I love retreats of all shapes and sizes. But I noticed for both others and myself a common problem that takes away some of the impact of a retreat.
See if this sounds familiar.
You work hard to be ready to leave. You spend the first part of your time off recovering, resetting your pace.
By the time the retreat is over you do feel better—more relaxed, more rested… You’ve practiced some new habits—regular exercise, healthier eating, not checking your phone every 10 minutes… You feel the benefits from just a few changes and you vow to continue these changes, this slower rhythm.
You return home. Now you have to work hard to catch up from being gone. A couple of weeks pass and someone asks you about your vacation. You have to pause and think about it to remember that you’ve even had time away.
Dang. You’ve lost that retreat/vacation vibe again.
The makings of a great retreat
The word retreat is defined this way: “move back or withdraw to a quiet secluded place.” When you do that you get a chance to slow down, to view your life and how you’re living it with fresh eyes. You feel renewed, rested, maybe even invigorated.
Before and after
The problem with most retreats is that they occur in a vacuum. You go, you enjoy, and then you return to the same environment from whence you came.
I’ve found that people often have issues with transition. They return to their loved ones, their co-workers, the “regular world.” While the retreat participant may have shifted their ideas and habits the rest of the world is the same. While you were off relaxing by the pool, taking naps, or reading a good book someone was still at home scooping the cat boxes. Yeah, all that cat shit did not mysteriously disappear by itself.
Addressing the fact that you have a life pre- and post retreat can make a world of difference in how that transition goes. (We’ll be doing that as part of the Purposeful Yoga Retreat.) It can help you reap the benefits of your time off at a deeper fuller level.
A couple of pointers:
- Have a plan. Think about how you will transition both before and after your retreat.
- Talk with those around you about this transition time. Listen to how it affects them when you’re gone (or how they think it might affect them.) What are their fears? How can you support each other?
Has the transition back to work and life ever been challenging for you? Share your challenges and solutions here.