Redefining Wellness Retreats: How to Create a 24-hour at Home Retreat

8 elements to make your at home wellness retreat extraordinary

The past version of myself thought that a wellness retreat meant traveling to a far off destination, with someone else or a group, saving up to book some expensive resort, and waiting until I was completely burnt out mentally and physically to make it happen.

Now, I think differently. Wellness, reflection, health, healing, restoration, and relaxation is possible to not only enjoy solo but to indulge in within your own space or home. We don't have to travel far to experience a retreat, and we don't have to spend a ton of money to make it restorative. But, it does take some intention to curate and create the scene, to set yourself up for rest and relaxation (and even transformation), and to embody the feelings and experiences that you want to incorporate into your at home retreat.

Here, I share with you 8 elements to incorporate into your 24 hour (or longer) at-home wellness retreat.

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1. Create a Soul Space within your home for your Retreat.

Before you begin your at-home retreat, choose a space within your home and pour some love into it. There is nothing worse than clutter and chaos to disrupt an at home retreat. Trust me when I say this, I get it! If what is in that space doesn’t bring you uplifting good feelings, get rid of it, move it, donate it, or toss it away. This retreat space is FOR YOU to feel good within. When you do this, the feeling in your space lifts and shifts, creating a clean slate for your wellness journey.

Bonus Tip: If you want to dive deeper into the creation of your soul space, I highly recommend the book Soul Space: Transform Your Home, Transform Your Life — Creating a Home That Is Free of Clutter, Full of Beauty, and Inspired by You by Xorin Balbes

2. Indulge your Sight Sense.

Mindfully think about what you want to see (and do not want to see) with your eyes during your retreat. Allow yourself to fill your sight with beauty. Take a break from your phone. Buy some flowers. Is there a book, words that you want to read and take in, to really enjoy? Do you want to spend some time just staring out the window, or go to nature and just see what is around you? Self-care through your sight sense is one of the most un-talked about wellness gifts you can give yourself. By planning out what you want to take in through your sight sense for your at-home retreat, you are minimizing distraction and enlivening your experience.

3. Listen to Sounds that Soothe your Mind, Body, and Heart.

Incorporate sounds that you love into your retreat. Create that retreat playlist. I love rain sounds when I want to sleep, soft music without words when I am creating, listening to guided meditation, and of course great music to dance to for when the mood strikes. Think about how you want to spend your day and find ways to incorporate the sounds that you love.

Bonus tip: If you would like to meditate with me, or thousands of other teachers, download the free insight timer app for meditations, courses, and soothing music to listen to.

4. Invigorate your Smell Sense.

A great smelling candle and/or aromatherapy goes a long way to inspire relaxation. Scents of the forest are naturally healing. Light a candle in the morning to ritualize the beginning of your retreat and allow the scent to fill your space. Throughout the day, roll aromatherapy onto your wrists or temples for body healing and a deeper sensory experience. For a few of my favorites, shop my retreat collection.

5. Nourish your Body.

I don’t know about you, but at the end of a day when I know that I have nourished my body, I feel my best. As you move through your retreat, fill your body with foods and beverages that feel good to you. Take time to eat the foods that your body loves and drink the water, the tea, the coffee with delight. Try and allow the times of nourishment to be special, slow it down, and enjoy what you choose.

6. Explore What You Are Feeling.

A retreat is about rest and relaxation. And when we do this, it gives our bodies the chance to express and release what they are holding onto. And trust me when I say this, feelings will surface. Allowing yourself the time and space to explore what you are feeling is one of the most healing parts of a retreat! Lean in and allow the feelings to be felt and then to move through you. If you like to write, journal. If yoga calls, dive in. If movement is calling, get outside for a hike or dance it out.

7. Wear super soft and comfortable clothes.

This is an obvious one, but set yourself up for pure comfort by wearing clothes that put you at ease and bring you joy to slip into. Set them out the night before so you don’t even have to think about what you want to wear. I love warm socks, slippers, and of course sweats for retreat days. View some of my favorites here.

8. Very loosely plan out your time.

Make a mental note or write a list of the wellness elements that you know that you want to incorporate into your at-home retreat. Some of my favorites: take an online yoga class with Cat Meffan, do a write and release ritual, take a long shower or bath, drink a lot of water, nap, read, unplug, take a walk, have a beditation (meditate in bed before even stepping foot on the floor in the morning), be free to do absolutely nothing.