There’s no doubt that people’s mental health has suffered over the past few years, I’ve seen the repercussions as stress and anxiety levels have risen dramatically in my clients.
The pressures of everyday life saw a seismic increase as everyone dug deep and held themselves strong and steady for their family and loved ones, taking on additional pressure mentally and emotionally. Many pushed themselves too far as they felt they had no other choice in the circumstances. Unprecedented was a word used a lot, and that is also relevant for the strain on mental health, we’re still seeing the effects now with long wait times on the NHS amongst many other things. The energy people have spent dealing with everything that the pandemic (and since) has brought has been exponential. Now, even though the worst of COVID-19 is behind us, we’re very much still in the recovery phase, with a whole new set of challenges thrown in, it’s a crucial time to evaluate what has been spent emotionally and mentally in order to take steps to gain some sense of alignment and balance heading into 2023.
I truly believe one of the best ways to do this is to take a step out of the daily routine into an immersive environment where the only consideration is how to look after yourself that day. Where the sole purpose is self-care, reflection, relaxation, and restoring energy levels. When the everyday stressors are removed, rest and relaxation are easier, the mind can start to clear naturally, energy levels are restored, new perspective and clarity are gained, and overall psychological well-being is improved. The environment can help massively, for example, reconnecting to nature can really help to reduce the stress hormone cortisol. It’s something we always consider when designing a retreat. Also, meeting like-minded individuals adds another psychological advantage to any retreat… as humans, we are innately social beings, therefore a supportive community environment can cultivate a true sense of belonging and understanding.
Time and space for self-care on a retreat enables transformation in people in ways they normally don’t experience, it’s difficult to find time to recharge in mental strength and energy whilst managing busy lives, especially at this time of year! However, I totally get it, retreats can feel indulgent. Most people tell me their barriers to coming on retreat are justifying it, finding the time, family and childcare issues, getting time off, feelings of guilt, feeling selfish, and it’s common to ask, ‘do I really need this?’ The answer is 100% yes… time for self-care is crucial for us all. It’s not indulgent to look after yourself, in fact, it’s essential for your overall mental health and wellbeing. A retreat experience can help someone regain a sense of themselves, have clarity to understand what they might need, and give a chance to prioritise themselves whilst allowing space to switch off from taking care of other people.
Engaging in activities such as group mindfulness teaches people how to take a new state of zen back into their everyday lives. A little piece of calm that can be tapped into whenever it’s needed. Like a toolbox that you’ll want to use!
On retreat, it really is possible to regain alignment in body mind and soul. It just takes that brave step to do something just for yourself. Although sometimes scary, it is the unknown that brings the greatest rewards. All it takes is that leap of faith and a deep desire to do something for yourself. If you’re reading this ask yourself what your gut is telling you. You’ll know when the time is right for you.
