Benefits of Taking a Personal Retreat

The benefits of taking a personal retreat are irreplaceable. The purpose of a taking a personal retreat is to have some time to self-reflect, spend some time in solitude, and replenish. A personal retreat is also different than a vacation. The below definition that I found here clearly defines what a true personal retreat is:

“A personal retreat is a specific set of time where an individual retreats from their routine life and activities and dedicates efforts around restoring the mind, body and spirit to balance, well-being and a state of homeostasis, thus rejuvenating the soul.”¹

Jennings Kale, J. www.acadamia.edu

I took my first solo personal retreat this year, which I knew I needed desperately. I was overwhelmed and exhausted, and basically, just needed some much-needed alone time away to be in solitude. After some dancing around the idea, I finally made the decision to make the plan and go. So, I carved out some time, requested a few days off work, and assessed my budget. Because of COVID-19, I knew I should also stay local. I also did not have a whole lot of time to take a lengthy getaway.

My personal retreat was sort of an impromptu getaway because my other vacation plans were not going to happen because of the pandemic. So, I was able to utilize some of my vacation time and once hotels started opening back up, I planned a four-day weekend.

I chose a solo peaceful getaway at a quiet inn, in a small coastal town in California. I wanted a quiet place that was more suitable than a spot where there would be a lot of activity, families, or in the city. It was about a 3-hour drive from where I live, easy to get to, and did not take much traveling time.

Budget wise, I chose a place that normally was out of my budget range, however, I still knew I would be able to handle it. I also chose a hotel/inn with amenities such as a free breakfast, coffee, etc. and I chose a room that had an ocean view. I saw no point in taking a personal retreat just to be stuck in a room that faced out at another person’s room, or faced the pool. So, I was willing to pay a bit extra for a view and serenity.

I decided to theme my retreat as a personal development and self-care weekend. I didn’t utilize an expensive fancy retreat package, instead I just booked a hotel room to focus on myself. Initially, I was looking at inexpensive places, but I felt that if I was going to take this time, then I needed to do it all out, which is why I booked a nice cozy inn right on the coast with an ocean view room. It was the best choice I could’ve made.

Some ideas for a solo self-care weekend are: sleep as much as you want, journal, go on long walks and explore, watch the sunset and wildlife, eat how you want (I opted for mostly healthy and nutritious foods), and have a spa day.

If you are aching to take a solo getaway, a personal retreat, read on for some benefits of taking a personal retreat and some tips on how to make it work.

BENEFITS OF TAKING A PERSONAL RETREAT

Replenishment

Taking care of yourself first gives you that much needed rest to replenish and indulge in self-care. It is particularly helpful if you feel yourself overworked and exhausted. Replenish means to fill something up again, so if you are feeling drained and exhausted, taking this time can help fill up your mental and physical energies, and your sense of self.

Creativity

Taking a mental break from the demands of life can help open your mind and let creative thoughts flow in, sparking creativity, passion, and imagination.

Productivity

You will notice a boost of productivity when you get back to your life and work because you will have a new sense of clarity, and will have filled your pot by taking care of yourself first.

Decision-Making

Taking some time away from everything helps clear your mind which can help bring in new thoughts and clarity. It may make making a difficult decision a bit easier.

HOW TO PLAN FOR A PERSONAL RETREAT

1. Figure out how much time you can take off work and when you can take the time off.

2. Check with your family and other pre-engagements that are already on your calendar to find the best time to go.

3. Figure out your budget. How much can you spend or are you willing to spend on this getaway?

4. After you determine when you can go, the length of time you have available, and how much you can spend, then you can decide how long your personal retreat will be. Maybe it will be over the weekend, maybe a four-day weekend, or perhaps you can take a whole week or two weeks. The point is, that if you need it then take the time, no matter how long it is.

5. Request the time off from work. If you are self-employed, schedule the time off in your calendar. Let your family and all relevant people know when you are taking the time off.

6. Start planning your destination and what you will do. What does your heart desire? What would best suit your current needs and interests? Will you stay local? Will you go on a plane somewhere? Is it along the coast? The mountains?

7. Research and book your accommodations, flights, spa treatments, etc.

8. Remember that this is your time and your personal retreat. Do what you want to do and go where you want to go. If you can, splurge a bit more than you are used to.

Remember, taking a personal retreat can do wonders to ones wellbeing. But, it also needs to become a priority if it is something you crave and know you can benefit from.

So, what was the result of my personal retreat? After my retreat, I felt less stressed, and the feeling lasted longer than I expected. I had a more uplifting and optimistic mindset. I felt creative, I felt powerful, and most importantly I felt more like myself again. Giving my mind some space also allowed my creativity to flow.

Additionally, having some time off from work to focus solely on myself with no demands, plans, or anything pressing on my time, was so beneficial that I wonder why I waited so long to do it. I was also so much more productive and proactive when I got back to work the following week. I did not come back even more exhausted because it was a “personal retreat” not a vacation. Vacations are valuable and beneficial and necessary as well, but sometimes vacations leave you coming back more exhausted that you need time off to replenish from your vacation. Being able to do both annually: a vacation and a personal retreat for optimal wellbeing is ideal.

Other Types of Retreats

There also other types of retreats that a person could take. Many of them are in a group, with an instructor or guide, and have a specific agenda and schedules. Some include: yoga retreats, spiritual retreats, spa retreats, fitness retreats, detox retreats, adventure retreats, business retreats, etc. When I was researching I did look into these types of retreats as well. Although I knew that I really just needed time to myself and to be in my own mental and physical space. I did not want to follow anybody else’s schedule or agenda. Also, group or specific types of retreats tend to be more expensive, and, in the time of the pandemic, these types of retreats weren’t happening anyway. So, it was an easy decision for me to make.

This blog post focuses on taking a personal retreat and the benefits of taking a personal retreat. However, if another type of retreat is something more what you are craving or seeking, then the reason why it is important to take time off to replenish and indulge in self-care goes for these types of retreats as well. The purpose of taking any sort of retreat is to rejuvenate your soul, replenish, and focus some time on you. This article shows some different types of retreats that are available.

Common Concerns

What if I do not have time to do this?

Taking time off can be challenging sometimes. My suggestion if you have limited vacation time or personal time off, or other things scheduled such as family vacations, is to also allot your personal retreat time while planning your year. Making it a mini retreat (such as over a weekend) is helpful as well if that is all the time you have. It will help give you a mini recharge. Later, you can then take some time and plan a larger retreat well in advance.

What if I cannot afford it?

If financial worries are a concern, a couple things could help:

• Plan ahead of time (like a year before if needed) and set aside a specific savings toward it. Setting aside savings is important anyway to be able to have emergency cash funds, even if you do not have a whole lot of extra money after regular expenses such as rent and bills. As the saying goes, “pay yourself first.” Setting aside savings each pay period (even $10 or $20 is beneficial if that is all you can do at the time), can help get you in the habit of saving.

• Another way to overcome financial barriers to taking time for you, is to start small. Maybe your first retreat will be an overnight retreat. Or maybe a two-day weekend getaway. Stay local. Look for less expensive accommodations (but make sure they will be comfortable). If you really are struggling with taking the time or with spending the money, I understand, it took me decades before I had the courage to spend money and to take the time to take a retreat solely for me. It was also only for four days. Those four days though were well worth it!

• If needed, and to get in the habit, start even smaller – how about a day to yourself at home? Or a solo day trip to the beach, park, a hike, a coffee shop, etc.? Maybe, let your family know that you are taking a personal care day and perhaps they can leave for the day and you can have your home to yourself for a day.

I hope this blog post helps you decide to take your personal retreat. If you desire to do it but have been putting it on hold, don’t hold off any longer. The benefits of taking a personal retreat are irreplaceable. Do it for your mental health and wellbeing. Do it purposefully. Be assertive in taking care of yourself and making yourself a priority. And if you can, take one every year.

If you want to delve deeper into your self-reflection, check out my self-reflection series here.

Sage

1. Jennings Kale, J. Personal retreats a guide for taking a personal retreat for rejuvenation and awakening the soul. Retrieved from: https://www.acadamia.edu/19972680/Personal_Retreats_A_Guide_for_Taking_a_Personal_Retreat_for_Rejuvenation_and_Awakening_the_Soul.