She spent four months in France and Spain on a $6,000 budget

In 2023, Rowena Hennigan came to a difficult but necessary conclusion — she needed an extended break from work.

Hennigan was dealing with disrupted sleep, anxiety, brain fog — all normal symptoms of menopause – but it was wreaking havoc on her work and her mental health.

She said she tried exercise, a new diet, hormone supplements, therapy and occasional days of respite, but several nights of broken sleep would trigger stress — and made her feel like she was running on a hamster wheel.

But as a self-employed remote work consultant, taking time is easier said than done.

"Being afraid that what I had built from nothing over six years — my business, my clients, my audience, my life of work-from-anywhere freedom — would be at risk made me hesitate. If I stopped, would I lose it all?" said Hennigan.

"Then I realized … how could I be a whole, fruitful and well person without my health? I accepted the reality that I would only recover from proper rest."

Hennigan's four-month break from her business, RoRemote, started in December 2023. Though her husband continued working, she set a strict budget for her time away as she was without her own income, she said.

Originally from Dublin, Hennigan and her family — who are now based in Zaragoza, Spain — spent the year-end holidays in Gran Canaria, the largest of Spain's Canary Islands. They stayed with friends, eliminating accommodation costs, and kept to a budget of 20 euros (around $21.50) per person per day for food and drinks.

The trip was 15 days long.

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

Back in Zaragoza, Hennigan budgeted in her portion of her family's fixed costs for rent, bills and food.

This totaled about $860 per month, or $3,440 for the four months of her