How to Create a Deeply Relaxing Wellness Retreat
Sometimes you just need a break from it all. A respite from this fast-paced, always “on,” modern lifestyle. Why not treat yourself to a mental health day and experience deep relaxation and utter bliss from the comfort of your own home? Here’s my ultimate guide to creating the tranquil wellness retreat you didn’t know you needed. Treat yourself to the gift of a sublime self-care staycation without blowing your budget. This is a sample schedule of ideas, but feel free to take what resonates and leave the rest and mix things around to your heart’s content. Now put on your coziest loungewear, turn off Wifi, throw your hair in a messy bun and let’s begin!
8:00 am Wake up and prepare a silky matcha latte with coconut milk or a mug of detoxifying dandelion tea. Sit and enjoy the warmth of the mug in your hands, mindfully savoring each sip.
8:15 am Get out your meditation pillow, turn on your Himalayan salt lamp and zen playlist. Intuitively select some crystals to join you and wrap yourself in a cuddly cardigan or blanket. Close your eyes and allow your mind to empty itself of any thoughts. Enjoy an expansive, transcendental meditation session and observe the magnitude of the inner peace it brings.
8:45 am Make a healthy breakfast for yourself; listen to what your body is craving. Perhaps some homemade oatmeal with cacao, flax, cinnamon and berries. Or maybe a green smoothie bowl topped with banana, chia seeds, coconut flakes and strawberries. It’s entirely up to you.
9:15 am Journal three full pages a la the Morning Pages. You can even search for journaling prompts on the Internet and use those as a reference if you’d like to do a little deep soul diving. Allow yourself to sit in the emotions you are experiencing right now and truly feel them. Sometimes we shove them down or distract ourselves constantly to avoid acknowledging their presence. Another exercise you can do is try writing a channeled message from your Higher Self using automatic writing. Basically you ask your Higher Self to speak through you and share any messages they would like you to know. You put your ego aside and write down whatever information comes through without censoring or judging it. The content is often very powerful and can lead to tears of catharsis.
10:00 am Put on your favorite yoga dvd, youtube yoga video(s), attend a class or come up with a flow of your own if you feel inspired to do so. Yoga is a form of moving meditation and it can help us release tension and trauma that we carry in the body. At the end of your session lay in savasana for a full 10 minutes, uninterrupted. What a delicious sensation!
11:00 am Indulge in luxury by preparing a revitalizing ritual bath. Add some salts, a splash of essential oils and rose petals or other herbs. Set the mood by lighting candles, playing Deuter’s Koyasan album and adorning the edges of your tub with crystals. Soak up the healing and notice any remaining vestiges of stress wash away.
12:00 pm Relax with an uplifting book such as The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert or Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. You could also choose to read magazines if that’s more your speed. One of my favorites is Psychologies magazine (a UK publication).
12:45 pm It’s time for lunch! This meal can be anything you’d like. Here are some recipes I’ve tried with great success and pleasure: thai green curry soup, roasted fall vegetable salad, extra veggie fried rice and buddha bowls. You could also plan in advance to have a prepared meal ready to go in your fridge or opt for delivery.
1:30 pm Get outside and spend some time in nature by going for a refreshing walk. Many of us suffer from “city syndrome”a condition in which we spend so much time inside, under fluorescent lights or in front of screens that we feel disconnected from the Earth and ourselves. This leads to that scattered head-in-the-clouds feeling and contributes to anxiety. Practice grounding by putting your feet in the soft grass or soil and receive the healing, negative ions from the Earth. I often come up with great creative ideas when I go on a walk.
2:15 pm Pamper yourself! Put on a face mask or create a DIY version of your own. Give yourself a manicure, pedicure, or both. You can do this while listening to a favorite podcast like SuperSoul Sundays.
3:00 pm Choose an activity that will nurture your inner child and make your spirit light up. Maybe it’s painting, writing a short story, gardening, using a coloring book, playing Nancy Drew computer games, having a dance party of 1. The options are only limited by your imagination.
4:00 pm Book a wellness appointment. Like everything else on the schedule, this part is completely optional, but you could schedule a reiki healing session or astrology reading, attend a sound bath or book an appointment for a massage or acupuncture treatment, etc. If you want to take your self-care to the next level and still spend much less than you would on a wellness retreat, this is a great option.
5:00 pm Draw a tarot or oracle card to receive today’s message from spirit. Or you can do some deeper exploring by asking about something more complicated like your soul’s purpose using a Celtic Cross spread. If you’re unsure about how to do this Pinterest is a surprisingly helpful resource. Afterwards, write down the message(s) you received in your journal and reflect upon them.
6:00 pm Go out to dinner with a friend, partner or yourself! Be adventurous and try out a restaurant you’ve never been to before or order something new on the menu. Have fun and enjoy making new memories.
I hope you enjoy your deeply relaxing DIY wellness retreat. May it bring greater peace, happiness and healing into your life. After you try it out please let me know what you think!
