When I tell people that I lead women’s retreats, they often say “Oh, that sounds awesome! I’d love to go on a retreat!” I tell them about going to the beach or the mountains or an organic farm or the foothills and they get all excited to think about it…. especially spending time in nature away from the distractions of every day life.
But then when I invite them to come with me, they immediately offer excuses. “I don’t have the time. I have too many responsibilities. I wouldn’t want to spend that money on just me. I couldn’t possibly get away and leave my ____________ (spouse, kids, pets, elderly parents) for that long.” And they quickly talk themselves out of the very thing they just said they would love to do.
The truth is that we all could benefit with more time for rest and relaxation. Am I right?
But I often think that we tell ourselves we don’t “need it” when in reality we do.
Take this quick quiz below and let’s see if you could really benefit from some R+R…
The Revitalization Quiz
Read through the following statements and put a checkmark next to any statements that feel true for you.
1. ____I have so many responsibilities. I am very overwhelmed with my life.
2. ____I have been neglecting my healthy routines lately. I don’t have the time!
3. ____I rarely take time just for myself to do anything I want.
4. ____I am fatigued or tired often. I sometimes have difficulty sleeping.
5. ____I have a hard time making decisions. My brain has been fuzzy lately.
6. ____I feel stuck in one or more areas of my life.
7. ____I rarely spend time in nature.
8. ____I am so weary I often turn to TV, alcohol or food to numb out and for comfort.
9. ____My TO DO list seems never ending.
10. ____Everybody needs me and I feel pulled in a thousand directions.
If you checked “yes” on 1-2 statements, scheduling some retreat time for yourself would definitely help you to regain your balance.
If you checked “yes” on 3-4 statements, carving out some retreat time weekly and within the next three months would be wise so you don’t get more stressed and head toward burnout.
If you checked “yes” on 5 or more statements, give yourself the gift of a retreat pronto!
A question I am often asked is “how is one weekend away going to change my life?” It’s true, after you go on retreat, you still have to return home to your demanding business or career, your family responsibilities, your messy house, your bills…but you bring with you a fresh perspective and a calmer approach because you’ve taken the time to take care of yourself… instead of always taking care of everyone else!
I’ve been leading retreats for years and I consistently hear from my attendees:
- I was able to press the “reset” button on my life. Yay!
- I feel so much more balanced.
- My brain is working better and I’m thinking more clearly!
- I’m so glad that I gave myself that gift. Why didn’t I do it sooner? (this is a big one)
- I’m making better choices about food and exercise.
- You taught me how to slow down and I can incorporate what I learned in my daily rhythm.
- I finally got clarity about a big decision that I have to make. (hooray!)
- I had some really meaningful conversations with the other women on retreat. We talked about stuff that really matters.
Whether you come with me to the beach in April or whether you schedule your own mini-retreat, if you answered yes to any of those questions on the quiz, you’ll be SO GLAD you gave yourself permission for rest, renewal, and revitalization.
Here’s to getting some R+R… soon!
Elizabeth