Basic pillars of your retreat: N. E. E. D. S.
Breaking negative patterns, altering old habits, or transforming an area of your life is not a comfortable undertaking. Going on a personal retreat outside your habitual environment to pursue this transformation is even more uncomfortable. To stick with your intention, you need a solid base to build your life changes upon. You must be in a high-energy state, as well as have clarity and focus. The following pillars will help you to build a structure for any transformation you might want to achieve in your life. They are, so to say, the basic needs of a successful retreat.
N – Nutrition
E – Exercise
E – Environment
D – Digital (dis)connection
S – Schedule
Nutrition
Whichever retreat program you choose, you want to achieve that special state of lightness, openness to changes and transformation, cleansing, detoxification, letting go of the old, and welcoming the new. You want to raise your level of intuition, clear your energy, and become more sensitive. Healthy nutrition is very important at this point. Plenty of non-bottled water and fresh alkaline foods are the keywords.
If possible, look for a retreat venue that is equipped with a juicer, blender, and freezer. Bring your favorite ingredients with you: fruits, vegetables, frozen berries, superfoods powder, etc. to prepare healthy juices and smoothies of your choice.
If you are an experienced retreatant, you might go for a complete juice detox or even a fasting course. Another option is to add a 12-14-hour intermittent fasting window to your day (ex. no meals between 7 pm and 7 am).
By all means, avoid the following during your retreat: processed fats, animal flesh, dairy products, fast food, and acidic foods. You want to exclude anything that in spite of an initial boost of energy, leaves you feeling tired, heavy, sluggish, or fatigued later.
Make your retreat meat-, diary-, alcohol- and tobacco-free time/place. You want to create a space with high vibrations where you can heal and transform your life. It´s a time and a place for clearing, cleaning, cleansing, and detoxifying your body, mind, and soul. Embrace your full life makeover.
With each Growthcation program, you will receive detailed guidelines on juicing, intermittent fasting, alkalizing, etc.
Exercise
You cannot make positive changes and take your life to a new level when feeling down and low on energy. The quickest way to change your physical state, which will instantly affect your emotional state and your state of mind too, is through movement.
If you have ever visited a life makeover event by such transformational leaders as Tony Robbins or T. Harv Eker, you already know that the trainers will make you stand up, stretch your body, and dance like crazy for a few minutes after every couple of hours. It’s not that every successful person should also be a good dancer. It’s because you need to be in a peak state to change your life.
Start each day of your retreat with a morning walk – it will give you a boost of energy for the whole day. Every couple of hours during your day (especially when you start feeling tired and unenergized), interrupt your current activity and make a quick exercise break: 5 minutes of stretching, 3 minutes of yoga asanas, dancing to your favorite tune, a few jumping jacks or push-ups or anything else that will get your energy flowing.
Environment
Keep your retreat space clean and in order. The absence of physical clutter will help you maintain clear energy and focus. Eliminate all possible distractions: physical, mental, digital. Simplicity will help you shed light on what’s essential for you.
When choosing your retreat accommodation, pay attention to things that uplift you, be it an inspiring view, bright colors, eco-friendly design, proximity to nature, an oasis of silence and stillness, or coziness, etc. Another important aspect is feeling secure. Find a retreat place where you feel safe, protected, and at peace. Create an environment where you feel nurtured and taken care of.
Arrange your special sacred space: a corner filled with cushions and meditation props, a writer’s work desk, an artist’s studio, a swing chair in front of a fireplace, or an altar with candles, crystals, incense, and cozy lights. Organize this space with great attention and care. Include those items that brighten your mood and have personal meaning for you.
More ideas on a perfect retreat environment here.
Digital (dis)connection
While the Internet can be a source of inspiration and an amazing tool on your path towards personal growth and higher consciousness, it can also be exactly the opposite – a toxic addiction that transforms us from conscious and powerful individuals into senseless and powerless zombies.
Use the Internet with awareness. Use it to educate yourself, to follow your retreat program, to look for additional motivational resources if necessary. Disregard everything else. There will be other times to scroll through social media or get lost in a Netflix series. Here and now is the time for something more significant. Switch off your phone notifications and eliminate all other distractions.
Try to spend the maximum of your time savoring silence, contemplating nature, reflecting on your emotions, asking yourself questions, listening to your inner voice, reconnecting with your true self. Stay connected to your higher purpose and disconnected from everything else.
We all are human beings, and we all are imperfect. Sometimes, we come with our best intentions and yet still get distracted along the way. If you have doubts in your impeccable discipline and unbreakable willpower, prepare yourself in advance. S. J. Scott, in his book Habit Stacking, recommends a few apps that block access to your favorite distractions, as well as help you to manage your time in a better way in general:
Research these apps before your trip and choose the most suitable one to help you save your precious transformation time both during your retreat and in your daily life afterwards.
Schedule
Set your retreat schedule from sunset till sunrise to be in tune with the rhythms of nature. It might sound exciting to work on your favorite art project till late hours. Still, try to refrain from staying up late.
Plan your meals and other organizational details in advance and make it all as simple as possible. You want to spend the minimum time possible on such daily routine arrangements, as you’ll need to focus on more important things during the retreat.
Have everything well organized, but at the same time, don’t overschedule and over plan. Look for a balance between learning and rest, discipline, and creativity, following the retreat agenda, and following your own intuition. Listen to your body, heart, soul, and inner voice.
“What is a good mix of planning and not planning, of doing and being, of being with others and being alone?”
- Jennifer Louden
Also, do not lose your focus. You can alter your schedule and your initial plans, but do keep your intention in mind. Remind yourself why you came here in the first place. What is the main purpose of this trip? Whether it is changing one negative habit, dealing with some current difficult issue, or transforming one area of your life, stick to it.
With each Growthcation program, you will receive a sample retreat schedule that will help you to stay on track.
By organizing your do-it-yourself retreat around these principles, you will create an ideal mindset and a perfect environment for your personal growth and transformation. These changes in nutrition, exercising, environment, time management, and digital detox will pull you out of your negative patterns, loosen the grip of your everyday addictions and give you the momentum to create the life of your dreams. You don’t have to fully believe that it will work. Just give it a try and see what happens.