Take A Personal Retreat To Recharge And Plan For The Future
'The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be,' said Ralph Waldo Emerson
But making healthy choices requires self-awareness.
Have you ever considered a vacation for your mind and body from a planning and preparation standpoint? We all take vacations, even if only occasionally, to get away, but that is about (or should be) pure relaxation or to take on an adventure. A personal retreat is truly an individualized event that is meant to be just for you. A time when you can, yes, get away from everything, but for planning and discovery purposes versus fun and excitement. That doesn’t mean a personal retreat cannot be fun or exciting.
So what is a personal retreat?
Personal retreats are typically a two-day getaway for the mind, body, and soul. Ok, maybe that sounds a little too hippie. But it is about getting away for about two days for personal exploration, planning, soul-searching, goal-setting, and organizing your thoughts. It is about removing the day-to-day bustle and just connecting with your inner voice to flesh out what is most important to you and how you would like to prioritize your life.
Full disclosure, I have read a lot about personal retreats, I have done elements of them, but I have yet to fully engage in everything I am about to explain below. This article is very much for myself as much as it is me sharing this idea and concept with others. In fact, my big takeaway from this is to schedule, to literally put on the calendar, my first full personal retreat. So, I hope you’ll join me on this journey because I see all the benefits and look forward to experiencing everything they have to offer.
At the end of this article, I have provided a few resources I have referenced or used in the past for understanding what a personal retreat is and can be for anyone. But honestly, just google ‘personal retreats’ and begin to explore for yourself.
Set the intention
Being intentional with your retreat time is the key to the ultimate success. At the end, you have to ask yourself, did you get out of this what you wanted, or hoped for? And, for the first couple of times, you will likely need to be okay with ‘no’ for an answer. I think this one that takes time and practice. From the articles I have read, or people I have heard discuss the concept on podcasts, most acknowledge that it may take multiple tries to get the routine right for their time.
To help with remaining intentional about your time during your retreat, build a loose time block of how you’ll spend the time. This can help you plan for what you want to complete. At the same time, I say ‘loose’ because you would rather not restrict yourself too much on allowing productive work to continue to flow. If you are really into planning your goals (as an example), you don’t want to stop just because a timer said so. Play it all the way through. This is your time and your retreat. The time blocks just serve as a guide to help lead you through what is next when you get to the stopping points.
Choose a location
Get away to some place different, quiet, and distraction free. For some, this can be a hotel. For others, if you have access to a cabin in the woods, or a cottage by the lake, those can be excellent options. AirBnB may be the perfect place to search for ideas. You do not need anything fancy or big, it is just you after all. Perhaps you’ve wanted to try a tiny house adventure, and this could be your chance. I have heard others mention talking to friends about using a place they have. There are also websites where you can rent small cabins specifically for these types of retreats. Getaway is an example of that. You can rent a small cabin, have access to basic necessities (i.e., small kitchen, bathroom, shower) as well as a camp fire and all the fresh air you can imagine. These are located not far from major metro areas, so it should be easy for most people to get to one. They even offer lockboxes to put your phone in for those who really want to disconnect. Expect cell and internet access to be very limited. (Which may be a good thing.)
Take only what you need
This is not a vacation. Keep your packing list light and only to the true necessities. Depending on where you’re going, that may include a stop at the grocery store for the food and snacks you’ll need to energize your retreat work. Knowing that cell and internet access will be severely limited, what you need may also include any research information you compile ahead of time. Depending on how you capture notes, you may need your laptop, tablet, phone, or just a pen and paper. The simpler, the better. Pack light. Keep it comfy. Enjoy the quiet and simplicity. You and your thoughts are the two most important items on the list.
Eliminate other distractions
Those lock boxes mentioned above are there to help take away our biggest distraction. Think about what else you can eliminate by not bringing it. The challenge can be that most of our productivity devices connect us to other things. Plan for how you will work through that. Something as simple as going into airplane mode on every device may be all it takes. In other cases, you may remove all the apps on your phone or tablet. For those with Apple devices, using something like Focus Mode where you can select which applications can be used or who can contact you (via notification) could be another way to go.
Make time for yourself
Okay, you’ve accomplished a lot in the nearly two days of reflection, capturing, and planning. Leave a little time for rewarding yourself for your hard work. That last night, allow yourself to have a nice dinner, or just some pure relaxing and free time. Maybe there is a movie you’ve been wanting to watch, it could be something silly, but with your mind clear, and the prospects of the future bright, allow yourself to fully immerse in the movie and just enjoy it. Bring along some popcorn to wherever you’re retreating and make that with a favorite beverage and indulge in the peace and quiet of your retreat space and the movie of your choice. Just enjoy it.
I think the personal retreat can be a powerful option for planning, self-reflection, and even mental healing. I am committing to taking my first personal retreat by this fall to begin what, I hope, will become something I do several times each year going forward. It is a matter of committing, planning, and following through. Get it on your calendar and make it something you will look forward to.
When are you scheduling your personal retreat for?
Personal Retreat Resources
How I Take Personal Retreats — Ian Byrd
Personal Retreat Course — Mike Schmitz
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