A young woman has revealed how she quit her £43,000-a-year corporate job to pick grapes in rural Italy after a ‘devastating’ break-up – and is urging others to adopt a simpler life.
Ayla Lannen decided to quit her 9 to 5 marketing job in London earlier this year in a bid to break out of her ‘monotonous’ routine and avoid ‘burn-out’.
The 27-year-old had felt inspired to leave the corporate grind behind following the ‘devastating’ end of her three-year relationship, which led her to reconsider the trajectory of her life.
As a result, Ayla decided to leave her high-earning job as an engagement manager in marketing for a slower pace of life in the neighbourhood of Tortona in Italy, which has a population of just 379 people.
Last month, Ayla flew from London to the Italian countryside to take an unpaid job picking grapes at a winery every day.
Despite receiving no income, Ayla has all her meals and accommodation included, insisting that she’s getting paid more than enough in experience and core memories.
Ayla, who is originally from Sydney, Australia, said: ‘I learned a lot in my old job but I felt like something was lacking and missing from my life.
‘I was spending four hours a day commuting into work. It was getting monotonous and repetitive.
Ayla Lannen (pictured), 27, quit her £43,000 corporate job to pick grapes in rural Italy after a ‘devastating’ break-up – now urging others to adopt a simpler life
Last month, Ayla flew from London for the Italian countryside to take an unpaid job picking grapes at a winery every day
‘It could’ve led to burn out. I just felt a disconnect and fatigue. I just thought, do I really want to keep grinding every day for my paycheck and not really have anything to show for it.’
She works two shifts a day which averages out to about 30 hours a week.
Her first shift starts at 7am and ends at 11am before a two-hour lunch break from 2.30pm till 4.30pm, joking that ‘Italians LOVE a long lunch’.
The second shift of the day is from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, explaining that the shifts are spread out this way ‘to skip the hottest part of the day’.
Ayla will eat with the other grape-pickers at 9.30pm, with a strict ban on TV, phones or eating separately.
‘Dinner time is all about connecting, laughing and sharing stories,’ she said.
Ayla added that she’s learned more in her weeks working at the winery than in the years she spent climbing the corporate ladder.
She said: ‘I really wanted to have that authentic experience of working in a winery.
Ayla has two shifts for grape picking, one that starts early in the morning and the second starting in the evening so that they avoid being in the intense heat. Pictured: Stock image of the Tortona hills, where Ayla has moved to
Ayla moved her life to the rural Italian town that boasts a population of 379 people, where she spends her mornings and evenings working among the vineyards (stock image)
‘I’m just in the fields picking grapes – it’s awesome. The family is teaching us about what the whole process entails.
‘And my love for wine is part of the reason why I chose this too. It’s very quiet here and you have that time to reflect.
‘I feel like I learned more in two weeks at the winery than I did in two years at my old job.
‘Although I’m not getting paid any actual income, I’m getting paid in experience and building these core memories I’ll always hold onto. Money comes and goes. I think it’ll actually make me a better worker if I ever go back into corporate.’
The idea came when Ayla stumbled upon a website advertising grape-picking near the neighbourhood of Tortona, Italy.
A week later, Ayla moved her life to the rural Italian town that boasts a population of 379 people, where she spends her mornings and evenings working among the vineyards.
Now a certified fruit-picker, Ayla is urging others to consider swapping out their own 9 to 5s for a simpler life outdoors.
‘There is no timeline and it’s your life at the end of the day. Never live your life for someone else,’ she explained.
Despite receiving no income, Ayla has all her meals and accommodation included, insisting that she’s getting paid more than enough in experience and core memories. Ayla pictured in the winery
Ayla said she will return to London eventually but will not go back to a corporate job, instead she will work in hospitality to accommodate a travelling lifestyle
‘I definitely recommend it – it’s an amazing experience. It’s everything I’ve ever needed at this time in my life.
‘Even though it’s ‘unconventional’, you can always go back to that corporate lifestyle. It’ll always be there.’
Eventually, Ayla plans to return to live and work in London but vows not to return to a corporate job to maintain her freedom.
She said: ‘I know I’m going to come back to London eventually, I know I want to be based here.
‘I want to be able to relax, travel and have that flexibility so am planning on getting a job in hospitality after. I want the flexibility to travel again.’
And speaking about how the ‘devastating’ end of her relationship inspired her to make a new start, she said: ‘I had time to reevaluate the trajectory of where I wanted to be. All of my friends are in long-term relationships. I’m just doing the complete opposite.
‘People say “aren’t you worried about not finding someone?” but that’s not even on my cards right now.’
