DIY Wellness Retreat.

Today, we have more research, understanding and awareness of how essential our mental wellbeing is, than ever before. But sometimes, life throws you curve balls and things get out of hand.

You may have had an indulgent weekend eating like you’ll never see food again, drinking with friends to make up for all that lost time in lockdown, or just have a habit of squeezing too much in because #lifeistooshort. All of those things can lead to weeks of feeling under-parr where you are scrambling to keep on top of your day to day life and keep health and wellness a priority.

What you need, is a reset.

Whether your focus is to get back into moving your body, eating healthier, or simply to de-stress (and catch up on some sleep); a retreat is the perfect opportunity to focus on your well-being, and help you press ‘refresh’.

Now, to truly immerse yourself in improving your wellbeing, a retreat is ideal. Studies have reported that the benefits of a health retreat can even last up to 5 years post retreat, amazing! The thing is, they come at a cost.

So, why not make your own wellness retreat for free at home? You can save up for that getaway next time!

The most important part of a retreat is about blocking out days to PURELY focus on your wellness. The next steps are about catering to what your immediate needs are. So, here are the key ingredients you need to make the ultimate wellness recipe, with options for you to mix and match activities to suit your flavour. As long as you have a pinch from each category, you’re set.

 GET OUTSIDE.

Wellness retreats are often located somewhere picturesque, untouched and surrounded by nature. Why? Because, science. It’s literally proven to be the ultimate healer. The average person spends about 80 to 90 percent of their time indoors, yet studies have shown people who live within a half-mile of green spaces had lower rates of 15 diseases, including depression and anxiety. Simply walking through a park can reduce blood flow to the part of the brain responsible for rumination (repetitive, negative thoughts).

INSPO:

  • Walking: Preferably somewhere there is lots of green.

  • Forrest Bathing: The simple act of being quiet amongst the trees, observing nature whilst breathing deeply. 

  • Earthing: Either lying down or standing barefoot directly on the earth.

  • Meditating: Bring your headphones and find a quiet spot under a tree to get your outside fix.

  • Sunlight: Sunshine will elevate your serotonin levels, which boosts mood, increases feelings of calm and improve your focus.

CREATIVE RELAXATION.

Remember, we’re doing this wellness retreat to ensure you time to relax and reset. Getting creative and learning something new is a positive stimulant that can help improve your mental health, so trying something you’ve never tried before is a winner. From baking a new dish, creative writing, or learning a new skill, the possibilities are endless. But if you find it hard to unwind, we’ve got some ideas for you.

INSPO:

  • Homemade face mask: Recipe Here

  • Guided meditations: Free guided Meditations Here

  • Journaling: Whether it’s creative writing or doing a mind map, journaling evokes mindfulness and us stay present and keep perspective.

  • Art therapy: It could be a dot to dot or free hand, spend sometime time with colour. Colours are proven to enhance mood and balance emotion.

  • Gardening: Simply tending to some pot plants, or picking flowers to bring inside, is one of the quickest ways to elevate your space and mood.

EATING WELL.

More and more research is coming out by the year associating diet to one’s mental wellbeing. Poor diets and unhealthy eating can obviously affect your physical health, which may in turn negatively impact your mental health, but even unhealthy food itself can directly make you feel worse. Eating a healthy and well balanced diet will help you manage your stress and anxiety levels, improve your sleep, positively impact your ability to concentrate and help you feel better in general. So take the opportunity to give your body a bit of a cleanse and the chance to heal.

INSPO:

  • Increase your water intake.

  • Eliminate alcohol, caffeine and fizzy drinks, swap it for herbal tea.

  • Load your plate with majority plant based food.

  • Make sure you aren’t missing a meal.

  • Get creative in the kitchen and give yourself the time to make something new, delicious and healthy.

MOVING YOUR BODY.

It might seem obvious, but the key is making movement enjoyable. With an abundance of evidence that consistently shows us that keeping active helps lower stress and anxiety levels, we know physical activity impacts both your body and your mind. If you struggle with movement, try motivating yourself by teaming up with a friend or listening to your favourite music/podcasts. Start by doing something you never usually do to break the cycle.

INSPO:

  • Stretching: For guidance, check out this Video

  • Yoga with Adrienne: Brilliant free yoga sessions perfect from beginners to experts. Find them Here

  • Nature Walk: Head to places you haven’t been before, that are so pretty you’ll want to keep walking.

  • Salt Water: The ultimate cleanser and re-energiser, you don’t need to do laps to be active, but just jump in!

  • Dance: Nothing like a living room dance party to get you moving with a giggle, you can find online dance classes Here

GETTING SLEEP.

This is a big one! We may forget how important sleep it, but it’s been linked to numerous health-related consequences, both physical and mental. Not getting enough sleep can also exacerbate pre-existing conditions such as depression, stress and anxiety, so ensuring you’re getting enough hours sleep and getting to bed at a reasonable hour is the smartest way to go. Doctors orders!

INSPO:

  • Limit Screen Time: Keep your phone out of your bedroom and don’t use your phone half an hour before bed.

  • Have A Shower: In the hours before bedtime, a human's core body temperature naturally cools, while skin temperatures of the hands and feet increase. Those who shower before bed are proven to fall asleep faster.

  • A Night Time Tea: A calming tea can help kickstart things for you and settle the senses.

  • Deep Breathing: Sit upright and take a couple of minutes to close your eyes and take deep breaths to reset.

  • Gratitude: Never underestimate the power of appreciation. Think of something that brought you joy that day.

 AFTERLIFE.

So now you’ve had an amazing weekend of resetting and getting back to basics, how can you keep those good vibes going?

If your DIY retreat teaches you anything, let it be how to separate your work life stresses from your personal life. You have all of these accessible, affordable practises at your finger tips, now make them a realistic part of your day/week. The idea is to try and pick a few things from your wellness refresh to incorporate into your daily routine.

Hey, maybe next time you can book yourself into a luxurious retreat like Cedar Springs Kiama who can take care of this wellness recipe for you!

xx