Mini-Retreats for Health

My definition of mini-retreats = a really short vacation to recharge your health - from 1 to 4 days, taken 1-2 times per month. I also encourage you to take mini, mini-retreats every day: during a lunch break, an afternoon in your backyard, or an evening walk or soak in the tub.

A mini-retreat is focused on escaping your reality - to feel the restorative powers. Use a mini-retreat for fun physical activity and mental relaxation - like a little health infusing bomb of fun.

Mini-retreats don't need to be planned thru a professional company, but if you do pay for one - make sure they're legit. A listed "therapist" or "counselor" must have a degree, and instructors should be very experienced.

Since most of us have stress of varying degrees every day - I hope you plan a mini, mini-retreat for 30-60 minutes every day. Did you know that physical activity actually helps reduce stress? 12 Stress Kickin' Habits.

Job Stress - use your lunch break. Walk or bicycle for 30 minutes to get your heart rate up. If you can, get on a nature trail or riverwalk. If not, avoid high traffic areas - it's noisy, stressful, and the air is unhealthy. Plan another 30 minutes sometime after work.

Mini-Retreat Travel

Mini-retreats reduce stress, improve physical wellness, and improve mental focus & attitude - a small, but restorative health infusing fun bombs. You can travel as far as your own backyard or several hours away for a 1-4 day mini-retreat. We all need fun ways to be our happiest self.

Connect with Others

It's unhealthy to isolate so make time every week to connect with a friend. For the in-between times, a pet can work wonders. Everyone needs friendships & human touch so make it a goal to have 2-3 best friends. An easy way to meet new people is to join a group: sports or outdoor activity, crafting, bible study, yoga, etc.

Better Sleep

As you practice taking control of your unhealthy feelings/symptoms you will notice "it" has less and less control over you. When this happens, your quality of sleep will improve. See how walking helps increase sleep: Walk to Live a Better Life. Also see sleep hacks: Lack of Sleep Makes us Looney Tunes.

Escaping Your Reality

Sleep was designed to empty the mind every night so you can begin a new day feeling recharged. If that's not happening, it's critical to find time every day to unplug and recharge. A great time to focus on relaxing is in the evening for 30-60 minutes without interruption, and preferably by yourself. Relaxing yoga stretches, a hot bath, or using meditation/prayer for restoration are all super helpful. Relax the Mind or go Cuckoo.

Connect with Yourself

First, learn to recognize the feelings of stress, frustration, anger, self-doubt, weakness, or anything negative that starts to consume your thoughts. Or, it could be something as simple as being overly tired and burnt out.

Second, as soon as you feel "it" creeping in, including any strong negative emotions - take a 5 minute break and go somewhere quiet where you can be alone. The options for a 5-10 minute break include prayer/meditation and deep breathing. Release your feelings to God or higher power and ask to receive peace.

If you're overly tired or burnt out - you need to get selfish here and take care of yourself. This condition is going to require deep, restorative sleep. So take a hot soak in the tub with soft, soothing music on before heading to bed in a dark, cool room. The following day, plan a 3-4 day mini-retreat or longer vacation to completely recharge.

Mini-Retreat Fun Bombs

• Fruit orchard - go to an fruit orchard and pick your favorites.

• Take a spa day - get a full body massage or foot reflexology.

• Volunteer for 1/2 day - choose a non-profit engaged in something you believe in. I volunteer at a therapy horse ranch and also children's events - it's very restorative.

• Go to lunch with friends, visit a museum, aquarium, historical home, or _____?

• Pack a lunch and head to a quiet beach or nature site and read a book.

• Hike, bike, or kayak somewhere and be sure to have sun.

• Head to a theme park and LOL all day. Maybe try a new ride & overcome your fear.

My definition of vacation = from 6 days to 21 days long, taken 1-2 times/year depending on length. A vacation is the best health infusing fun bombs that have lasting restorative affects. It's also the best way to escape your reality, and recharge your health. The skies the limit with vacations.... as long as it fits into your budget.

You can drive to an amazing week in the Grand Canyon or Great Smoky Mountains, or fly all night to your favorite far away land. Just remember - mentally throw all your burdens off your shoulders as soon as you lock your front door to leave. Vacations are health infusing in so many ways - and totally awesome.

Staycation

For vacations lasting 6-7 days, a staycation is an option which might within a few hours drive from home or a quick flight.... and hopefully without the kids. For single people, a staycation can go alone or with a friend - try something new & exciting like staying in a treehouse, glamping, or a dude ranch.

House Swap Vacation

Do a house swap and have a great vacation with free lodging. Depending on length of stay, you could go fairly local or to another country. Choose reputable sites to make sure the house swap it's legit and safe. This is what I want to try next and trying to decide on the country.

Volunteer/Work Vacation

Volunteer work vacations are awesome and, a great way to help others at the same time. You'll typically volunteer work for 5 hours/day, 5 days/week at least in the USA. In return you receive free room & board. The length depends on their needs. I like farms/ranches because you get to work with animals. How do horses help us? Horses Help Heal. There's also resorts or cruises where you can hire on for a season or special event. What you can see and do on your off-time is pretty amazing.

Did you know, better health & wellness is easier to achieve when you're away from your every day tedious routine, to-do lists, and juggling kids & job? All types of getaways & vacations are opportunities for you to escape your reality and have some amazing fun. You'll get recharged & relaxed. Vacations are great health infusing fun bombs that provide so many restorative benefits:

Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance isn't a new concept, but it seems most of us don't apply it. Based on my own experiences & research - many people are position, prestige, and paycheck driven, while some people say "I can't take a vacation, we're so busy or there's too much work to do". Meanwhile, life passes you by. Pretty soon you're going to feel kind of hollow inside.

You need work-life balance. Work your 40 hours - then do what's more important - time with family, friends, and yourself. You might even have to have a conversation with your boss. Let him/her know, you're willing to work a few extra hours per week if you're salaried and not hourly. But, that does NOT mean 10+ hours every single day. And, it does NOT mean skipping time off because of heavy workloads - tell him/her to hire more staff. A rested employee is MORE productive.

Mental Health

Your mind needs a break from reality to reset, and the longer the vacation, the longer the restorative benefits last. Vacations help to restore mental health, improve focus & performance, improve sleep, recharge the body, and to reduce stress and job burnout.

Physical & Heart Health

If you sit all day for your job - take the opportunity to help your body recharge itself and do lots of fun activities on vacation. If you have a job that keeps you physically active - then take some time on vacation to let your body rest & recuperate - like getting a massage & lounging on the beach. Vacations are a great way to improve your physical health, and therefore better heart health, lower blood pressure, and other health benefits. What to do if you sit all day for your job: Stretch to Move, Relax & No Pain.

Even though you're able to somewhat manage stress, problems, and long to-do lists that bombard you every day - over time you will BURN OUT. Even stay at home mom's who raise kids, manage the household, and homeschool can experience burnout.

Burnout mode = mental & physical health suffers. Working mom's might suffer from burnout more than men because they may handle more of the household & child raising duties and have a job. Life can be exhausting - so take mini-retreats & vacations for your sanity, health, and wellness.

Better Sleep

Usually you'll start to sleep better a couple days into your vacation. No more alarm clocks or dreading another day at the office. With quality sleep - your brain empties out so you can start the next day with a clean slate. If your brain doesn't empty, you'll feel like you've barely slept and the same stress & drudgery will consume your thoughts as soon as your eyes open.

Improved Relationships

By managing stress better - you'll be able to decrease the tension that can potentially rage inside you. Vacations help you reduce stress by letting you escape from reality, allowing you to relax & recharge. When your mind & insides are calm, your relationships improve and you're no longer (unintentionally) project your internal tensions onto others.

Job & Hobby

As you relax into your vacation's enjoyable routine - your mind & body begin to reset back towards healthy and peak operating condition. This means when you return to normal life - you can experience increased job & hobby performance, creativity, and productivity.

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