I started taking personal retreats after my youngest son was 3 years old. I’ve gone on plenty of retreats as a single person, married couple, and then family with young children with various Christian groups and churches. However, I only started planning an annual personal retreat after I started having children.
As an introverted mom, I found that I was craving longer times of silence and reflection that I wasn’t able to get on a daily basis. Kids make so much noise! It was overwhelming.
I began planning solo personal retreats as a birthday present to myself. Instead of asking for any gifts or parties, I asked my husband for the gift of solitude. It was a way for me to take care of myself and listen to my needs.
My retreats have looked different every year based on how organized I was in planning, and what was in the budget. The first year I planned my retreat, it was for a full weekend away at a nearby Franciscan hermitage. They had tiny individual cottages with a small kitchenette, bathroom, and porch overlooking a wooded area. It was the perfect place to retreat.
Other years I’ve planned one day getaways or overnights for my solo retreat. This past year I stayed overnight at a friend’s house in their “guest retreat” area. I was happy to be their first “retreatant.”
13 ideas for a personal retreat. Plus free printable to start planning yours today!… Click To TweetMy Favorite Activities During a Personal Retreat
After doing this for so many years, I’ve come to know what makes a good retreat for myself – even if it’s only for 8 hours. I personally try to incorporate some, if not all of these things:
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- silence, no technology
- yoga at a studio I haven’t gone to before
- a run
- walking out in nature
- reading fiction and non-fiction
- reading through my journal entries from the previous year
- reflecting on the previous year
- long stretches of time for writing, usually by hand
- prayer, particularly practicing listening prayer
- simple meals
- a massage
- a craft project (mostly knitting)
- green juice
Who Should Go on a Personal Retreat?
I would recommend an annual personal retreat for anyone, but particularly for moms and dads. As a parent, you’re always “on.” When you’re children are young, the cries for help are constant as they are learning how to do things independently and how to be independent. It’s a precious time, but an exhausting time as well.
By the time the children are all in bed, you’re usually too exhausted to do any productive thinking or writing. A personal retreat gives you a whole day or weekend to plan activities around your preferred or most productive times.
I would encourage anyone who is in transition or at a crossroads to take a personal retreat. Going someplace new gives you fresh perspective, especially if you give yourself the time and silence to hear your thoughts.
My personal retreat space for 2017.
What Should Happen During a Personal Retreat?
That’s completely up to you. Everyone’s needs and objectives for a retreat will be different.
10 questions to ask yourself while planning your personal retreat. Free retreat planner… Click To TweetHere are questions that can help you brainstorm how to structure your retreat:
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- Why am I planning this retreat?
- How long will it be?
- Will it be tech-free? silent? (you could plan specific days or times, if not the whole time of the retreat)
- Where will I go?
- What is my budget?
- What is going on in my personal life/work life/spiritual life?
- What questions do I have about my personal life/work life/spiritual life?
- What do I want to learn about given the questions that I have?
- What are things that I get pleasure from that I don’t normally schedule into my day/week/month?
- What do you want to experience during your retreat? Think of your five senses as you think about this question.
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- What do you want to taste? see? feel? smell? hear?
- Do you want to see woods or the ocean?
- Do you want to be around a lot of activity or would you rather be in a remote area?
The Benefits of a Personal Retreat
There are numerous benefits for taking the time to retreat alone:
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- clarity
- greater sense of vision and purpose
- renewed energy
- connecting with oneself again
- modeling self care for your children
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Whether you are single or have children, young or old, personal retreats are great ways to practice intentional living. Intentionally stepping away from your everyday routine to reflect, rest, and grow is essential, especially for the introverted or overwhelmed mom or dad.
Do you plan regular personal retreats within your year? If yes, what do you like to do on them? If no, what is stopping you?
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I’m quite introverted as well, which can be difficult as I’m in college and everyone lives in such close proximity to each other. I bet it’s nothing compared to living with your own kids and having to be “on” all the time, but it’s still something that I am trying to grapple with. My roomie lives nearby, so sometimes she’ll go home for the weekend, and those weekends are a great time for me to have time to myself. But I think simply having alone time is different from taking a personal retreat, because a personal retreat seems much more intentional, than say, locking myself in my room for a weekend 😛 While I can’t take personal retreats from college, I can definitely be more intentional about how I spend my free time. My go-to self-care activities are reading, taking a walk, perhaps to a coffee shop to read, and if I have something on my mind, writing by hand helps as well. A lot of the time, if I’m stuck for words for a blog post, I’ll close my laptop and turn to writing it out by hand before I start drafting my post on WordPress! I also do this for school papers. There’s something about pen and paper that is so calming and can’t be beat! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s
I remember those days Audrey (I can’t believe it’s been decades since college!) and feeling the same way. I love that you know and take the time to do those specific self-care activities. And yes – writing by hand really can’t be beat. The fact that it’s slower than banging it out on a keyboard is actually really helpful!
Hi Angela, what great suggestions! This year was the first time I went on a retreat by myself, but it was to my college BFF’s house, so not alone. She and I had lots of time, to talk, reflect over our past, and discuss the present.
I want to go away every weekend from now on!!
Definitely something intangible with writing with pen, and paper! So much more personal, and visceral, and satisfying than typing!
That sounds so lovely Melinda. Retreating with a good friend sounds like a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing!
This sounds like just what I need right now, Angela! Thank you for the great insight and tips.
I’m visiting today from Happy Now Link Party.
~ Megin of VMG206
Thanks for reading Megin. I hope you can get a little time away and rejuvenate!
#SharingtheBlogLove
Really enjoyed reading all about this,it’s sounds and looks lovely ❤️X
Thank you Natalie!
I definitely need a personal retreat. I feel like my mind is spinning in all directions and am having trouble focusing.
Thanks for sharing on #FridayFrivolity
I’ve definitely been there Audrey. I hope you can retreat for at least a few hours to regain the peace and focus you need.
This is a wonderful idea! I’m an introvert and the feeling of being always ‘on’ is what I struggled with most in adjusting to being a parent. I crave alone time, and I’ve come to realise that I need it to function. I love running as a way to achieve this – it clears my thoughts and makes me feel good at the same time. Although a spa day is always a great option too! Thanks for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove
We sound very similar in needing alone time. I too like running – but it’s not long enough is it!
This sounds heavenly! I’ve never gone on a personal retreat before. Great tips!
Visiting from Faith’nFriends
I hope you’re able to go Julie. I know you’d get a lot out of it!