Finding your Personal Retreat for Self Care and Wellness

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Your Personal Retreat

The word retreat envisions luxury, indulgence and expense. But a personal retreat is more 'a short break' from everyday life. A place you can escape from stress and reconnect with yourself and your thoughts. This is not pure luxury and over-indulgence but more like self care, a re-balance and reset. 

A personal retreat can take place in your own home, a weekend break in a lodge or cabin or even a mini-break overseas, whatever feels right for you. To be free from stress just make sure your choice is within your budget and at a time when you feel you have the freedom to give 'time' to yourself. A retreat needs to be relaxing so you can clear your mind and focus on the things that bring you joy. This may be a total rest where the joy is to sleep with no interruption, giving your body a complete reset or you may have a hobby that brings you joy and creativity. Perhaps a few days of connection with your spiritual self by prayer and meditation or a total change in your life with time to initiate new goals and meanings for your journey.

My Personal Retreat

Just recently I visited my 'long time' friend in Cyprus. It is an annual visit and something I look forward to every year. The time I spend with my friend is so special and we have a lot of fun together. I like to visit some of my other friends on the island too who I have kept in contact with. Cyprus was my home for 17 years. It feels like a homecoming each year and Cyprus still has a big place in my heart, with its warm and friendly people and beautiful scenery.

I love my work, it takes me all over the world. I have met some wonderful and interesting people and made some good friendships over the years. Although a dream job, the hours are long and my stress levels can spike. I have taken on some new job roles recently and with this comes tension and pressure. Whilst relaxing and enjoying my time in Cyprus, mainly socialising and walking, I did feel I needed an extra space for some self care. I couldn't think of a better place to completely unwind and find my place of peace than Polis, a village on the north west side of the island.

My Intentions for my Personal Retreat

Perhaps you are wondering why I needed a personal retreat whilst on holiday? Was this not enough to clear my mind and relax a little? I am on an extended holiday, on an island I consider home, staying with my amazing friend and surrounded by the ocean with a clear and perfect view from the balcony. It does appear a little odd doesn't it?

A holiday focuses on relaxation, time to explore, time with friends and indulgent pleasure. A personal retreat however, focuses on inner-work and self-growth alongside deep reflection and a total re-set. This is something we do not allow space and time for when we are at home. Yes, we think about it, perhaps even dream about it, but invariably we don't do it and a majority of the time we end up planning a mini holiday or a day at the Spa. 

We live in a world of chaos and stress. We go about our day on auto-pilot to get things done. Our days flow from week days to weekends. We look forward to Friday and dread Monday. We save for our annual holiday and for Christmas celebrations and we focus on this aspect of our lives. There is no room for self exploration and reflection.

Reflection is looking at our thoughts and feelings. Personal growth is taking action on our reflection, learning to understand ourselves and our needs, then using these lessons to improve our lives. This is a personal insight that cannot be learnt during a Spa weekend or mini family break but one that is personal with time alone to delve deeper inside.

Click here for the Coastal Walk - Polis to Latchi

I love to walk, especially along the coast. I walk every day when I am home as it helps me to think and focus. Not too far from the retreat where I stayed for four days, there is a connecting coastal path from Polis (the retreat village) to the seaside resort of Latchi, a stunning fishing village just 3,500km walk along the coast. I walked this path every day. I had my lunch in Latchi and returned along the coastal path to Polis. I went back to the retreat for an hour of yoga practice before I had my meal in the local Greek taverna. I would then walk to the 'natural' beach to watch the sunset. All this gave me clarity and mental focus. I would then return to the retreat for a glass of wine, write in my journal and work on my life goals. An added bonus was that each apartment in the retreat had sound proof walls. Everything was so peaceful.

I found this time very relaxing and calming. The retreat was located 15 minutes walk from the village of Polis but it felt almost 'remote'. The retreat apartments were close to the 'natural' beach and the nearest neighbours were about 500m away. All I could hear from my balcony was the sound of the waves and the breeze through the trees. Perfect.

Watching the Sunset - Click Here

The next time you feel drained of energy or you feel life has no meaning anymore, it is probably the time you should plan a personal retreat. Remember the meaning of 'personal retreat'......it's a time for reflection and re-balance, not just 'time away' or a holiday to relax. A personal retreat is time to understand your inner-self and personal growth. 

I found these four days away extremely meaningful and intentional. I have a journal that I complete daily and I had the time to go back to a 'certain time' in my life and fully reflect on each day and understand how and why I felt the way I did. Everything becomes clearer when you have the time to focus on just 'you'.

©HealthyForeverFitnessMotivation

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