ReTreat Yourself
Simple ways to find the spirit of retreat, at home, right now…
Get outside
Stop it with your phone already
Social media fast
Enjoy a cup of yummy tea
Move your body!
Go for a walk
Ride a bike or scooter
Go to the beach by yourself and read a trashy novel or magazine
Take a stolen nap. Outside. Bonus points for not telling anyone.
Deep breathing
Meditate
Yoga (Yin is one of my favorite, more therapeutic styles)
Give yourself a massage with oil and a tennis ball or neck massager
Take a luxuriously long bath or shower
Enjoy a favorite meal without hurry or phone
Write in your journal
Dance to your favorite songs
Watch videos of baby animals
Listen to or read your favorite book
Put on your comfiest, soft clothes
Put ocean sounds or meditation music on your earbuds
Use essential oils in a diffuser or spray some good smells around
Garden
Simple Ways to Retreat Yourself
Get outside
Stop it with your phone already
Social media fast
Enjoy a cup of yummy tea
Move your body!
Go for a walk
Ride a bike or scooter
Go to the beach by yourself and read a trashy novel or magazine
Take a stolen nap. Outside. Bonus points for not telling anyone.
Deep breathing
Meditate
Yoga (Yin is one of my favorite, more therapeutic styles)
Give yourself a massage with oil and a tennis ball or neck massager
Take a luxuriously long bath or shower
Enjoy a favorite meal without hurry or phone
Write in your journal
Dance to your favorite songs
Watch videos of baby animals
Listen to or read your favorite book
Put on your comfiest, soft clothes
Put ocean sounds or meditation music on your earbuds
Use essential oils in a diffuser or spray some good smells around
Garden
I am a BIG believer in going on personal retreat at least once a year. I love taking at least a few moments to reflect on my last year of life and reset as I look ahead to a next chapter. My favorite retreat times include movement, mindfulness, good food, fresh air, and rest. Yet, who has time for all that? Or, at least that’s what you tell me when I talk about my retreat times. Some years, some phases, we don’t have much space for it. Sometimes though, we can make the time, we just don’t. So, here is a simple list of little retreat moments that you can take anytime, anywhere. You can do them at work (I won’t tell your boss) or at home (go ahead and lock that bathroom door if you need to). There are so many more little ways you can find self care retreat time. Get creative! As long as it feels light, freeing, restorative, and nourishing deep into your soul, it is right.
Coach talk. I’m not sure every single person needs as much retreat time as I need. I know I absolutely need it and it has helped me get real, shed layers, and emotionally evolve in ways I wouldn’t have done if I kept myself on the go, go, go train of life. My bottom line is always: “You do you”. I think the best gift we can give ourselves is being honest with ourselves surrounding all this. Don’t give yourself another item on your to do list that just isn’t a priority right now. But if you find yourself stuck, tired, crying or yelling disproportionally on a regular basis, body screaming at you, perhaps it’s time to think about ways you can refill your cup. I am a firm believer in scheduling weekly / quarterly / annual self care time.
A good retreat has good food that I don’t cook (lol), rest, nourishment, maybe massage. It has healing spaces for the senses - smells, sights, sounds, touch. It forces you too disconnect a bit from day-to-day responsibilities and distractions.
My favorite retreats from the past: Steven Harper, Shiva Rea, Noah Maze, anywhere in Big Sur, CA or Hawaii :)
I hope you find a moment of retreat, and perhaps feel inspired to plan more for yourself down the road. - Roxy