3,440 in total for the four months.

Hennigan had a plan, she said, even though her travel budget was almost depleted.

Total fixed costs: around $3,440

Hiking in Spain

In early January, Hennigan planned a nearly month-long trip to the Spanish Pyrenees with a daily budget of approximately $54.

She spent $915 on a one-bedroom Airbnb, which amounts to $32 per night. On average, she spent $16 per day on food and drinks by shopping at local supermarkets.

She stated that eating out in Spain is affordable, with a coffee and sandwich in a cafe costing between $11 and $13, and a restaurant's three-course "menu del dia" starting at around $21.50 per person.

She had planned to ski, but there was little snow due to warmer weather, so her main activity, hiking, was free.

Hennigan's family joined her on weekends.

She expressed her gratitude for her family's support, stating that it made a significant difference knowing that a compromise was possible.

Total costs: $1,502

A homestay in France

Hennigan spent a month at home, weekends at a friend's house in Valencia, and skiing in Formigal. In Formigal, she stayed with friends and at a hotel, which was a Christmas present from her husband. She utilized ski credit purchased in 2023. Her biggest expense during this time was about $170 in petrol, she said.

In late March, she embarked on a month-long journey to Villembits, France, where she discovered a four-bedroom farmhouse through Trusted Housesitters. In exchange for caring for the owner's chickens, cats, and gardens, she was able to stay in the property for free.

She came early to the house to learn her responsibilities and how to manage the chores. She stated that it took her five hours a day to complete all the tasks, which she divided into two sessions, giving her ample time to hike and explore the local area during the day.

Initially, Hennigan was alone for several days before her husband and daughter arrived.

"The atmosphere and vibe of this rental accommodation were unlike anything she had experienced before," she remarked. "This place felt like a home, with multiple bedrooms, a garden, outhouses, a library, summer room, a fully-stocked kitchen, an attic, an art room, and two offices. There was so much space to explore and appreciate all of the unique features."

Hennigan spent approximately $11 per day on food, primarily consuming eggs from the property's chickens and vegetables from the garden, according to her. Her daughter utilized the eggs and kitchen ingredients to bake cakes, while they both utilized mint from the herb garden to make tea.

She announced that the family intends to do another house sit in France during their summer holidays this year.

The total cost, excluding the annual membership fee of $240, is approximately $300.

The outcome of her four-month break

During her four-month sabbatical, Hennigan spent approximately $5,900 on various activities, with the majority of her time being spent on free pursuits such as hiking and exploring local attractions.

Though she claimed to set aside an hour every Monday to check her email inbox and instant message channel, where her virtual assistant would share important messages, she managed to break away from work.

She has assumed a part-time role as head of remote operations for a cryptocurrency and cloud computing startup, in addition to her broader consultancy.

"I have regained my energy and focus," she stated. "The most significant lesson I've learned is that I can apply many of the lessons I learned from taking supported rest to my daily work and schedules."

She realized that her fears about breaking away were unfounded, and her clients were understanding and supportive of her decision.

"By openly expressing my need for rest and receiving support from others, I learned about human understanding and kindness," she stated. "With the help I received, I became better at planning and organizing, allowing me to close the laptop and rest as planned."