How to Plan a Personal Retreat
You’ve decided to do an offsite, quarterly review, or personal retreat. What do you do next?
So, you think it’s a good idea, and are even pretty sure it would help you, but, if you’re like many people I’ve talked with, you’re like, “Kimberly - what would I do for two full days?” I’ll get stuck!” “I can’t hang out with myself for that long!”
Whoa - let’s not over complicate! (Ummmmm guilty of over-complication on multiple occasions per month - just not on this.)
As I said in the first post, on my very first retreat, I was by myself and I took six books, a notebook and some pens. Since then, I find productivity increases with a bit more structure, but I think it’s so important to take the structure with a dose of flexibility and grace.
So, here is a guideline - meaning guide- not an absolute - to planning a personal retreat. Let’s assume it’s the recommended time, which is two nights. This is assuming you arrive late in the day on, let’s say, a Friday, and return hopefully after breakfast or mid-morning on Sunday. But, it could also be a Monday/Wednesday - this is an investment in your business.
A couple of days before I head out, I give myself an hour or two to loosely structure what the time will look like. By the way, I have a workbook coming out that beautifully explains everything about how to create a retreat. Click here to sign up for a notice when it is ready to download.
1 | PUT YOUR DATES ON THE CALENDAR AND BOOK A PLACE TO STAY.
Once you book it, you are more committed. I like to find a place that is no longer than two hours away by car (or train). Airports are just too much to deal with and unnecessary stress. I think it is so important to find a place that is quiet, calming, and with some sort of nature - trees, mountains, a lake, hiking trails, etc. Even if you aren’t hiking and are going to sit on a porch, consider your views. Nature does amazing things for the mind. Boutique hotels, B&Bs, Airbnbs, all work well.
2 | INTENTION
It’s important to have an overall plan. What do you need to accomplish the most? Goal setting for the next quarter? Figure out what business you are FINALLY going to start? Try and get to the cause of your recent lack of creativity? Find you focus and determine what needs to happen next? If your intention is to just get some much needed and deserved rest, then this probably isn’t a retreat, but a vacation. So, state that big thing that will help guide you and then make sure you write down why.
3 | PLAN & PACK
Think about supplies you might need like notebooks, pencils, reading materials, etc. Check the weather and take what you need to be comfortable. Planning to go out to dinner one night? What about wearing that dress in the back of your closet you would never wear at home? Do YOU.
4 | SCHEDULE
You do need some structure and if not a real schedule, at least some blocks of time. Decide if you are going to journal each morning, or read. If you are going to move each day (you should, even if it’s just stretching). Being still and quiet will be one of the most useful things you will do. Are you going to brainstorm with yourself on a topic? Read certain articles or books and then gather and write down your thoughts?
This past September, I said I need to get unstuck in my biz, make some decisions and move forward - fast. Also, address some fears and worries that are causing way too much mental clutter - getting it out and doing something with it. So, my intention was to get all of those swirling thoughts out of my brain and put somewhere so I could do something with them. Knowing that helped me structure my schedule.
“Create structure, but with a dose of flexibility and grace.”
5 | BE KIND TO YOURSELF
Rest when you need to rest. Have a glass of wine if you feel like it. Remember your intention, but also remember that you are putting yourself in a different environment on purpose - because it helps you hear yourself better. Enjoy being with you. On my own retreats I’ve gone and gotten a makeover and I’ve bought tickets to a high school production of Our Town. Here’s the trick to this: create some structure before you go and then be open to whatever the world send your way (even if that’s a nap).
6 | FOLLOW-UP
It’s the worst to do a retreat and then come home, get caught back up in life and never do anything with all of those fabulous ideas you had. It’s sort of like being on top of the world when you attend a conference and then getting home and putting the conference materials on a shelf until you “have time.” I recommend scheduling two hours within your first two days back at home to review what you do. And then, one hour each week (at a minimum) to look at it again and refocus.
And, I love this quote by the brilliant Elissa Altman
Quiet the noise around you; soften its pitch. Our deepest stories are our best teachers. Let the weapons of the weak — the poison, the nagging, the gossip — burn themselves to ash. Cast them to the wind. Take back the permission to succeed. Make it yours.
You can do this and I promise it will make a difference. Over the next week or so, I will be adding a few more posts to this series. When they are clickable, they are live.
The Power of a Personal Retreat
How to Choose Where to Stay During a Personal Retreat
My Own Successes and Failures During Retreats
