Feeling overwhelmed? The stress of everyday life, work, the world around us, even when we’re with our family and friends, stress can build up very quickly. To top it off we all have many responsibilities and tasks on the to-do list, but we can’t forget about one of the most important—maintaining clarity and mental wellness through it all.
Summer: the season of retreats and travel is right around the corner. In “normal” circumstances, many of us would be gearing up for an unwinding vacation or a much-needed wellness retreat. Well, we all know that 2020 is far from normal and that our “vacations” and “retreats” will have to take place in our region for now.
Whether you had a wellness retreat on the calendar or are just now beginning to think about one, the fact of the matter is, taking retreats is an essential part of maintaining mental and emotional clarity and wellness. If you’ve told yourself, I don’t have time for myself, you are probably someone who would benefit most from a wellness retreat.
A wellness retreat doesn’t have to be long or even far away. It can happen in your own home! The whole house can be used to replenish your mental clarity. How? Let’s dive in!
Book Your Retreat
Pick a day on your calendar that will work for you. Just one day. Once you’ve picked the day, start making arrangements so you can be alone. Make sure the kids are going to a friend’s house or have a babysitter. Let your significant other know to make plans without you. Make sure you will have the entire day to yourself. Pro Tip: To help yourself stay on track for the day, create an itinerary of activities you’d like to do during your retreat.
Prepare Your Space
Prior to your wellness retreat, take time to clean the space you will spend your retreat in. Organize, make space for candles, put out any plants you have, find your favorite essential oils, and make sure the sun and fresh air can be let in. Go grocery shopping beforehand for your favorite health foods so you can enjoy nourishing meals during your retreat. Along with the main space, go ahead and clean your bathroom and kitchen.
Unplug
On the day of your retreat, make sure to turn off all screens. Detox from the media influx and information overload. Pick out your favorite books to read. Get your journal or paper and allow your emotions and thoughts to be on paper.
Treat Yourself
Take a long warm bath, turn off the fan, and allow the steam to cleanse your skin. Use a face or body mask. It doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive, there are many natural masks you can make at home. Rejuvenate and feed your skin Nutrabeautiful™, a hydrating and nourishing supplement for your skin.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Make sure there’s not a time during the day you don’t have a glass of water near you. The benefits of staying hydrated are seemingly endless and you deserve to take advantage of them. Go ahead and elevate your water to “spa” level by adding some fresh fruit, cucumber or lemon.
Hit the Kitchen
For many, especially when cooking for one, preparing a meal can be very therapeutic and relaxing. Find time during your retreat to prepare delicious and healthy meals utilizing fresh, whole ingredients. You could try anything from a lovely summer salad to a refreshing smoothie bowl to a satisfying stir fry. There are hundreds of options to choose from and you can get inspiration by building a Pinterest board of whole food recipes.
Enjoy Your Retreat!
Your retreat doesn’t have to be a huge process, one day focused on your needs and your goals can have a significant impact on your overall well being. Before your wellness retreat, make sure to outline what you hope to get out of this day. It can be as simple as reading for an hour, spending time doing your favorite yoga flow, or just enjoying some quiet time. Just focus on what you need at that time.
We all lead busy lives, but finding time to center yourself is essential to keeping your mental engine running.
Ground yourself in your thoughts, body, and feelings for a day. In the meantime, soak in the energy that you need to continue moving forward and growing.