How to take a guilt-free mom retreat
If there's anything we've learned over the past few years, it's that yes, there is most definitely a cap on stress the collective of motherhood can handle. In fact, Blessing Adesyian - CEO and founder of Mother Honestly, a global community focused on reimagining how women can build better careers and happier homes - put it best in a prior "The Journey Ahead" Summit when she said, "America has no social safety net. We [mothers] have been forced to come in and cover the damage."
Women have been thrust into maintaining a workplace/family home/childcare facility under one roof.
Coupled with an at-the-ready medical clinic, playground, therapy office, classroom, and on-demand one-stop-shop-entertainment facility, it's no wonder mothers are feeling the extreme burnout with little end in sight. What is in sight - validation that with all you've carried over the past year, you deserve a personal retreat, designed just for you mama. The best part? It doesn't require a fancy island getaway (although if that's in the cards, can I come with?), but could be something as small as one night away.
So we met with Jen Petro - a local Indianapolis mom and women's wellness expert - and discussed the benefits of and recommended steps when planning a personal retreat.
Why you should build a personal retreat into your annual self-care routine:
Aside from the obvious benefits of time away, rest, or quiet space, Jen notes that women talk a lot about self-care from bath bombs to mani-pedis but the lasting effect is fleeting. A personal retreat is an investment in yourself that offers short-term benefits and a long-term gain of taking time to rediscover yourself." I didn't have a budget to stay anywhere, but for me, going was a total game-changer." said Jen, as the impetus behind cornering her expertise in this area. She notes that entering her first personal retreat found she - like many women! - was "exhausted, I needed to be alone, I had thinking to do about some serious things. And it became a practice that would soon become a non-negotiable in my life... I came back from that retreat feeling like a different person. More refreshed, with more direction, clarity, and energy."
Laugh a little with us over on the ‘gram
Jen also discovered that taking a retreat didn't mean having to plan elaborate solo vacations overseas or to a tropical beach (but more power to you if that's what you choose!). Instead, she selected a bed and breakfast right down the street from her home for her first retreat and slowly expanded from there.
Here are the 5 important steps Jen recommends for your personal retreat plan:
1. REST
Dedicate time in your retreat for intentional rest. Our bodies and lives are so on the go that we rarely find time to rest without guilt. A personal retreat should include some built-in time to incorporate rest or relaxation like taking a nap, meditation, yoga, or just sitting still for a few moments.
2. REFLECT
Take time to examine your past and present to build a positive future. Jen recommends bringing with you a list of questions to truly look in and reflect on where you currently are: How am I showing up in this world? What's making me happy? What relationships are invigorating for me? Draining me right now? What's working for me and not working for me?
3. REFUEL
Have fun and build it into your retreat too! Often women - especially moms - forget how to have fun for themselves, when serving their families or children. Think about what things light you up, like going for a long walk in the woods, seeing a show, getting a massage. How can you incorporate these elements into your retreat and then, more importantly, your life when you return from your retreat?
4. RECLAIM
At this step, you set your vision for the next few months and years ahead. Are you intentional in how you spend your time? Are you intentional with the path in front of you? What would your life ideally be like if you created it the way you imagine? Try this vision-setting exercise: Imagine yourself 3 years from now. Where are you? Who's around you? How are you going to spend that day? Who will you interact with? Are you working? What does that look like? What setting are you in? And if this is your ideal life, what do you need to do more of, less of, start doing, and stop doing to get there? Break this down into daily, monthly, and yearly action steps.
5. RE-ENTRY
How do you shift gears from retreat to re-entry and more importantly, how do you take what you learned on your personal retreat and apply that to a retreat-like life?
