DIY Wellness Retreat
I love that self care is a routine word and more widely accepted however, I feel that the definition has changed thanks to consumerism. Self care has turned into a focus on external care like face masks and pedicures. I always considered self care as a time to take care of all parts of the self and is something I like to do weekly and on holidays. I wanted to travel and go on a wellness retreat but I was not able to afford it nor schedule it. So I decided to have my own wellness retreat at home and plan on doing one with my family.
In this post I will be listing at home wellness retreat ideas, retreat schedules for different periods of time and tips to have a good solo or group wellness retreat. I think this at home wellness retreat is going to be my mothers day gift to all the mothers in my family.
Plan
A successful wellness retreat is well planned. To do that, find some time in your schedule from a few hours to a few days. If you have children, a partner or others that you are in contact with daily, it would be good to let them know ahead of time and get them scheduled for that time without you. That way, you wont be interrupted or feel guilty about turning off your phone. It is also a great idea to go into your wellness retreat with a primary focus or goal for example to rest and reset or get back in touch with self. If you have a focus, you know what you need to do and what you don’t need to do and makes activity choices and timing easier.
Unplug
It is important to unplug for a bit while on a wellness retreat. Phones have distraction and stress that is the opposite of the point of the retreat. No texting, phone calls, social media, etc. I only allow internet usage when I need to use Youtube for stretches or listen to some podcasts.
Mindful Movement
A great wellness retreat always has movement as an activity. Mindful movement is any exercise where you can scan your body and mind, stay in the present moment and focus on your breathing. These exercises include walking, stretching, casual biking, kayaking, tai chi, body scan meditation etc. It is important to note that this is not meant to be an unpacking of all our thoughts and feelings but to acknowledge them and move on from them gently if they get overwhelming.
Meditation
As I get older, I appreciate meditation more and more. I love how calm it makes me and how I can focus on my breathing and taking that moment to pause everything and everyone else. Unguided meditation is always an option but I enjoy some of these for youtube.
Journaling
Journaling is another one of my favorite things to do to check in with myself. When I journal I like to vent. Sometimes I like to focus on other stuff using journal prompts. You can do whatever you think will be helpful for you and your wellness goals.
Seminars
When people go to wellness retreats, they can attend seminars and workshops to learn about certain goals and topics. For a DIY version, listen to a podcast, TED Talk or virtual seminars that speak to the goals you have for your retreat.
Letter to Self
A lot of people like to write letters to themselves either their future selves or their inner child meaning they write what their childhood self would need to hear.
Creative Activity
I think it can be healing to do a no pressure activity that works the creative muscles. I believe everyone can tap into the creative realm and should do so often. Activity ideas include painting, drawing, coloring, crochet, makeup, clay pottery and making candles.
Body Care
The body is still a part of the self and deserves some care during this time as well. This bodycare can look like getting a massage or using a massage gun, getting a facial, getting in the sauna, soaking your feet, getting in the hot tub or simply just doing a full bath/shower routine: whatever you feel like you’ve been neglecting for whatever reason.
Sleep In
Part of body care is sleeping. Sleeping in may not be possible on the day of but carving out time for a nap or getting to sleep in the next morning.
Gratitude
This is an important part of wellness because we can easily forget our blessings big or small. I like writing out things I am grateful for because it lifts my spirits and reminds me to be thankful more often for things I can not appreciate.
Music
Music is a part of my everyday life but when I am focused on wellness, I prefer not to overstimulate myself and focus on slow tempo music without lyrics, water sounds like rain or the ocean, music I do not get to listen to often and even bilateral sounds and singing bowls. I listen to these songs while I stretch, work out, journal, meditate or eat.
Food
Food is a big part of our lives. Wellness retreats in media usually have the people surrounded by the healthiest foods to help the body like the fruits and vegetables we don’t get enough of, fruit infused water and tea. Try not to make it so difficult and avoid alcohol, excess sugar, tobacco and caffeine. You can have a bit of your favorite food though.
Reading
Another thing I like to do is take time to read. Working and social lives can take away from our times to read whether its self help books or fantasy books or biographies. I always loved reading and it makes me feel productive and relaxed at the same time. You can check out my book reviews here.
Clothing
Every movie or tv show that has people go on a retreat always has them in white or cream wardrobes made out of light fabrics with loose cuts. If you want to add extra flair you can have a retreat wardrobe of comfortable clothes you already own. Be sure to include a swimsuit and workout clothes and pajamas to accommodate to every activity you have planned.
Now let’s get into schedules.
2 hour schedule
7pm: 15 min meditate and body scan
7:15pm: 15 min walk
7:30pm: 15 min stretch
7:45pm: 15 min journaling
8:00pm: bath and reading
8:30pm: facial/face mask
9:00pm: gratitude
1 day schedule
8:00am: Breakfast and meditation
9:00am: Listen to podcast/seminar
10:00am: Stretching
11:00am: Creative activity
12:00pm: Lunch and rest
1:00pm: Spend time in nature
2:00pm: Afternoon meditation
2:30pm: Reading
3:30pm: Mindful exercise
5:00pm: Mindful Dinner
6:00pm: Evening seminar/podcast
7:00pm: Spa treatments and body care
8:00pm: Gratitude
9:00pm: