How to Plan a Personal Retreat: Start With What You Need

Part 1 of the four-part How to Plan a Personal Retreat series.

When you start thinking about taking a personal retreat, it can be tempting to begin with the fun part: Where should I go? A cozy inn in the mountains? A wellness resort? Somewhere warm where you can sit by the water with a book and nowhere you need to be?

But before you choose the destination, book a hotel or start thinking about what you'll do while you're away, there's a more important place to begin. With you and what you NEED at the time. Maybe you need rest. Maybe you need something that makes you feel excited again. You may be craving creativity, adventure, inspiration or simply enough quiet to hear your own thoughts. And sometimes, you honestly don't know what you need. That's okay too.

A personal retreat is more than simply getting away. It's intentional time and space to step outside of your everyday routine, listen inward and pay attention to what you may need more of in your life right now.

Begin With a Soul Check-In

Before you plan anything, give yourself a little space to check in with yourself. Find a quiet spot, put your phone away, and ask yourself:

What do I need right now?

Then give yourself enough quiet to actually hear the answer. Maybe the first thought that comes up is, I'm tired. Or, I need some fun. Maybe you realize you haven't done anything creative in years, even though that used to be such an important part of you. Perhaps you're craving something new, more time outdoors or simply a few days when you don't have to think about what everyone else's needs. Don't worry about turning those thoughts into a retreat plan yet. Just notice them.

This is your starting point.

You could then ask yourself: What does my soul need more of in my life?

More quiet? More joy? More energy? More creativity? More adventure? More beauty? More inspiration? More time outside? More time alone? You may even find that the answer surprises you.

There is no right answer, and your answer may be completely different six months from now. That's one of the things I love about personal retreats. You're not choosing one type of retreat that has to work for you forever. You're creating an experience around who you are—and what your soul is asking for—right now.

For now, don't worry about the activities you might want to do while on retreat, simply notice what makes something inside of you say, Yes. I could use more of that.

Let What You Need Lead the Way

Once you've taken the time to listen, something interesting happens: the rest of the retreat begins to take shape more naturally. If your soul is asking for rest and renewal, a peaceful resort with a spa and plenty of space to do absolutely nothing may feel right. If you're craving inspiration, perhaps you'll be drawn to somewhere filled with museums, bookstores, galleries and interesting neighborhoods. If you need adventure and a little spark back in your life, maybe your retreat includes trails, water, movement or something you've never tried before. The key here is that you're not starting with a destination and trying to turn it into a retreat.

You're starting with what you need and allowing that to guide where you go and what you do when you get there. That's what makes a personal retreat personal.

Still Not Sure What You're Seeking?

Sometimes you know you need something, but you can't quite name it yet. Start with curiosity.

I created the Soul Seeker Quiz to help you do just that. It's a simple way to explore what you may be craving right now and helps you pinpoint how you are feeling and what you may be craving.

Take the Soul Seeker Quiz → www.soulretreatspace.com/free-quiz

You don't need to have your next chapter figured out. You don't even need to know exactly what your retreat will look like yet. For now, create a little space. Get quiet. Check in with yourself. And listen for what your soul might be asking for.

That's where your personal retreat begins.

Continue the series →Part 2: How to Plan a Personal Retreat: Set an Intention for Your Time Away