How to Go on a Solo Retreat (Without Spending a Ton of Time or Money)
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
A solo retreat can give you the time and space to think about who you are and what you enjoy doing, away from the noise and obligations of everyday life. Read on for my top 3 tips for making the most out of your time away.
How my solo retreats became an annual tradition
My first solo retreat
My first solo retreat was 7 years ago, at a place called Creative Explorations in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
The owner, Jenny Horner, offers both facilitated and self-guided retreats. I chose the facilitated retreat package, because there was still plenty of time for me to be independent and alone in addition to enjoying the facilitation piece.
While at this retreat, I was able to have my first full night of sleep in weeks. I had the space to listen to my own thoughts, instead of the noise that tends to surround me in everyday life.
I had an opportunity to think about who I was and what I enjoy doing, without interruption.
When I returned home, I could truly feel that so much weight had disappeared from my shoulders.
It was so amazing that I made this an annual tradition for myself.
You can do whatever you want for your solo retreat.
There’s no one best version of a solo retreat. Over the past 7 years since that first retreat, my trips have taken various forms.
One year, I spent a week in a city that I was thinking of moving to. I took daily dance classes with a company I was thinking of auditioning for. I ate at great restaurants that were recommended by others, since the city had been awarded national accolades for their food. I introduced myself to other groups that I thought I might be interested in joining if we moved there, and I looked at a few apartments.
Another year, I rented a car and drove to the Oregon coast to spend some (rainy) days on the beach.
Last year, I flew to the other side of the country to attend a conference focused solely on jazz dance and its history/origins, one of my loves.
This year, I actually almost forgot to take my annual trip.
It wouldn’t have been the first time. I must confess — even though my intention was to do a solo retreat every single year, there have been years that I’ve missed.
It’s interesting how all of the other things we enjoy doing — or feel obligated to do — end up easily taking over our lives sometimes. It was right around my birthday this year when I realized this was about to happen again. Thankfully, I jumped right in and booked it for the following week.
I chose a retreat center that was focused on wellness. It was a device-free retreat, meaning you could use devices in your rooms but not on the property. It also provided all meals with each stay, and included organic, local, plant-based options for 80% of each meal’s menu options. There was a spa on site, as well as activities that ranged from wellness lectures to art activities to outdoor adventures to fitness classes.
Once again: IT. WAS. AMAZING.
We all need a break from life sometimes.
I highly recommend going on a solo retreat. It doesn’t have to be for a long time or something expensive, you can even do it at home.
Here are my top 3 tips for getting the most out of your solo retreat.
1. Find a place you can go to be alone, even if it’s only for a day.
Overnight is best, in my opinion, but do what you can.
Pro tip: If there’s an inexpensive bed and breakfast or hotel nearby, go online for a last-minute deal and reserve it for a discounted price. Airbnb.com is a great resource for finding such a place.
Or, if you ask around, perhaps a neighbor, friend, or family member is traveling for business or pleasure, and would be happy to have you stay at their place for free in return for checking on things, watering plants, or feeding pets.
2. Upon your arrival, promptly do nothing.
This is probably the hardest part for some people.
Put your devices away. Or better yet, leave your laptop and tablet at home.
Here’s what you could do instead of looking at your phone:
Listen to relaxing music
Read a book or a magazine
Write in your journal.
I often choose to turn my cell phone off for the duration of my stay. Based on my previous trips, I’m confident that everything back home will survive and nothing will fall apart while I’m incommunicado for 48 hours.
3. When you’re taking a break from doing nothing, choose an activity that you really enjoy doing and never make time to do.
For me, it was the little things:
A bath while listening to relaxing music
Meditating
Reading
Drinking tea
Walking around the neighborhood
Writing
These are the things I chose, but you should choose ones that YOU really enjoy. I know that we all have our lists of things that we love and that rejuvenate us, but that we always put off because something, or someone, else gets that spot. Work. Friends. Family. Kids. We always seem to find the time for those.
Take this time to do something for YOU.
Schedule your next retreat TODAY.
Every time I go on a solo retreat, I return with something new. This year, beyond the relaxation, rest, and time to focus, I noticed a new abundance of creativity.
When my brain and body got a chance to rest and be taken care of — with a full night of sleep, meals placed in front of me that I did not have to make, and uninterrupted time to myself — it was amazing, the ideas that came to me.
This included ideas about my business, my personal relationships, my daily schedule, my home, and more. Giving myself the space to really be and breathe did wonders for my ability to creatively problem solve and come to profound realizations about things I hadn’t even realized I’d been thinking about.
So open up your calendar and choose a couple of days to block out for YOUR retreat. Then drop a comment below to let me know where you’re thinking of going!