I left my business work to spend a year abroad in the thirties; It helped

In the mid -1930s, I seemed to have everything: I was married to a beautiful apartment in Edinburgh and a renowned and well paid work.

Although my life sounded well on paper, I was miserable.

My corporate work was stressful and incompatible, and I worked for long hours. I was overweight but I did not have an emotional bandwidth to do anything. Life looked like an endless task list.

Meanwhile, I want to live abroad in Barcelona.

My husband and I were there twice on vacation and we found ourselves enchanted from the sun, beaches, architecture and people in the city. However, factors like my work in person and our invoices have aroused these dreams.

When my business restructured and I was offered a voluntary redundancy package, I saw it as an opportunity and I seized it. I did not have any fortune by all means, but it was enough to finance an adult “sabbatical year” if we added my lump sum to my husband.

His work was already completely distant, so we made the jump and moved to Barcelona, ​​where we had planned to stay for a year.

Leaving my work for sunny banks was a huge risk, but it was good.

In Barcelona, ​​I built a life and I found a new perspective

During the first month, I walked in admiration, taking advantage of the views and enjoying the almost constant sun. This time, we were not only tourists.

We found a long -term rental in Barcelona in a practical place and I started looking for a temporary job in the hope of being able to bring money during this period.

As I only knew very basic Spanish, my options were limited. I was delighted to get a part -time position teacher English.

Before, I was used to long days at the office, followed by a stressful journey at home by car. As I got home, I was exhausted and my night felt that it was almost over – and I had to worry about dinner.

In Barcelona, ​​with an apartment located in the center and a part -time work schedule, I could walk around the markets to choose fresh products to cook instead of entering the supermarket for a frozen pizza on the way back to work.

I finally had time to better take care of my body. I joined a gymnasium, where the taking of training courses taught by residents helped improve my Spanish vocabulary (and my size).

As we live much less, I learned to budget well and I became skillful to manage our finances.

My rhythm of life has slowed down, which gave me time to think.

By fleeing my life in Edinburgh, I had left a lot of good behind – my family, friends, an apartment I loved. Really, I just needed to reconsider my relationship with work.

Taking a leave of my career and continuing something completely different for a year has strengthened my confidence. After all, if I could find a job, an apartment and new friends in a new city, then I could do everything!

After an incredible year, I was ready to return to my old life but to live it in a new way.

When I came back, I reset my career

My year in Barcelona was a transformer.

I went back to the business world with confidence and clarity, capable of navigating in my career according to my own conditions. I always work on strategic projects and advise companies – but this time I am a freelance Communications specialist.

As a freelancer, my office is wherever I choose and I decide what and the number of business customers to face. It gave me a much better balance between professional and private life and provided me with space to make independent writings during my free time.

My income seems less stable, but my time abroad taught me that nothing good comes without risk. In addition, the financial lessons that I learned by living on less have served me well with regard to budgeting at home.

I do not regret taking time of my career, and customers are often impressed that I have acquired so many transferable skills (as well as another language).

I would encourage anyone to take a “sabbatical year” to follow a dream if it can. It is wild that many of us work for decades without a significant break.