42-year-old has 'mini-retired' 12 times and counting: Taking a break from work is 'so rich and so rewarding'
Some people aspire to retire once in their lives. At age 42, Jillian Johnsrud says she's "mini-retired" 12 times and counting.
Johnsrud, an author and life coach based in Kalispell, Montana, defines a "mini-retirement" as a break of one month or longer where you step away from your daily responsibilities to focus on an activity you normally wouldn't have time for.
Her "mini-retirements" so far include road-trips, traveling abroad, remodeling her house, planting a garden and attending an outpatient intensive mental health therapy program. In November, she took a month off from her job advising clients and attending speaking engagements to learn how to tango, spending around $1,000 on lessons and attending a tango festival, she says.
"If you do this as a lifestyle, it's so rich and so rewarding," Johnsrud says. Unlike vacations, which can be too short or action-packed for proper relaxation, a "mini-retirement" helps you mentally and emotionally "disconnect and relax more deeply," she adds.
Johnsrud can mini-retire frequently because she's self employed. For most people with a 9-5 job, mini-retirements can occur in three ways, she says: request an extended vacation from your current employer, take some extra time before starting a new job or give yourself a mental break if you ever find yourself unexpectedly unemployed.
They don't need to be expensive or planned in detail, says Johnsrud — you just need some semblance of an idea or focus. To prepare, she recommends having a metaphorical go-bag: Stockpile a few ideas for a four-to-six week mini-retirement and enough money to afford the time away from work.There's nothing inherently wrong with dipping into your savings to spend on something fun, as long as it doesn't take away from emergency funds or derail any long-term financial goals like retirement and financial stability, says Jose Diego Gonzalez, a partner and certified financial planner at Miami-based investment advisory firm CameronDowning.
If you do give yourself a sabbatical, spend 10% to 15% of your non-retirement savings at most, and always keep three to six months' worth of expenses in your emergency fund, Gonzalez recommends. And if you're unemployed while doing so, set aside additional money to pay for health insurance and create a plan to re-enter the workforce when you return, he adds.
"I think about my 80-year-old self, like, 'What does she want to have in her life?'" says Johnsrud. "I can make those capital investments now that will pay dividends to her, whether that's going back to Germany to learn German, or taking a [tango] class so she can then dance tango when she's 80."
Johnsrud says she got the idea for a mini retirement when she was 19 from reading the Old Testament, "like all the cool kids do," she says with a chuckle. The Old Testament describes a time of rest every seven years, known as a sabbatical year.
At the time, Johnsrud and her husband Adam — who was two years ahead of her at Northwest Nazarene University — were $55,000 in combined debt from credit cards, student loans and medical expenses, she says. They didn't think they'd be able to retire early, so she says the idea of taking extended breaks earlier in life — after paying down their debt — seemed like an attractive alternative to them.
By the time Johnsrud was 24, she and her husband were debt-free and had saved their first $100,000. That year, struggling with grief after having a miscarriage, Johnsrud decided she needed to take a trip to clear her head, she says.
She hit the road with her best friend, embarking on a month-long cross country road trip from Washington D.C. to Seattle and back in her green Honda Civic. The trip, which she paid for in full, cost her about $2,500, she says.
"It was just an incredible experience," says Johnsrud. "We slept on people's couches. We camped. We almost got [trampled] by bison."
Now, her goal is to mini-retire at least once per year, she says. She advises people on how to do the same on her "Retire Often Podcast" and in her book, which has the same name and is slated to publish in Fall 2025.
Her only regret, she says: not taking enough mini-retirements earlier in her career.
"I was a little cautious at the beginning, because it's a little bit of a leap of faith before you have the evidence of, 'Oh, this is amazing.'" Johnsrud says. "It always works out, and I'm always so happy I did it."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Refinery29
2 hours ago
- Refinery29
6 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Hair Colour, Straight From The Pros
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Hair colour trends are famously lighthearted. We ask for 'sun-kissed' highlights or a 'cool' blonde base. But in this economy, colourists are sensing a vibe shift. The trend about to hit your group chat? Recession hair. 'I've started to hear from more and more people wanting to stretch the length between appointments and lean into low-maintenance looks,' explains Natalie Rotger, a colourist at Jenna Perry Hair Studio in New York. Not only does this approach create a more natural, effortless style, but it helps colour clients save money by reducing the frequency of salon visits. For context, even partial balayage can cost upwards of $230 AUD in New York City (a half-head of foils could easily be twice that), and with costs rising across the board, it makes sense that people are looking to scale back their hair appointments. In Australia, it's not any better. A cut and colour could set you back $400 or more, depending on the salon. For many people, going from blonde to a natural shade of brown is an aesthetic choice rather than a penny-pinching one: 'I know everyone is talking about 'recession hair' now, but I think Hailey Bieber started this [trend] years ago,' says Rotger. 'Once she stopped highlighting and started going darker, so many of my blondes did the same thing — or started to embrace their natural colour a lot more.' Leaning into a more natural hair colour is certainly a more affordable option, but it's not the only way to save money. Ahead, colour experts tell us exactly how to stretch longer between appointments (don't just ghost) and inch closer to your natural shade in a way that feels expensive. Follow their tips ahead — and don't call it recession hair. Talk openly about your hair budget Yes, your supermarket bill is astronomically high, but ghosting your colourist is not a long-term strategy — it's an avoidance tactic. Instead, get ahead of your fears and have a vulnerable conversation about financial planning with your colourist. You can do this at your next appointment. When you're sitting down with your colourist and they ask, 'What are you thinking?' give an honest answer. Maybe you say, 'I'd love to be a bit blonder this summer, but I'm concerned about the upkeep cost. My budget will only allow for two colour appointments this year — can we work together to develop a plan?' Your colourist wants to help. 'When a colourist knows your goals and your budget, they can suggest [a colour plan] that will make you feel great,' explains NYC-based colourist Julie Fortiz. 'Custom colour is very thoughtful and can be budget-friendly if done right,' she adds. Plus, they're living in this economy too, so they get it. Make a 'big events' calendar It sounds simple, but plan your hair colour around your life, not the other way around: 'Make a game plan,' suggests Rotger. 'Think about specific events in your life — like a wedding, birthday, or vacation. Work backwards from there.' Put on a playlist, get out your calendar, and plan your colour appointments around the most important dates. You'll probably see a few months-long blocks that are safe skips. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Natalie Rotger (@natalierotger) Figure out how to be low-maintenance If you're blonde and want to transition to a low-maintenance brunette, there's a pretty simple playbook: Let your natural colour grow in as much as possible, then go in for a tint-back service. The tint-back is a series of glosses that match your previously-highlighted hair to your root colour so there's no demarcation. 'After that, there's little to no maintenance,' explains Rotger. 'After a few months, maybe you can add a little face-framing highlight,' she adds, but once you've successfully transitioned your hair, you're in full control of your colour budget. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Natalie Rotger (@natalierotger) Trade brightness for shine While a hair gloss won't brighten your hair (only bleach can do that), it will add incredible shine, which can have a highlight-like effect: 'Glossing treatments go a long way,' says Fortiz. 'They can make highlights or dyed hair a little sparklier and stretch out your visits to the salon.' Some even have hair benefits beyond depositing colour to cover greys or root growth, and adding shine. For example, Redken Shades EQ Gloss is infused with strengthening wheat amino acids and bonder technology to repair hair damaged by bleach, heat, or environmental aggressors. Most salons carry Redken Shades EQ, so it might be worth asking your colourist if they would consider it for your next appointment. A hair gloss costs, on average, $150-225 in Australia, while a full colour service might be three or four times that. There are also at-home options. 'A tinted conditioner is nice because it works like a baby gloss at home,' explains Fortiz. She likes the Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask, $67, for their shade ranges. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Natalie Rotger (@natalierotger) Air-dry whenever you can 'A lot of people think colouring is what makes your hair dry — and it can — but it's really the constant at-home heat styling that fries your hair,' explains Rotger. If you want to stretch a little longer between colour appointments and avoid crunchy ends, you'd be wise to reduce your heat styling and opt for air-drying where you can this summer. If you don't want to give up heat styling or even cut back, make sure you're taking precautions to protect your hair. First, always use a heat-protecting spray. Unite Hair's 7SECONDS Detangler, $44.10, is a failsafe option, offering frizz control and heat protection. Second, use your blowdryer on low heat, and diffuse on low heat if you have curls. Lastly, consider air-drying to 90%, then hitting the hair with low heat to dry any damp strands and add polish. Use the non-fancy (but colour-safe) shampoo Colourists agree you don't need expensive or extraneous hair products — not in this economy. Beyond a simple conditioner and heat protectant, consider a colour-safe shampoo. This is important because it will be made with gentle cleansing ingredients free of harsh sulfates that could strip colour quickly. 'If there's one thing you're going to invest in, it's a colour-safe shampoo,' echoes Rotger. Our favourites include the Color Wow Security Shampoo, $50, Amika Bust Your Brass Shampoo, $49, and the L'Oréal EverPure Hydrating Shampoo, $33. You can safely skip the clarifying or detox treatments, especially post-colour. Often with hair products, the adage holds: Less is more.
Vogue
12 hours ago
- Vogue
The Exact Beauty Products Dua Lipa Uses to Get Her Glow
While there are many celebrities whose make-up or haircare routine we'd like to emulate, there's only a handful of A-list women whose glowing, glassy skin regime we can truly covet. British Vogue's July cover star, Dua Lipa, is but one example. Not just the owner of some of the best eyebrows of the moment, the 'Levitating' singer has the kind of clear, luminous skin that most of us can only dream of. The Vogue editors have long obsessed over the wellness practices she swears by – specifically, her morning routine, which includes her must-try daily supplements – and we continued our due diligence to discover her other go-tos. It comes as no surprise that it features an extensive list of high-performance formulas, but we're also happy to reveal that, just like us, Dua relies on some tried-and-tested favourites like Caudalie's Beauty Elixir to keep her skin in tip-top condition. With a complexion like hers, it's little wonder the singer's skincare line-up includes products from pioneering German skincare brand, Augustinus Bader. Alongside The Rich Cream and The Rich Eye Cream, both of which are infused with the brand's signature TFC8 complex to support skin renewal, Lipa is also loyal to Bader's Eye Patches. Perfect for on-the-go brightening and tightening, the gel patches are generously sized and instantly cooling, making them perfect for stuffy (private) plane air. Now, for the lesser-known heroes. To remove make-up and rid her peerless skin of any pollution, Lipa is apparently a fan of Pai's Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil. The 90 per cent organic formula is lightweight in feel but robust at what it does, effectively removing make-up and SPF while leaving the skin soft and supple. And like every good beauty obsessive, wearing sunscreen is non-negotiable for Dua. Her product of choice? EltaMD's UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 which, as well as containing broad spectrum UV filters, is also enriched with high-dose niacinamide to reduce discolouration and tackle blemishes. Sarah Chapman 3D Moisture Infusion Mask $80 DERMSTORE Pai Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil $49 AMAZON The aforementioned Caudalie mist is essential for keeping her complexion hydrated and soothed throughout the day, and Lipa's night cream of choice is none other than Medik8's excellent Advanced Restore Night Cream. Powered with a potent antioxidant complex to repair oxidative stress, and a multi-ceramide complex to restore and strengthen the skin barrier, it's just the kind of thing to cosset and comfort skin that's been under heavy layers of make-up. If your skin is really feeling the dehydrating effects of sun exposure or simply the daily grind, make like Dua and pop on a Sarah Chapman Skinesis 3D Moisture Infusion Mask before your night cream. Each mask is heavily saturated in low-molecular hyaluronic acid, rose water and the brand's exclusive Pentavin hydration complex. And finally, to keep her famous lips as pillowy-soft as possible, she keeps handy a collection of conditioning concoctions that deliver on both hydration and glossy, gorgeous shine. Up first: the jelly-textured Kissu Lip Mask from Tatcha, a formula beloved by beauty editors for its smoothing soothing abilities. If your budget won't stretch, you'll be pleased to hear that Lipa is also a fan of Glossier's legendary Balm Dotcom, which marries scent and shine with a more affordable price tag. The last piece of the lip puzzle is, of course, YSL Beauty's Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick – a lipstick that, unsurprisingly, brand ambassador Lipa is loyal to. Its formula strikes just the right balance between the hydration of a balm and the glam of a gloss. In other words, perfect for a cover-ready pout. Augustinus Bader The Eye Patches $23 NORDSTROM Augustinus Bader The Rich Eye Cream $205 NORDSTROM
Elle
16 hours ago
- Elle
This Secret Label Will Win You Best-Dressed at Your Next Wedding
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. There's always that one wedding guest who manages to steal the sartorial spotlight—without upstaging the bride, of course. Lately, well, according to my Instagram feed, that guest is almost always wearing Deme by Gabriella. The Mumbai-based label has quietly become the go-to for wedding attendees who want to look effortlessly elegant, not overdressed. Revolve's chief merchandising officer and fashion director, Divya Mathur, first introduced me to the label a couple of months ago. Since then, I've been seeing the chicest women pop up on my TikTok For You Page in the label's pieces. And I totally get the hype. With its fluid silhouettes, rich satins, and figure-skimming tailoring, Deme has mastered the art of occasionwear in a way that feels both current and timeless. Whether it's a backless slip dress in a molten hue or a sculptural halter gown that moves like water, the brand is leading the pack. Plus, we live in a time when photos are of the utmost importance, and each one of the label's looks photographs like fancy couture—without the haute price tag. The proof is all over social media. From candlelit destination ceremonies in Spain to countryside nuptials in the States, Deme-clad guests are scoring tens around the world—no notes. As summer wedding season hits its peak, this is the perfect moment to go all out. Not only am I talking to you lucky guests who've scored an invite, but modern brides should take note too. Deme has some all-white options worth bookmarking as well. Peruse some of the prettiest offerings below.
